Jack Perry returned to AEW at Sunday night’s Dynasty 2024 pay-per-view event, helping The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) defeat FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships.
On a recent edition of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Bully Ray shared his perspective on Jack’s return to AEW in light of the company airing the All In 2023 backstage footage between CM Punk and Perry.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On being uncertain about Perry’s heel run: “I would’ve thought because CM Punk put his hands on Jungle Boy first, that gave Jungle Boy has a reason to be the babyface in this whole situation. And Jungle Boy could come out and say, ‘Yeah, Punk approached me, we were having a conversation. I might have said something that the veteran didn’t like; I wasn’t trying to be intentionally disrespectful, but then he pushed me. I had no recourse — I had to try and fight back. I had to try and do something. And the reason I tried to do something, at the end of the day, is because I really love AEW, and I appreciate this company, and Tony has given me a chance.’”
On him needing to be a babyface: “Go over, over the top babyface with this. Now you got something. The kid defended the company. You gonna make him a heel? First thing I wanna chant at him is ‘CM Punk.’”
Jack Perry, also known as Jungle Boy, made a triumphant return to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) at the Dynasty 2024 pay-per-view event on Sunday night. Perry’s comeback was marked by his assistance to The Young Bucks in their victory over FTR for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships.
The significance of Perry’s return was discussed on a recent episode of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast by Bully Ray, a former professional wrestler. Ray shared his perspective on Perry’s return in light of AEW airing backstage footage from All In 2023, where CM Punk and Perry had an altercation.
One of the points raised by Ray was his uncertainty about Perry’s heel run. He believed that since CM Punk initiated physical contact with Jungle Boy first, it would have made more sense for Perry to portray a babyface character. Ray suggested that Jungle Boy could have explained how Punk approached him during a conversation and pushed him, leading to Jungle Boy defending himself. This would have established Jungle Boy as a babyface who fought back because of his love for AEW and gratitude towards Tony Khan for giving him an opportunity.
Ray emphasized the need for Jungle Boy to be portrayed as a babyface, urging AEW to go all out with this character direction. He believed that if Jungle Boy defended the company and its values, it would create a strong connection with the audience. However, Ray expressed concern that turning Jungle Boy into a heel might result in fans chanting “CM Punk” at him, which could overshadow his character development.
Perry’s return to AEW has generated excitement among fans, as they eagerly anticipate how his storyline will progress and whether he will continue as a babyface or transition into a heel role. AEW has been known for its innovative storytelling and unexpected twists, so it remains to be seen how they will handle Perry’s character moving forward.
As AEW continues to push the boundaries of professional wrestling, the return of Jack Perry adds another layer of intrigue to the promotion’s ongoing narrative. Fans will undoubtedly be tuning in to see how Perry’s character evolves and what impact he will have on the AEW roster.