By Ryan Frye
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion, and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
You can read previous editions of Picture Perfect, like the one chronicling Ciampa vs. Gargano from the Cruiserweight Classic's first round, at this link.
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion, and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
You can read previous editions of Picture Perfect, like the one chronicling Ciampa vs. Gargano from the Cruiserweight Classic's first round, at this link.
A LONG ROAD TRAVELED
When Brian Kendrick made his WWE main roster debut in 2002, he was a ripe 22 years of age. The world was his oyster, so to speak. His whole wrestling career was ahead of him, and he was already signed to the biggest wrestling company on the planet.
Kendrick would definitely have his fair share of success, too. He'd become a tag team champion with Paul London on two occasions, including a reign that until recently was the longest WWE Tag Team Championship reign of all-time.
After he and London split as a tag team, we'd see flashes of singles success for Brian Kendrick—most notably with the The Brian Kendrick character. Yet, with a reservoir of unexplored potential, he was released from his contract in 2009. And according to him, it was well earned:
Kendrick would definitely have his fair share of success, too. He'd become a tag team champion with Paul London on two occasions, including a reign that until recently was the longest WWE Tag Team Championship reign of all-time.
After he and London split as a tag team, we'd see flashes of singles success for Brian Kendrick—most notably with the The Brian Kendrick character. Yet, with a reservoir of unexplored potential, he was released from his contract in 2009. And according to him, it was well earned:
"When I had the world in my hands, I let it slip through my fingers because I was busy patting myself on the back. I was released because I was an animal and deservedly released." - Brian Kendrick
Seven long years later, Kendrick was announced as a participant in the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic. And he knew he needed to make the most of the opportunity given to him, because this time, it was very possibly his last chance on the biggest stage. If he fell short, he said, then he guessed that was the story of his life—falling short.
In the first two rounds, he vanquished Raul Mendoza and Tony Nese in impressive fashion which led him into the third round. His opponent? Japan's Golden Star, Kota Ibushi.
Going into the tournament, Ibushi was considered the odds-on favorite by many. And if you take a look at his resume, you'll see exactly why.
His list of accolades in DDT and New Japan Pro Wrestling respectively are astonishing, and too vast to list within a sole article. He had even proven that he could hold his own with men now considered WWE's very best—Sami Zayn, Finn Balor, and Shinsuke Nakamura. In fact, the match with Nakamura was rated five stars and deemed the match of the year by Pro Wrestling Observer in 2015.
In the first two rounds, Ibushi lived up to his reputation by bouncing Sean Maluta and Cedric Alexander from the tournament. Would he continue doing so against Brian Kendrick, or would the savvy, slick veteran pull a fast one on the Golden Star?
PAINTING THE PICTURE
"My desperation is what makes me a threat. This is where I feel happiest, and it's true, they say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. The pressure is me seeing the light dimming. If I don't win this, my dream is over." - Brian Kendrick
Emanating from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida was the mouth-watering quarterfinal match of Brian Kendrick vs. Kota Ibushi.
The two men shook hands before backing away to their corners. Once the bell sounded, the two men circled momentarily before Kendrick ducked under an attempted lock-up, pushed Ibushi from behind and fleed to the outside.
Kendrick wasn't doing this as an act of cowardice—he had gone toe-to-toe with top tier wrestlers like Ibushi his entire career. He was instead doing it to get inside the head of Ibushi. To get him frustrated, to get him off his game.
Kendrick challenged his opponent to take it to the outside, but Ibushi wasn't going to play his game. Thus, Kendrick stepped back into the squared circle and blew a kiss to the Golden Star. He'd tried escaping the ring once again, but this time, Ibushi grabbed his leg and pulled him to the center of the ring.
A punishing attack ensued as Ibushi clobbered Kendrick with a series of fists and forearms. Kendrick sneakily applied a waist lock. Ibushi countered into the same move, but Kendrick elbowed out. The Wizard of Odd, as he's been called, rebounded off the ropes into a ruthless roundhouse kick to the skull.
Kendrick crumpled to the canvas then wisely rolled to the floor. Ibushi, though, took to the air for a beautiful Golden Triangle moonsault to the outside onto Kendrick.
Ibushi rolled Kendrick back into the ring, but, by the time he got back inside as well, Kendrick had rolled out the other side.
Kendrick was utilizing his veteran savvy to advantage every chance he could get, thus far. In this instance, he was buying himself as much time as possible to recover from one of Ibushi's most devastating moves.
Ibushi would follow Kendrick to retrieve him but got caught off guard as Kendrick trapped his foot in the guardrail in order to get a count out win. Ibushi, though, got back into the ring at the count of four with a mesmerizing missile dropkick. Kendrick kicked out of the following cover at two.
Ibushi would quickly go back to work with forearms to a fledgling Kendrick and follow up with roundhouse kicks—first to the leg then three to the stomach before Kendrick collapsed to the mat.
Kendrick favored his midsection as he pulled himself up by the ropes. He'd manage to avoid more Ibushi offense by lifting the Japan native over the ropes and onto the apron. Ibushi, however, sent Kendrick there as well with yet another forearm.
Ibushi pulled Kendrick up, but Kendrick caught him with a surprised neckbreaker over the turnbuckle. "I've never seen that before!" claimed Daniel Bryan, who was unabashedly rooting for Kendrick, whom he trained with.
Ibushi stepped back between the ropes, and Kendrick tried to knock him back to the floor but ate a shoulder to the gut for his efforts. Instead, Kendrick managed to make the ropes catch Ibushi in the crotch. Even that, though, wouldn't fade the star of Ibushi as he kicked out of the ensuing pinfall.
Kendrick then wrenched in a cravate, making it clear that the surgically repaired neck of Ibushi was now his target. Ibushi attempted a bodyslam to counter, but Kendrick rolled through and maintained his hold. It'd take a minute, but eventually knees to the spine of Kendrick forced him to relinquish his cravate.
Kendrick responded with a saka otoshi and an elbow, and Ibushi came back with a dropkick. Kendrick recovered in the corner, and fended off an oncoming Ibushi with a boot. He then, however, ran into the waiting arm of Ibushi for a power slam. Next, from the corner, was a moonsault! Cover: 1, 2, no!
Lightning quick offense from Ibushi, as Mauro Ranallo said, sent Brian Kendrick crashing to the canvas. Kendrick, though, managed to avoid a kick to the head, and countered a standing moonsault with knees. A cradle cover then failed to put away Ibushi.
A weary Kendrick hit a superkick to buy himself critical recovery time. The announcers would note that Ibushi's surgically repaired neck snapped back off the kick, too, furthering the damage done.
Both men were slow to get to their feet, but they eventually would, as too much was at stake for them to stay down. The opportunity of a lifetime was within sight: the winner would have two more matches to go to become the first Cruiserweight Classic champion.
They traded forearms which was a battle Ibushi would win, and Kendrick realized this. Thus, mid exchange, he began targeting the neck, and it worked. It allowed him to hit his signature Sliced Bread #2 into a cover: 1, 2, kickout!
Sliced Bread #2 had won Brian Kendrick many matches over the course of his decorated career, but it didn't win him this one. It did, however, further damage Ibushi's neck.
With a rear naked choke applied, Kendrick climbed to the second rope. A pair of back elbows freed Ibushi, who stepped onto the mat and nailed a Pele Kick from out of nowhere. Kendrick flew off the second turnbuckle and crashed onto the apron.
Ibushi wouldn't waste time in pulling Kendrick to his feet, standing on the second rope and hitting a devastating deadlift German suplex that sent Kendrick from the apron to the middle of the ring.
A dazed Ibushi struggled to the cover: 1, 2, Kendrick kicks out again!
An irritated Ibushi looked for a powerbomb on Kendrick, but when Kendrick blocked it, the Golden Star opted for a kick instead. He'd try it again, but Kendrick countered. From the saka otoshi, to the Bully Choke. By the time Kota Ibushi got to a vertical base, it'd turned into more of a Bulldog Choke, but nonetheless Ibushi elbowed his way out.
Ibushi then avoided a rushing Kendrick, then Kendrick pushed Ibushi into the ropes. Off the rebound, he hit a Burning Hammer! Cover: 1, 2, no!
Another move intended to damage the neck, but yet another kickout from one of Japan's brightest, and certainly most resilient, stars. And Brian Kendrick could not believe it. What else could he possibly do? He'd pulled out several finishing moves from his arsenal, but it still wasn't enough.
A possessed looking Kendrick clobbered away at the Golden Star, infuriated that he couldn't put him away. He'd bounce off the ropes into a superkick. Kendrick then attempted body scissors, but Ibushi countered into a pinning predicament that still didn't garner a three count.
Daniel Bryan had claimed that Brian Kendrick had the most heart of anyone he'd been in the ring with, and on this night, we were seeing that on display.
Kota Ibushi pulled Kendrick to the corner, and off the top rope, missed a Phoenix Splash. Kendrick looked to capitalize with the Bully Choke, but Ibushi countered with a pin that again received a two count.
Kendrick, though, then ran right into a roundhouse to the back of the head, setting up Ibushi's Golden Star Powerbomb! Cover: 1, 2, 3!
Kendrick was utilizing his veteran savvy to advantage every chance he could get, thus far. In this instance, he was buying himself as much time as possible to recover from one of Ibushi's most devastating moves.
Ibushi would follow Kendrick to retrieve him but got caught off guard as Kendrick trapped his foot in the guardrail in order to get a count out win. Ibushi, though, got back into the ring at the count of four with a mesmerizing missile dropkick. Kendrick kicked out of the following cover at two.
Ibushi would quickly go back to work with forearms to a fledgling Kendrick and follow up with roundhouse kicks—first to the leg then three to the stomach before Kendrick collapsed to the mat.
Kendrick favored his midsection as he pulled himself up by the ropes. He'd manage to avoid more Ibushi offense by lifting the Japan native over the ropes and onto the apron. Ibushi, however, sent Kendrick there as well with yet another forearm.
Ibushi pulled Kendrick up, but Kendrick caught him with a surprised neckbreaker over the turnbuckle. "I've never seen that before!" claimed Daniel Bryan, who was unabashedly rooting for Kendrick, whom he trained with.
Ibushi stepped back between the ropes, and Kendrick tried to knock him back to the floor but ate a shoulder to the gut for his efforts. Instead, Kendrick managed to make the ropes catch Ibushi in the crotch. Even that, though, wouldn't fade the star of Ibushi as he kicked out of the ensuing pinfall.
Kendrick then wrenched in a cravate, making it clear that the surgically repaired neck of Ibushi was now his target. Ibushi attempted a bodyslam to counter, but Kendrick rolled through and maintained his hold. It'd take a minute, but eventually knees to the spine of Kendrick forced him to relinquish his cravate.
Kendrick responded with a saka otoshi and an elbow, and Ibushi came back with a dropkick. Kendrick recovered in the corner, and fended off an oncoming Ibushi with a boot. He then, however, ran into the waiting arm of Ibushi for a power slam. Next, from the corner, was a moonsault! Cover: 1, 2, no!
Lightning quick offense from Ibushi, as Mauro Ranallo said, sent Brian Kendrick crashing to the canvas. Kendrick, though, managed to avoid a kick to the head, and countered a standing moonsault with knees. A cradle cover then failed to put away Ibushi.
A weary Kendrick hit a superkick to buy himself critical recovery time. The announcers would note that Ibushi's surgically repaired neck snapped back off the kick, too, furthering the damage done.
Both men were slow to get to their feet, but they eventually would, as too much was at stake for them to stay down. The opportunity of a lifetime was within sight: the winner would have two more matches to go to become the first Cruiserweight Classic champion.
They traded forearms which was a battle Ibushi would win, and Kendrick realized this. Thus, mid exchange, he began targeting the neck, and it worked. It allowed him to hit his signature Sliced Bread #2 into a cover: 1, 2, kickout!
Sliced Bread #2 had won Brian Kendrick many matches over the course of his decorated career, but it didn't win him this one. It did, however, further damage Ibushi's neck.
With a rear naked choke applied, Kendrick climbed to the second rope. A pair of back elbows freed Ibushi, who stepped onto the mat and nailed a Pele Kick from out of nowhere. Kendrick flew off the second turnbuckle and crashed onto the apron.
Ibushi wouldn't waste time in pulling Kendrick to his feet, standing on the second rope and hitting a devastating deadlift German suplex that sent Kendrick from the apron to the middle of the ring.
A dazed Ibushi struggled to the cover: 1, 2, Kendrick kicks out again!
An irritated Ibushi looked for a powerbomb on Kendrick, but when Kendrick blocked it, the Golden Star opted for a kick instead. He'd try it again, but Kendrick countered. From the saka otoshi, to the Bully Choke. By the time Kota Ibushi got to a vertical base, it'd turned into more of a Bulldog Choke, but nonetheless Ibushi elbowed his way out.
Ibushi then avoided a rushing Kendrick, then Kendrick pushed Ibushi into the ropes. Off the rebound, he hit a Burning Hammer! Cover: 1, 2, no!
Another move intended to damage the neck, but yet another kickout from one of Japan's brightest, and certainly most resilient, stars. And Brian Kendrick could not believe it. What else could he possibly do? He'd pulled out several finishing moves from his arsenal, but it still wasn't enough.
A possessed looking Kendrick clobbered away at the Golden Star, infuriated that he couldn't put him away. He'd bounce off the ropes into a superkick. Kendrick then attempted body scissors, but Ibushi countered into a pinning predicament that still didn't garner a three count.
Daniel Bryan had claimed that Brian Kendrick had the most heart of anyone he'd been in the ring with, and on this night, we were seeing that on display.
Kota Ibushi pulled Kendrick to the corner, and off the top rope, missed a Phoenix Splash. Kendrick looked to capitalize with the Bully Choke, but Ibushi countered with a pin that again received a two count.
Kendrick, though, then ran right into a roundhouse to the back of the head, setting up Ibushi's Golden Star Powerbomb! Cover: 1, 2, 3!
"The clock has struck twelve on the Cruiserweight Classic's Cinderella."
- Mauro Ranallo
AFTER THE BELL
Daniel Bryan described himself as heartbroken—and moments later, Brian Kendrick showed himself to be the exact same thing.
Tears streamed down Kendrick's face. He said that he needed to win this; he needed his life to not be story of falling just short. But on this night, he fell short yet again.
A tearful Daniel Bryan walked down to the ring and hugged his longtime friend. "Thank you, Brian" the Full Sail crowd chanted.
The emotions then overflowed into the backstage area in an interview where their words do the moment the match much more justice than I ever could.
Tears streamed down Kendrick's face. He said that he needed to win this; he needed his life to not be story of falling just short. But on this night, he fell short yet again.
A tearful Daniel Bryan walked down to the ring and hugged his longtime friend. "Thank you, Brian" the Full Sail crowd chanted.
The emotions then overflowed into the backstage area in an interview where their words do the moment the match much more justice than I ever could.