Characters Discussed: "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry, Hook, Luchasaurus, Christian Cage, Sanada.
Brief Mentions: Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, Rush, MJF, Chris Jericho, Danhausen.
Jack Perry is the epitome of a face and a name. You know who he is; you like the song Tarzan Boy by Baltimora and do the little wave. But that's it. He has all of these factors to make him a good character, he has a former tag-team partner who turned on him in Luchasaurus, a lackluster heel father figure of Christian Cage, and he's made connections. He has had notable interactions with the pillars like Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin. He knows how to talk on the mic and has had a notable history of matches with exciting characters; he's fought Kenny Omega, who is the literal face of the company as well as Rush, MJF, Chris Jericho, and Luchasaurus, who are all unique competitors, bound to gain attention. But he just didn't. He's a capable athlete who has significantly developed in the past few years, yet his character was constantly static.
You could see on Twitter that he was just... there before any of Forbidden Door 2 happened. A few pieces of fan art or opinion pieces, people fawning over his appearance (guilty), but it's not a lot for a guy who is supposedly a pillar maintaining the company's status. He's a goodie two shoes, you could see in Double or Nothing (05/28/23), as he had the opportunity to use the belt as a weapon, but he just couldn't because he's too good. He also used Christian's signature move; it was for a whole bit with the other three guys using their mentor's move but thinking about it now, it could have meant more than that. He started to be known exclusively for being the nice guy who always fights fair,
"Oh he's too nice to cheat. That's why he keeps getting his ass handed to him."
And he has been physically selling, being conflicted. He's always so hesitant, with wide eyes and a neutral expression, he was at a standstill character-wise, and the combination of Sanada and Hook pushed him over the edge. He wants anything to happen to him; he wants to be a part of something larger; you could tell by his reaction to the first Collision and Luchasaurus and how quick and weird the teaming with Hook ended up being. Sanada just called him out, plain and simple,
"I don't know who you are, I don't know what you've done for these past few years because none of it was notable."
The thing with Hook is that he's a reliable, good guy. He'll have your back if you'll have his too. He won't help you through speaking; the character doesn't really talk or go up to bat for others because that just isn't him. If it were anyone else, they would have highlighted his strength as a competitor and his memorable matches. Having someone at the side of the ring, like Christian Cage, is great because he cheats for his guy's benefit, and anyone can benefit from having a sizeable scary man like Luchasaurus on the side keeping watch. The supposed friendship between Jack and Hook was weak; it was more or less coworkers with a common goal since Danhausen is still on sick leave. Hook just watched, same goes for Sanada's friend on the side, making it a fair fight, but you know Christian would have "helped" out when Jack "needed" it. And that was the breaking point, sure Hook would support you on the side, but that's all. He didn't defend your ego or try to protect you as you did for him (05/31/23) (12/28/22), but that's fine!
I love him being evil. It was super predictable, but that doesn't matter because I'm excited for Jack to fight Hook, but oh my goodness, I want Christian to ask for Jack to come back with him, but I want Jack to deny him. So Christian and Luchasaurus practically stalk him and ask him to make Jungle Express again until Jack gives in and joins them. All I want is for a horrible Christian to give his horrible boy a horrible hug; the same goes for Luchasaurus. But anyways, I want Jungle Express v. Hookhausen, and I want Luchasaurus to crush Danhausen like an empty soda can.