Spanked!

33-year-old Brian Kendrick (aka “Spanky”) has been in pro wrestling since his debut in 1999, so he may look young and inexperienced, but he is quite a veteran.

Brian is reportedly a quirky fellow with some odd behaviors and beliefs.  He apparently used to run buck naked through live WWE audiences.  He was also known on the Indy wrestling scene by the nickname “Spanky” — apparently due to his unusual technique for staying awake on long car rides to wrestle in far-away cities.  (Hmmm, I’d be willing to ride shot-gun…)

This talented and entertaining athlete has wrestled for many federations big and small over the years:  WWE, TNA, ROH, Dragon Gate, HWA, and APW to name a few.

I featured “Spanky” Kendrick once before on the Wrestling Arsenal when he was in Japan and was forced to wrestle a sadistic Tag Team with a Vampire Bat gimmick who scratched and bit our young Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike.

Kendrick was released by WWE several years ago either due to smoking too much pot, having a cocky attitude, or the economy, depending on which story you want to believe.  He recently asked TNA to release him as well, and he has said in interviews that he would sure love another chance to wrestle for WWE.

Rumors are now floating around that WWE Network will soon launch a Cruiserweights wrestling show that will include Mr. Kendrick on the roster.  Nice.  Now how do I sign up for WWE Network??

So meanwhile, Kendrick is staying in shape and earning extra dough on the Indy scene.  He has opened a Pro Wrestling School near Los Angeles.  He also recently wrestled a nice match for All Pro Wrestling (APW) which is one of the first federations he wrestled for 10 years ago…

On the August 18th episode of APW Gym Wars, Kendrick challenged the champion Dylan Drake, also known as the “Golden Boy.”  You can watch this episode of APW Gymwars on YouTube —  Brian Kendrick vs. Dylan Drake begins at about 16:15 into the one-hour video.

Let’s take a closer look at this match with some screen-caps of the action…

Wow nice trunks on Brian Kendrick, and the Golden Boy’s little speedo is even more skimpy.

If this is the sort of gear they’re wearing in Indy wrestling these days, then I guess I need to watch more Indy wrestling!

I must say I am impressed with the quality of Indy wrestling on YouTube.  APW posts their weekly “Gym Wars” episode each week and the wrestling, the video quality, and the camera work are really very well done.

Add to that the talented young grapplers like Kendrick and Drake, and the eye-catching wrestling gear they wear, and I’m beginning to wonder if we really need wrestling at all on cable TV when we have recordings this great available on YouTube.

Great job, APW.  Bravo Kendrick and Drake!

In the end, the former WWE Tag Team champion was unable to defeat the current APW champion.  Kendrick is a cooperative young worker and willingly sold all of Drake’s moves to help put the hometown boy over.

Eventually Kendrick was left broken and stunned in the center of the ring where he was easily pinned by Drake. Young Kendrick clearly does not have an ego problem at this point, which is what some say cost him his WWE job.  He readily accepts his role as the Humiliated Bitch, rolling around exhausted and weak in his bulging whitie tighties.