Power Ranking T.J. Perkins, WWE's Cruiserweight Division Following Oct. 3 Raw

WWE's bold new venture into cruiserweight wrestling is now a few weeks old, and the division is beginning to take shape.

A somewhat surprising winner of the Cruiserweight Classic, some real big names and more top talent still to come mean the next few months will be fascinating for Raw's cruiserweight division.

T.J. Perkins and Brian Kendrick, the two men fighting for the Cruiserweight Championship, sit atop the rankings.

But there is plenty of talent chasing them down for a spot in the top two and a chance at the title.

Here's the inaugural power ranking of WWE's cruiserweights, featuring all eight men who have wrestled in the division so far.

Still Yet to Compete

• Akira Tozawa
• Jack Gallagher
• Johnny Gargano
• Noam Dar
• Tommaso Ciampa

8. Drew Gulak

Since being introduced as one of the cruiserweights on Raw, Drew Gulak has wrestled just once.

Sadly for him, that ended in defeat as he teamed with Lince Dorado in vain, coming up short against Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann.

Gulak's background in professional wrestling made his signing by WWE a smart piece of business.

However, the cruiserweight division needs more and more matches aired every week if guys like Gulak are going to get noticed.

Big names such as Brian Kendrick and T.J. Perkins dominate the division right now. With some strong names just below them, Gulak needs a real turnaround in fortunes.

7. Lince Dorado

Ever since his victory in the opening round of the Cruiserweight Classic, Lince Dorado has failed to win another match.

That hasn't helped his standing in the inaugural rankings for the cruiserweight division in its opening few weeks.

There's been precious little in the way of exposure for Dorado since the cruiserweights started on Raw, although fans will know him well enough from his recent bouts in NXT.

But to make a real impact on Monday nights, Dorado faces a tough battle to get ahead of enough wrestlers to be seriously noticed.

The likes of Gran Metalik and Rich Swann all stand in his way. Wins and sustained exposure are needed if his fortunes are to turn around.

6. Gran Metalik

The man who made it all the way to the final of the Cruiserweight Classic has found the going tough on the main roster.

Metalik lost a Fatal 4-Way match in his only appearance on Raw thus far, and he's not been seen since.

In fact, per the Internet Wrestling Database, that was the last time he competed professionally. 

Metalik is one of the most talented cruiserweights on the roster. He possesses a wealth of experience and plenty of ability and should be a fine addition to WWE's main roster.

The more exposure and TV time the division gets, the better things will be for Metalik.

But right now, he's slid down the rankings somewhat in the first few weeks of life in the cruiserweight division.

5. Cedric Alexander

Cedric Alexander's commitments with NXT have limited him to just two appearances on Raw so far, but his most recent showing, a victory while teaming with Rich Swann, showed there's plenty to get excited about.

The fact he was already signed with NXT shows what WWE thinks of him. His incredible match against Kota Ibushi in the Cruiserweight Classic was one of the highlights of the entire tournament and gave further reason for WWE fans to be excited.

The Fatal 4-Way in which Alexander made his debut was never going to show him off as a top talent. 

That he's yet to compete in a one-on-one match on Raw also hinders his placement on these rankings.

But he's handily placed in middle of the division, and the more exposure he gets, the easier it will be for Alexander to climb the rankings.

4. Rich Swann

The moment Swann stepped onto the stage on Raw for the first time as part of the main roster, he instantly looked at home.

He was one of a few cruiserweight stars who had previously signed with NXT before the Cruiserweight Classic. However, he had found opportunities in developmental hard to come by.

But the chance to compete alongside fellow cruiserweights has helped Swann thrive.

The commentary team frequently reminds WWE fans that Swann loves having fun, but it doesn't need to, given his infectious entrance and an in-ring style that is easy on the eye.

He has been one of the more active competitors in the cruiserweight division, but a losing effort to Tony Nese this past Monday impacted his standing in the rankings.

However, Swann will be a prominent part of the division for years to come.

3. Tony Nese

He has only been around for two weeks, but Tony Nese is already making a big impression.

Possessing impressive strength and surprising agility, Nese is quickly becoming a standout in the division and will have his eyes on a run at the Cruiserweight Championship in the coming months.

His debut may have ended in defeat last week, but given how that was against the champion, Perkins, that is nothing to be too upset about.

He made up for that this past Monday with a victory in an enjoyable match against Swann, which showcased the talents of both men well.

Nese looks to have an edge about him that, when given the freedom to talk on the mic, should solidify him as one of the best heels in the division.

2. Brian Kendrick

Kendrick was just beaten out by the cruiserweight division's champion, but that should not overshadow a great few weeks for The Wizard of Odd since his return to Raw.

Yes, there may have been a defeat to Perkins at Clash of Champions. But in a division where most of the focus has been on the in-ring abilities of the competitors, Kendrick is the one guy who stands out when it comes to personality.

His sit-down interview with Michael Cole was fascinating and offered fans a real insight into the guy who is the cruiserweight division's top heel right now.

He then went one better against Perkins this past Monday on Raw, when he managed to make the champion submit.

That should almost certainly afford Kendrick another title match at Hell in a Cell, and the chances of him coming out on top look promising.

It's been a long way back for Kendrick, but he's showing WWE his worth right now.

1. T.J. Perkins

So far, it is three matches and two wins for T.J. Perkins since he won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, and he's proving to WWE that he was a good pick as the first holder of the new title.

Perkins is lively, exciting and incredibly watchable in the ring. He's spoken positively and openly about his time living on the streets, which also helps endear him to an audience that may have largely been unaware of who Perkins was prior to the Cruiserweight Classic.

Perkins may have suffered a defeat to Kendrick this past Monday on Raw, but that was a fantastic match that showcased the abilities of both men.

Fans will need to see more and, perhaps more crucially, know more about Perkins to invest in him as a champion in the coming weeks.

But in these inaugural rankings, it's difficult to do anything other than have Perkins at the top.