Jack Perry Discusses Coming Up With His Scapegoat Character

Speaking to Renee Paquette on AEW Close Up, AEW wrestler Jack Perry discussed his career, and the period where he was away from TV after the incident involving CM Punk at AEW All In London 2023. From there, Jack Perry developed the Scapegoat character, which he debuted in NJPW. Below are some highlights:

Jack Perry on How He Came Up With His Scapegoat Character

“It just started as a word, the scapegoat thing, and I thought it was cool, and then I didn’t even know because I like I’ve always known the word. I didn’t know. I looked it up. And it was like, actually, like a real goat that people would like sacrifice to like the devil or something to to like to atone for your sins. They’re like, have this goat. And I thought that was cool. I was like this is like cool imagery here. So I thought of that and I came up with the idea of going to New Japan because I was like it’s kind of you want to like go to Japan in New Japan, or I wanted to go to Wrestle Kingdom, which I came up with the idea too late and it’s like you have to get a visa and all this stuff which I didn’t even know at the time, but I also thought it’s a good way to sort of let me do something and gauge the reaction for anyone here who’s worried about it. Also, I want to do something. And I’ve always wanted to go to New Japan. Hook and I a long time ago were trying to go to Japan together when we were tag teaming for a minute, and that didn’t work out either. But so yeah, I came up with this idea and Tony actually was very … Yeah, it was San Jose the first one. And that was the first time I’d been seen, and I’d grown a shitty beard and all this stuff. So, it just felt really cool though, cuz then people were like, ‘Oh my god, what’s going on here? This is like a totally new kind of thing.'”

On Taking the Gimmick Overseas to Japan

“Which I was like kind of worried no one was going to know who I was, and then. So, they did, and it was cool. And then I went to Japan, which was awesome. It was like two and a half weeks, maybe. But we I had like maybe two days off in that two and a half weeks. Which, you know, for normal wrestling schedules, like I guess that’s a normal thing. But I had not wrestled in like four months. So to go from like not wrestling in four months to like 14 matches, my body felt like horrible. And then I was in Japan and jet-lagged and like oh my god. But it was an amazing experience just to see Japan. But then also to like be a part of that locker room which is like an amazing locker room. My favorite part was these little post-match promo things they have because it’s you literally just come back and there’s no there’s not a knock on you guys, but like there’s no lights, there’s no good camera. There’s just like a guy with a camera, and there’s no like 3-2-1 go. It’s like they’re already rolling, so it’s like oh, like I can’t even breathe. And then like, but it kind of forces you to just be in the moment and like not overthink it and not worry and like, and I think that was really good for me just kind of taking the pressure off of these things.”

Jack Perry would eventually make his AEW TV return later in 2024 after finishing up in New Japan.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit AEW Close Up and give an H/T to 411Mania for the transcription.