T. J. Perkins

Not to be confused with Thomas James Perkins.

T. J. Perkins
TJP in 2018
Birth nameTheodore James Perkins[1]
Born (1984-09-03) September 3, 1984 (age 40)[2]
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[3]
Spouse(s)Aria Blake (m. 2023)
Children2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)John Johnson[4]
Havana Pitbull III[4]
Manik[5][6]
Pinoy Boy[4][7]
Puma[4][7]
Suicide
Sydistiko[8]
T.J. Perkins
TJP[9]
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2]
Billed weight167 lb (76 kg)[10][2]
Billed fromLos Angeles, California[11]
Philippines[12]
Parts Unknown[6]
Trained byKevin Quinn[7]
Christopher Daniels[7]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling[7]
Antonio Inoki[7]
Negro Casas[7]
DebutAugust 1998[7]

Theodore James Perkins[1] (born September 3, 1984),[2] better known by the ring name T. J. Perkins (or simply TJP), is an American professional wrestler of Filipino descent. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and is a member and leader of the United Empire stable. He is best known for his tenures in WWE and TNA Wrestling.

Perkins began his professional wrestling career in 1998. In 2001, he went to the NJPW Dojo, where he became the youngest wrestler to perform in a NJPW ring. Since then, Perkins worked in various U.S. promotions, such as Ring of Honor (ROH), Major League Wrestling (MLW), TNA Wrestling, and WWE, as well as Japanese promotions, like NJPW and Dragon Gate. In 2013, Perkins signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and worked as Manik, a masked character originally based on the Suicide gimmick. During his time in TNA, he would win the TNA X Division Championship. He also joined The Revolution stable. In 2016, he left TNA and participated in the Cruiserweight Classic tournament produced by WWE, which he won and was crowned the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Perkins would work for WWE until his release in February 2019. He then returned to Impact Wrestling, as well as working in other companies on the side. In 2020, he won the Impact X Division Championship for a second time. He also returned to NJPW again and began making regular appearances, later becoming the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (with Francesco Akira).

  1. ^ a b van der Griend, Blaine (May 9, 2013). "T.J. Perkins still has a lot to do, masked or not". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d "TJP | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference twitter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d "Accelerator3359 profile". Accelerator3359.com. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Manic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Manik was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference Puma was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Boutwell, Josh (July 23, 2010). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Sydistiko is TJP (TJ Perkins) aka Puma
  9. ^ "TJP". WWE.com. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "TJP's Impact Wrestling profile". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Roster - Pro Wrestling Guerrilla". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Puma". Full Impact Pro. Retrieved June 23, 2013.