Brian David Kendrick (born May 29, 1979) is an American professional wrestler currently wrestling on the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Kendrick has previously worked for Ring of Honor, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and various independent and Japanese promotions, usually under the ring name Spanky. In Japan his ring name is Leonardo Spanky, due to his resemblance to Leonardo DiCaprio.

Career

His first match, for the Texas Wrestling Alliance against fellow Texas Wrestling Academy graduate American Dragon, ended in a 10-min time limit draw and received a standing ovation. He proceeded to make a name for himself in UPW, Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE thanks to his great ringwork and the eccentric persona he crafted for himself. Spanky competed in the 2001 King Of Indies Tournament.

World Wrestling Entertainment

He was hired by then SmackDown! General Manager Stephanie McMahon after seeing his great performance in the ring. Before officially debuting as Brian "Spanky" Kendrick he wrestled on Velocity several weeks in a row, each time under a mask and using a new name that tied in with a specific cities sports team. In one such match he was known as Diamondback and defeated Sho Funaki. Spanky soon played a major role in the WWE's cruiserweight division and was teamed up with Paul London.

Brian's "Spanky" gimmick turned up after he interrupted then heel John Cena proclaiming his own hip-hop style was better and more cocky than Cena's own rap lifestyle. The confrontation between Kendrick and Cena resulted in Cena delivering his finisher, the FU, to Spanky, and started up a rivalry between the two wrestlers. However, Spanky was unfortunate on the rivalry after Cena won all the matches.

ROH & TNA

On January 13, 2004, Brian Kendrick requested to be released from his WWE contract for not getting enough money from house shows and to pursue a run with Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE in Japan. Kendrick had previously claimed in various interviews that he wasn't happy about Tough Enough winners getting bigger pushes, despite Kendrick working hard for his spot. He went on to wrestle for ZERO-ONE, Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla for a short time.

In August 2004, he signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He did not remain with the company long, only making two appearances. From January 2005 to August 2005, Kendrick competed for Ring of Honor and Zero One.

Return to WWE

On June 28, 2005, it was confirmed that Brian Kendrick had signed a new contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Spanky appeared on numerous Velocity tapings and live shows before his first re-appearance on SmackDown! on the November 18, 2005 special edition Eddie Guerrero tribute show. He participated in a Cruiserweight Battle Royal but lost to Juventud.

During this time, Kendrick would re-team with his former partner Paul London. The team would make their first reappearance on SmackDown! during the December 2, 2005 edition.

London and Kendrick continued to wrestle both as a tag team and singularly on Velocity for several weeks before being involved in a short feud with the debuting Gymini.

Kendrick along with London returned to Velocity before participating in a non-title match against the WWE Tag Team Champions, MNM (Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury) on the February 10, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, which London and Kendrick were unable to win. On April 7 edition of SmackDown! London and Kendrick would once again face MNM, this time picking up a win over the reigning Tag Team champions in a non-title match. London and Kendrick would continue their winning streak on the champions, including singles victories for both Kendrick and London on both MNM members Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury respectively. London and Kendrick defeated MNM at Judgment Day 2006 to win the WWE Tag Team Championship a few weeks later, thus defeating MNM in singles and tag team matches six times in a row altogether.

As WWE Tag Team Champions, Kendrick and London would go on to successfully defend their titles against other tag teams on the SmackDown! brand; including The Mexicools, The Pit Bulls, and KC James & Idol Stevens. While feuding with James and Stevens, London and Kendrick would be accompanied by Ashley who acted as a valet to the team to combat the actions of James and Stevens' manager Michelle McCool.

On October 14, 2006 London and Kendrick became the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions of all time, surpassing MNM's previous record of 145 days. However, the team soon went on a losing streak to the new team of William Regal and Dave Taylor. Regal defeated both team members in singles matches and, on the December 8, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, Kendrick and London lost a non-title tag team match to the pair. However, during a scheduled title defense at Armageddon 2006, London and Kendrick would not only retain the title against Regal and Taylor, but would also win a fatal four-way ladder match which also involved MNM and The Hardys.

On February 2, 2007, London and Kendrick suffered a non-title loss to the rookie team Deuce 'N Domino, in what was their third match on the main show. However, in a title match at No Way Out 2007 London and Kendrick would retain the titles.

Kendrick and London would later begin a very short feud with MNM which would in turn make Ashley the team's valet. The feud would end with Kendrick and London once again retaining the WWE Tag Team Championship against MNM.

On April 20, 2007, London and Kendrick lost the WWE Tag Team Championship to Deuce 'N Domino on the 400th episode of Smackdown!, ending their 334 days as champions in Milan, Italy.

In the May 2007 issue of WWE Magazine, Kendrick revealed he is engaged.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• Sliced Bread #2 (Springboard backflip three quarter facelock diving reverse DDT)
• Cyclone DDT (Springboard tornado DDT)
• Dr. Smoothe’s Secret Recipe (Corner backflip dropkick)
• Dr. Teeth (Over-the-shoulder facebreaker onto the knee)
• Electric Mayhem (Knee smash off an elevated position)
• Left Turn At Albuquerque (Turning frog splash)
• Whirling Twirlixer (Somersault corkscrew plancha)
• Hurricanrana
• Leg lariat
• Superkick
• Flying forearm smash

• WWE masked personas

Each one was a representation of a hometown's sports team, depending on where he wrestled.

• The Diamondback – January 11 2003 edition of Velocity in Tucson, Arizona
• The Jet – January 18 2003 edition of Velocity in East Rutherford, New Jersey
• The River Rat – January 25 2003 edition of Velocity in Albany, New York
• The Roughrider – January 25 2003 SmackDown! house show in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• The Pittsburgh Penguin – March 13 2003 edition of SmackDown! in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Theme music

• "Hey You" – WWE (current)
• "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion (techno remix) – in Japan (as Leonardo Spanky).
• "Quality Control" by Jurassic 5 – ROH
• "Danger! High Voltage!" by Electric Six – ROH
• "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera – ROH & TWA

Championships and accomplishments

• Full Impact Pro
  • FIP Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sal Rinauro
• Memphis Championship Wrestling
  • MCW Southern Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with American Dragon
• Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE / ZERO1-MAX
  • ZERO-ONE International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Low Ki and Kaz Hayashi
  • ZERO1-MAX International Championship (1 time)
• Texas Wrestling Alliance
  • TWA Television Championship (1 time)
  • TWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with American Dragon
• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Paul London

Media

• Danger! Danger!: The Best of Spanky (ROH DVD)

See also

• Paul London and Brian Kendrick

External links

• WWE Profile