WWE Raw 5 Takeaways: Dean Ambrose and Miz Feuding Again?

4. The Cruiserweight Division Just Got More Interesting

It’s safe to say that everyone wanted TJ Perkins to turn heel, and while he seems like the ultimate babyface as a person, I’m not going to doubt his ability to become a slimy heel in the Cruiserweight division. I’m not sure I like the potential dynamic between Perkins and Neville, but everything about Perkins screamed, “This guy needs a change in character.”

Prior to this heel turn, Perkins was jobbing to everyone. He was the one taking pins in fatal four-way matches, losing to Brian Kendrick, and jobbing out to Shinsuke Nakamura in his NXT return match from a kayfabe knee injury. Even though Perkins lost in all of those encounters, he often looked like the best competitor in the ring, reminding fans of just how exciting his style of wrestling is. That match with Nakamura was one of the most underrated of the year so far, as the only thing holding it back was a lackluster crowd.

The Cruiserweight division had one world-class heel in Neville and another strong heel character in Kendrick. Outside of that, they were sorely lacking. Turning Perkins heel allows other competitors like Jack Gallagher, Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander, and the criminally underrated Mustafa Ali to have new feuds with an experienced wrestler. There’s a reason why he won the Cruiserweight Classic, and here’s to hoping #HeelJP can get more people behind him as a heel.