WWE Cruiserweight Classic: TJ Perkins becomes Raw's champion

TJ Perkins is the new Raw Cruiserweight Champion

TJ Perkins has become the inaugural Raw Cruiserweight Champion after defeating Gran Metalik in a high-octane final of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.

The Filipino-American knocked off Mexican Metalik by submission to win a near 18-minute thriller on Wednesday night and will now head to Monday nights as the kingpin of his division.

Perkins downed Germany's Da Mack and WWE stars Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann to reach the semi-finals of the 32-man tournament, before edging Japan's Kota Ibushi to make the showpiece.

The 32-year-old battled Metalik around an hour after he had bested Ibushi and tried to finish the final quickly by going for an early pinfalls but his masked opponent stayed alive.

Perkins defeated Gran Metalik in the Cruiserweight Classic final

Perkins and Metalik - who were informed before their bout by Triple H that the winner would earn Raw's Cruiserweight crown - unleashed myriad high-flying moves in front of an awe-struck crowd.

However, Perkins slowed down the pace by locking in a kneebar - the move he had used to beat Ibushi in the last four - and even though Metalik wriggled free, the damage was done.

'King of the Ropes' Metalik had no choice but to tap when Perkins administered the kneebar for the second time, meaning Perkins will debut on Monday's edition of Raw as champion.

Triple H wraps the title around Perkins' waist

Metalik had ended Kent-born wrestler Zack Sabre, Jr's hopes of winning the Cruiserweight Title in the semi-finals, surviving a flurry of European Uppercuts to prevail with a Metalik Drive.

Sabre, Jr, known as The Technical Wizard, bent Metalik's body into a number of painful positions and even applied a triangle submission hold before he was beaten by the luchador.

Kent's Zack Sabre, Jr was edged out in the semi-finals

The 29-year-old could take solace from the fact he was the last Brit to be eliminated - Sabre beat Scotsman Noam Dar in the quarter-finals, while Mancunian Jack Gallagher made the round of 16.

WWE have confirmed that Dar will be part of Raw's new cruiserweight division alongside Perkins, Metalik, Swann, Brian Kendrick, Cedric Alexander and Lince Dorado.

Watch the cruiserweights make their WWE Raw bow from 1am on Monday night (Tuesday morning) on Sky Sports 5.