At 26 years of age, Jack Perry has barely scratched the floor of his potential, and but he’s already racked up spectacular victories over among the greatest stars in All Elite Wrestling. So, M&F sat down with the present FTW Champion to learn the way he trains for these big-time matches, and what it’s truly wish to step between the ropes and wrestle among the greatest monsters ever to enter the squared circle.
“I’m by no means gonna be the most important man, and I type of like that,” says Jack Perry. After all, athletic efficiency isn’t measured by muscle dimension, and in 2019, professional wrestling followers discovered that this man’s coronary heart was as huge as a lion’s. Having made his debut in 2015, on the Los Angeles impartial scene, Perry joined AEW as one of many firm’s first signings in 2019. In November of that very same yr, the younger upstart (who was then going beneath the identify “Jungle Boy”) was challenged by AEW Champion Chris Jericho to try to final 10-minutes with the titleholder with out shedding. Luckily, he did simply that, and earned a ton of respect amongst critics and followers for doing so.
“That was enormous for me, as a result of the present (Dynamite) was model new at the moment, but additionally at the moment, I felt like a really small fish in a model new, enormous, pond,” remembers Perry. “You already know, I’m strolling round backstage and there’s a bunch of those guys who I’ve seemed as much as … after which fairly early on I get thrown in there with Chris Jericho, who just about is the most important fish of all of them. So, that was a extremely nerve wracking expertise, however I’m additionally kinda glad that I acquired to do one thing like that so up entrance, and felt that I may grasp at that time.”
Whereas “Jungle” Jack Perry was exhibiting flashes of brilliance as a single competitor, his alignment with the “Jurassic Specific” faction noticed him working numerous tag-matches, repeatedly teaming up with the 6’ 5”, 275 pound man mountain often known as Luchasaurus. In January 0f 2022, Perry and Luchasuarus grew to become AEW World Tag Group Champions they usually held on to these titles for 161 days, however following a loss to The Younger Bucks in a ladder match, the group quickly disbanded, finally resulting in matches in opposition to his former mentor, Christian Cage, and former companion, Luchasuarus — in a metal cage. Having wrestled with the likes of Chris
Jericho, Christian Cage, and Luchasaurus, Perry is aware of what it means to step contained in the ropes and carry out on the highest stage.
This professional wrestler’s high-flying wrestling arsenal is exhilarating to observe, however don’t be fooled into pondering that Perry isn’t severely sturdy. He additionally got here up with a brutal trying operating elbow to the again of the pinnacle that may change the dynamic of any match inside seconds.
“That (transfer) was one thing I intentionally considered as a result of, I really feel like being a smaller man, numerous instances I get thrashed round in these matches and I’ve had my head smashed a pair instances and I used to be pondering that numerous my strikes are fancy and funky trying, however they don’t essentially do numerous injury, a few of them. I used to be pondering, I’d wish to have a transfer, that I can put proper in on the finish of the match after these guys have been punting me across the complete time, and make them pay with it.”
Taking his elbow and smashing it into the again of his opponents actually does the trick. However what about getting right into a metal cage? How does Perry really feel about that?
Jack Perry explains what it’s wish to wrestle inside AEW’s metal cage
“The metal cage (match in opposition to Luchasaurus) was truly certainly one of my prime 5 favourite matches,” shares Perry, who says that this was his first ever cage match. “And, there was so much going into that one for me as a result of that was somebody who had been my companion for a really very long time and certainly one of my closest mates. I began wrestling after I was round 10, and Luchasaurus was in the identical newcomers wrestling class that I used to be in. He was only a bit older … You already know you see (these matches) on TV and really feel type of aware of them, after which the time comes the place you’re strolling by means of the door and it’s type of like ‘Oh, s**t, I’m truly on this factor.’”
Perry was thrown round his inaugural cage bout like a rag doll. “I feel folks might need misconceptions about how (the cage) may really feel,” he says. “That factor is simply straight up metallic. It’s tough in your pores and skin and I acquired minimize fairly early on in that one. In direction of the tip of that match, I climbed as much as the highest of it, to leap off, and it’s increased than it appears to be like (on TV), it’s loud in there, there’s a bunch occurring, so I feel it’s undoubtedly a frightening type of expertise however truly I actually, actually, loved it and the match that got here out of it.”
Throughout that grueling metal cage match, Perry hoisted Luchasaurus up for a piledriver, and delayed the execution, holding up the 275-pound monster for what appeared like an eternity earlier than lastly driving him down headfirst towards the canvas. Such strikes require unimaginable core energy. “That was cool. Considered one of my favourite moments and really the primary piledriver that I’d ever given to anyone,” says Perry. “And at that time, I’d already been bleeding for round 10 minutes or so. When it got here time to do it, I used to be like ‘Oh boy, let’s see what we acquired left in right here.’ However, I feel it was a extremely cool visible, that one. The slower nature of it.”
Perry says that he likes to rise to energy challenges corresponding to that epic second, because it surprises those that solely count on him to do the extra highflying sorts of strikes. “in my preparation, and exercise, I attempt to be all-round fairly sturdy,” he says.
Jack Perry says he’s studying from the positives, and steering away from the negatives to develop as a expertise
Having defeated ECW legend Taz’s son, “Hook,” for the unsanctioned FTW (F*** The World) title again in July, Perry understands the significance of continuous his legacy with the help of those who paved the way in which earlier than him.
“I really feel like one of many nice issues about AEW is that there are such a lot of folks, who’re so good at what they do, whether or not they be in-ring folks of behind the scenes. That match with Chris Jericho modified my outlook on numerous stuff. So early in, I noticed the way in which that issues are finished at this stage, particularly with somebody like him, and it was totally different than what I’d been used to on the time. Even simply being in there with the blokes, seeing what they do and seeing the way it works, I kinda take little bits and items and suppose ‘It’s fairly cool how he did that’ or why this man did what he did. So, I feel, on a regular basis I simply try to preserve an open thoughts and see what’s occurring round me, see what I like, and likewise what I don’t like as a result of there’s numerous that occurring too. Stuff that I see, that I’m not an enormous than of and I simply suppose ‘Nicely, I’ll keep away from that.’”
On the subject of holding the FTW title, Jack Perry understands the significance of its lineage and says that he feels proud to put on the belt. A number of weeks in the past, on AEW’s weekly present; Wednesday evening “Dynamite,” Perry defeated an ECW authentic and bona fide celebrity when he took on the 52-year-old wrestling icon, Rob Van Dam. It was a match that surpassed many individuals expectations, with RVD exhibiting that he has loads of fuel left within the tank, however for Perry, there was by no means any doubt that his former hero turned opponent would give him all the pieces that he had. “
That was a match that I actually needed to have,” he says. “Simply from a fan perspective, I used to be an enormous fan of Rob again within the day. I nonetheless am. I used to be actually excited simply to be part of it and to be in there with a man who I had been such a fan of as a child. And, additionally, I used to be type of excited to see [him] up shut and private. For those who have a look at it, the issues he does are superb. Numerous it’s stuff that, even at the moment, no person is ready to emulate. And, I assume his slogan, or no matter, is ‘Considered one of a Variety’ however I actually suppose with him, greater than lots of people, that’s truly the case.”
So, together with his profession on the up, Perry has all the pieces to maintain working for, however at simply 26 years of age, he isn’t just navigating pressures contained in the circle, however exterior of it as effectively. This professional wrestler’s new, darker, on-screen character is permitting him to show components of his character that weren’t potential with the shackles of the extra cartoonish “Jungle Boy” however coping with followers and backstage critics is maybe his most present studying curve. “I actually felt that it was time for a change, and I’ve type of been ready on that change for some time,” says Perry of his current ‘heel ‘ flip. “And, actually, numerous it type of grew by means of actual frustrations that I assume I used to be having within the office, but additionally with sure wrestling followers. I really feel it’s type of break up down the center. So, numerous wrestling followers are the perfect followers you’ll ever discover, and numerous them are simply very ungrateful and cynical, and type of simply in search of a motive to speak s**t about folks, and I felt like over time I’d been getting fed up.” As a “unhealthy man,” Perry not wants the cheers of the gang, and says he feels all of the freer due to it.
Luckily, at the same time as a self-professed arduous gainer in the case of constructing muscle, Perry is ready to clear his head of the perils of being a professional wrestler by exercising, typically opting to go exterior and have enjoyable within the parts. However, in the case of the fitness center, his go-to is the bench press. “The bench is certainly my strongest elevate,” he says. Perry additionally likes to squat and deadlift when his physique is just not too tight and beat up from his busy wrestling schedule.
Jack Perry is happy with his progress thus far in AEW
Longtime followers of the grapple scene will recall that Perry was first on professional wrestling tv screens merely as a fan when he attended WWE SummerSlam in 2009 together with his father; the late, nice actor, Luke Perry. Whereas dad is not within the crowd, he’s all the time there in spirit. “I feel he’d be digging it,” says Jack. “We talked so much about wrestling, clearly as I used to be arising, doing it, and I acquired his enter on numerous stuff. He was nonetheless with us after I signed my first AEW contract, and we have been each, kinda, simply over the moon about it. I feel he, as I’m, could be actually pleased with the progress and the journey of the entire thing.”
After all, in the case of making his followers and household proud, there might be no higher time to do this, than when AEW rocks London, England, on August 27, the place, on the ALL IN pay-per-view from the enormous Wembley Stadium, greater than 80,000 followers are anticipated for one of many greatest occasions in professional wrestling historical past. “Folks wish to see AEW, and what that entails,” says Jack Perry. “And I simply suppose, to be part of an organization like that, to have been right here for the reason that very starting, to see it culminate on this enormous occasion with folks all all over the world paying their cash to come back and see us, it’s an actual particular factor that’s occurring.”
