The Brian Kendrick will largely be remembered in the world of wrestling for his memorable run with the WWE some ten years ago, while he will forever remain in the history books, he is planning to add a couple more pages to his story.
As one of the elder performers in The Cruiserweight Classic, Kendrick feels he is at both an advantage and disadvantage as he sits down with Mauro Ranello, and Daniel Bryan to discuss his chances of being victorious in the competition.
On what he is here for
Kendrick more than most knows just how important this opportunity will be for him, and at 37-years-old he is approaching the twilight of his wrestling career, but with one chance laying before him he reveals his reasons for being here.
He said, "I am here for my experience and wrestling is what I love, wrestling is what I'm passionate about. I was very fortunate to get to live my dreams and get to be a part of the WWE."
With each participant having their own personal reasons for entering The Cruiserweight Classic, The former World Tag team Champion (w/ Paul London) is no different but with his stairway to the spotlight taken away due to his own actions when he was released from the WWE, he feels that 'his life' has always been 'leading' up to this tournament.
He said, "When I had the wheel 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 and animal and I was deservedly released."
"To have a second chance it gives me a new lease on life because without wrestling I am just living I have been wrestling since 1999 and it is all leading up to this one event and if I fall short then I guess that is my life; falling short."
On whether he thought WWE would ever create a tournament like this
With so many believing the hype around this tournament regarding how revolutionary it is and how it will be looked upon in the future, the veteran could already see that the company would eventually 'evolve' enough to create something of a similar standing.
He said,"I suppose given long enough time span yes it would have to have been because wrestling and sports entertainment it evolves and it is trying to be one step ahead."
Kendrick who has been performing since 1999 was quick to praise the creators of the competition for having the vision to be able to recognize the need for a tournament of this caliber while also thanking them for the opportunity to be a part of.
He continued, "This is why the WWE is what it is I think it is a long time coming I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity and good on them for doing this."
On tournament chances and age as a factor
The Wizard of Odd is close friends with Daniel Bryan, the man many have credited for being the one to change the way the company views their superstars, so much so that they shared a joke about the two times that the retired performer, while under the American Dragon persona, defeated him in tournament competition.
Ranello quizzed him on how he is hoping to achieve from this tournament as he said, "Well I have never won a tournament, in fact, I have lost to you [Daniel Bryan] twice and the truth is you Dragon have always been my biggest competition in the sense that I can only push myself so hard and so without you to say [keep going] I have got to find a way to push myself harder or I would not be the wrestler that I am."
With flattery of his friend and former foe out of the way, the lead commentator asked the more pressing question, regarding whether Kendrick's age would be a hindrance to his overall performance.
He said, "Yes in the sense that that is my biggest disadvantage, they have youth and if I was to say I was the same person I was at 23 the 23-year-old me would slap the 37-year-old me in the face and tell me you're full of it."
Despite the acknowledgement that his veteran status may potentially harm him, Kendrick was also keen to point out how his age and experience have helped him develop, in what could possibly hand him the age over his opponents.
He continued, "I am smarter now, I am used to this environment these guys are so afraid that if they do not make this opportunity work that they will never get another opportunity."
The former TNA star will understand more than most just how important this tournament can be in catapulting a performer into the spotlight of the wrestling world, having already felt the burning light of the WWE this may be his last opportunity and feels that his experience of these situations will give him a better foundation to win.
He said, "What I'm saying is this might be my last opportunity and they might blow their first opportunity and so nerves so going to set in and I am not going to have these nerves I am just going to have this willingness to win."
With his final question, Ranello quizzed the veteran on who he would like to face out of all of the 32 competitors, to which a defiant Kendrick simply stated, "I would like to beat them all, that is the truth."