TJ PERKINS VS. DA MACK

Today marks TJ Perkins' birthday since I would rather forget about his time in TNA as Suicide I thought I would instead review his introduction to the WWE Universe. In his first round match he faces off against Da Mack, an international flavour to this match as TJ Perkins represents the Phillipenes and Da Mack is a German wrestler, this is my introduction to Da Mack. TJ Perkins started training at a young age, so is already a grizzled veteran in the ring, almost making him this generation's Rey Mysterio in that respect. Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo are on commentary for this match. Da Mack is in Michael Jackson cosplay, moonwalking down the apron before getting into the ring which brings in similarities to Alex Wright back in the WCW days.

TJ PERKINS VS. DA MACK (Cruiserweight Classic First Round)

(20^th July 2016)

They shake hands before the bell and lock up, Perkins takes Da Mack down with a top wristlock, bending the elbow and wrist around his knee. Da Mack makes it to his feet, athletically countering to a standing wristlock, Perkins quickly shifts to one of his own and knocks Da Mack down with a dropkick. Daniel Bryan is impressed that Perkins was able to check his hair after that sequence. Da Mack backs Perkins into the ropes but Perkins stops himself and drops to the floor, he takes Da Mack down with a headstand headscissors. Da Mack rolls through and tries to pin Perkins' shoulders to the mat but Perkins pushes off his hands and takes him down again, this time putting the exclamation point on it with a dab. Daniel Bryan called it dubstep, he's 4 years behind on popular culture so Renallo corrects him. Again Da Mack pins TJP down but Perkins attempts a third takedown, this time Da Mack cartwheels out. Da Mack is caught with a spinning kick to the gut. Da Mack leapfrogs over Perkins, then again on the return journey before hitting a standing dropkick and bowing to the crowd.

TJ Perkins takes refuge in the corner but Da Mack is right there with a jumping forearm, double-handed chops light up Perkins' chest but he shoves Da Mack away. TJ Perkins runs into a European uppercut from the European grappler. Da Mack tries to dump Perkins out of the ring but Perkins catches himself in the ropes and lands on the apron, 619 styles, and celebrates with another dab. TJ Perkins slides under the bottom rope and trips Da Mack, locking in a boston crab. TJ Perkins grabs Da Mack's wrists and stands up, pretty much ripping apart every joint in Da Mack's body. TJ Perkins releases the hold, trying to transition to a Muta lock but Da Mack is able to crawl to the ropes and slides out of the ring for a breather. TJ Perkins springboards from the middle rope over to the apron but Da Mack pulls him to the floor, getting back in the ring. Da Mack gets a run-up to hit a somersault plancha over the top rope on Perkins and throws him back in the ring, he barely gets 2 on the cover.

Da Mack kicks at TJP's shoulders but Perkins avoids the moonwalk Penalty kick and gets to his feet. TJ Perkins ties Da Mack up in an octopus stretch, but soon transitions to another Muta lock, the fans chant for Da Mack to tap (I think, to be honest, they could be chanting his name) but Da Mack gets to the ropes. TJ Perkins runs into a back elbow, Da Mack leaps to the top rope in one motion, then back down onto Perkins with a somersault senton, keeping both men on the mat. When they get to their feet they exchange strikes, TJ Perkins is able to dodge an attack and hits a jumping spin kick to Da Mack as Renallo mentions the 20-minute time limit in the first round matches. TJ Perkins runs into a European uppercut but fires back with a basement dropkick. TJ Perkins looks for the Tiger suplex but Da Mack rolls through and gets a nearfall. They get to their feet in opposite corners and Da Mack charges, TJP moves out of the way but Da Mack leaps to the top rope, coming back down with a kick to TJP's face. Da Mack covers but only gets 2. TJ Perkins lands on his feet from a suplex, a drop toe hold sends Da Mack into the middle rope and TJ Perkins springboards out to the apron again, grazing Da Mack with a leg drop. Da Mack rolls out of the way of a 450 splash but a headscissors attempt is countered by Perkins into a facebuster. TJ Perkins lifts Da Mack into a fireman's carry and kicks him on the way down. Da Mack is dazed, TJ Perkins takes Da Mack down with a running bodyscissors into a kneebar and Da Mack taps out.

WINNER: TJ PERKINS

There were moments in the match that didn't go, due to the high speed of the match (the springboard leg drop and Perkins being dragged to the floor from the apron) but overall this was a good introduction to both of these men. They each got a chance to show what brought them here and the fans were behind Perkins for the whole match. It was nothing special but it was a nicely worked match. – WORKRATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL 4.75/10