Perry talks Windy City Riot
Assuming the nickname of the Scapegoat, Jack Perry came into New Japan Pro-Wrestling openly accepting his status as pariah. Leaving AEW in a bluster of online and backstage hate, Perry didn’t shy away from the heat when he debuted in Ota on March 6, defeating Shota Umino and in the process joining HOUSE OF TORTURE. Now with a rematch with the Roughneck on the cards April 12 in Chicago, we spoke to Perry about his path to the HOUSE, and what lies in his NJPW future.
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I’ll make my own way
–We first saw you at Battle in the Valley in San Jose, where you attacked Shota Umino. You haven’t been a part of AEW since the summer; why did you choose to come to NJPW?
Perry: Well Japan for me is an opportunity, not to start over, but start a new chapter without having to apologise or pretend to be sorry for the actions of other people. It’s a way that I can stay true to myself and continue to grow despite everything that’s gone on.
–After you targeted Shota Umino in San Jose, you ripped up your AEW contract. What was going through your mind in that moment?
Perry: Ripping that contract was a declaration ‘I’m not playing by your rules anymore’. If (AEW) are too afraid to have me anymore, if the spectre of Jack Perry is too much, they don’t want to deal with the conversations, the ramifications that brings, then that’s fine.
–Certainly your last moments in AEW were very controversial.
Perry: I don’t need them. I will go by myself across the world, all by myself, without any of my friends, without any of the things I’m used to, anything that’s been my life for the last five years, and I’ll do it on my own, make my own way.
–So with that in mind, can we say you’re no longer AEW’s Jack Perry? Are you NJPW’s Jack Perry? A freelancing Jack Perry? Or HOUSE OF TORTURE’s Jack Perry?
Perry: Some of these things are unclear even to me, but I would say this- loyalty is a two way street, and I show loyalty to those who are loyal to me. As of now, certain parties have been very good to me, and I intend to repay that.
The only reason you ever do anything for other people is to get something in return
–Why of all people would you target Shota Umino when you made your first steps in NJPW?
Perry: The thing about Shota is there are a lot of similarities between him now and who I used to be. He’s a young guy, a good looking guy. And I can see when I look at him that he’s really doing everything he does for the people. The only reason you ever do anything for other people is to get something in return.
–Shota Umino was labelled last year as one of the ‘Reiwa Three Musketeers’, not unlike how AEW positioned you as one of its ‘Four Pillars’.
Perry: Yeah, I was a golden boy once, I was a ‘pillar’ if you will. I really let other people’s perceptions of me guide my actions. But at the end of the day I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted to. I realised I was never going to perform optimally if I was worried about the expectations of other people. That’s the position he’s in right now. If he was to be honest with himself, he’s not getting the results that he wants to have. The moment he realises that it’s other people’s expectations that are holding him down, he will be way better off for it.
–How do you feel about Shota Umino’s connections to Jon Moxley?
Perry: It’s interesting that even though we’ve worked in the same company, I’ve never crossed paths in the ring with Jon Moxley. He’s pretty much universally respected, somebody that calls himself the Ace of the World, and there’s a good case for that. But when it comes to him and Shota… From personal experience, I used to have a mentor, and there’s a lot you can get from that, but at a certain point there are things you can’t figure out unless you’re on your own. He needs to have the balls to step away from the comfort of someone who’s been around much longer and can lay the foundations for you. I’m sure he’s benefitted a lot from Moxley. Let’s see what you’ve got when it’s just you.
I’m not shying away from the blame
–Can you sum up exactly what the ‘Scapegoat’ name means to you?
Perry: I think it’s ingrained in human nature to be afraid of blame, and the disapproval of others. At the end of the day, that’s weakness. That’s a weak mindset, a weak soul. If you know the truth, what good is the opinion of other people? If you know the truth, you have power. I’m not shying away from the blame. If you need me to be the Scapegoat because you don’t have the bravery to stand up for your own actions, then that’s fine. I’m man enough to take that blame from all of us and I’m not going to shy away from it.
–Certainly anyone who joins HOUSE OF TORTURE has to be comfortable with accepting blame and hate. Did you feel a connection to H.O.T, or did you simply feel that you wanted to be with the most hated faction in professional wrestling?
Perry: I wasn’t really expecting what’s come about, but I’m certainly not upset about it. I almost feel comfortable here now. Being one of if not probably the most hated wrestlers in North America, as I start a new chapter in Japan, why not pick up as I left off? As I said, people, especially where I came from, are afraid. They don’t want to confront what’s looking at them in the eyes. These guys aren’t afraid. They deal with all this sh*t from people every day. I respect that. Deal with it, move forward and be who you want to be, not what people expect you to be.
–Ren Narita has taken a very similar path to your own, connected to Shota Umino and now in HOUSE OF TORTURE. Do you feel a lot in common with him?
Perry: Definitely Ren and I have shared a similar path. I’ve been in a few teams in my career, and there’s a lot you can get from a good partner, a lot you can learn about yourself. but at the end of the day, everyone has to make the decision to bet on themselves. I respect that he had the confidence and the balls to make the decision he had to make.
The reaction I know I’m going to get is exactly what this is all about
–Narita has said that HOUSE OF TORTURE represents ‘true Strong Style’, which is an opinion a lot of fans take issue with. Coming from outside, what does the idea of Strong Style mean to you?
Perry: I would say HOUSE OF TORTURE represents what I understand Strong Stye to be. I think at the start of my wrestling career I was so caught up in this idea of ‘virtue’ of following the rules and doing what it is you’re supposed to do. I’ve seen first hand more than anyone, what does any of that really matter? People in real life can’t tell a good guy from a bad guy when they’re staring them right in the face. The most important thing is whether or not you’re successful. Instead of sacrificing yourself for these morals you think are so important, sometimes it’s being underhanded that gets you where you want to be.
–You defeated Umino in Ota at Anniversary, and now it’s a direct rematch in Chicago. There’s no doubt you’ll be public enemy number one there. What do you expect to be different in this rematch April 12?
Perry: I imagine people think I’ll be off my game in Chicago, and they couldn’t be more wrong. I’m absolutely thrilled to be back in the Windy City. The reaction that I know I’m going to get is exactly what this is all about. I’ve made it very clear that I’m not going to apologise to anybody, and I won’t pretend that things didn’t go down the way they did. I can’t wait to be in front of all these people who think they know what it’s all about, hearing what they think of me. I’ll be in my home country, but it doesn’t feel like my home anymore. So Shota, come over, give me your best shot, but if you think it’s going to be any easier, you’re sadly mistaken.
