Beginning with an attack on Austin Aries on the April 10, 2017 episode of "Raw", Perkins formed an alliance with Neville and turned heel, shortening his ring name to "TJP". The alliance ended when Neville attacked TJP on the June 5 episode of "Raw". TJP failed to win the Cruiserweight Championship the following night on "205 Live" and then took a hiatus in order to rehab his knee. TJP returned on the January 2, 2018 episode of "205 Live". At Royal Rumble, he teamed with Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher in a losing effort against Gran Metalik, Kalisto and Lince Dorado. On the January 30 episode of "205 Live", TJP defeated Tyler Bate in the first round of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship tournament. He would go on to face eventual winner Cedric Alexander in the quarterfinals on the February 27 episode in a losing effort. TJP appeared again on September 4, challenging Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander in a non-title losing effort. TJP then began feuding with the Lucha House Party, consisting of Kalisto, Metalik and Dorado, forming an alliance with Mike and Maria Kanellis. In February 2019, TJP took part in the Worlds Collide tournament, but was eliminated by Dominik Dijakovic in the first round. On the February 19 episode of "205 Live", TJP was defeated by Humberto Carrillo in what would be his final WWE match. On February 22, 2019, Perkins was released from his WWE contract.