Backstage Note on Jack Perry’s NJPW Appearance – As noted, Jack Perry made a surprising return to wrestling at the NJPW Battle in the Valley event, marking a significant moment in his career.
During the show, following a six-man tag match where Fred Rosser, Jacob Fatu, and Shota Umino triumphed over Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs, and Tom Lawlor, a post-match attack unfolded. Perry, donning a mask, targeted Umino, adding an element of intrigue to the event. What followed was a symbolic act as Perry tore up an AEW contract and donned an armband with the inscription “SCAPEGOAT.”
In a recent discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer highlighted an interesting aspect of Perry’s surprise appearance. The security team at the event was reportedly not informed about the planned angle. Consequently, when Perry unmasked and carried out the attack, security initially perceived it as an unexpected intrusion. It took a few moments for both the security team and the audience to grasp the unfolding scenario, with Perry’s altered appearance adding a layer of surprise. Eventually, as his identity became clear, the revelation that it was Jungle Boy generated a notable reaction from the crowd, contributing to the overall excitement of the moment.
“So, when Jack Perry was unmasked, the security didn’t know about this angle, so that was kind of interesting. They thought it was a fan hitting the ring after shooting Shota, but they were quickly told it wasn’t. Then, he unmasked, and it was Jack Perry. And at first, people didn’t really. I think it took like a few seconds because he looks a little different. Not that much. But people kind of didn’t know who he was. And then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘oh my God, it’s Jungle Boy,’ you know?”
Backstage Note on Jack Perry’s NJPW Appearance
