Jason Baker, known for his special effects work, has recently been blending his talents between Hollywood and WWE. His latest film, The Jester 2, will be released nationwide on September 15th and 16th through Fathom Entertainment. Alongside his film career, Baker has crafted memorable looks for WWE Superstars, including the late Bray Wyatt, making him a familiar name among wrestling fans.
In an interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Baker explained his role as the special makeup effects supervisor on The Jester 2 and discussed the challenges involved in designing the character’s updated appearance.
Creating a New Yet Familiar Look for The Jester Character
Baker’s company was responsible for all the special makeup effects in the film, working closely with director Colin Krawchuk and actor Michael Sheffield, who portrays the Jester. After departing somewhat from the original appearance of the Jester seen in the earlier short films, the team aimed to revisit that iconic style while injecting fresh creativity into the design.
“So that was sort of our first goal was figuring out, ‘How can we do an homage to the original short films and the first mask that they had, but also take it in a new direction and make it something that is fun and unique?’ I’m really proud of what we landed on. I think it’s a really fun, different look, and I’m really excited to see what people think of it.”
—Jason Baker, Special Makeup Effects Supervisor
How Horror and Wrestling Worlds Intersect for Fans
When asked about the crossover appeal between horror movies like The Jester 2 and the pro wrestling audience, Baker noted that while the film’s story doesn’t draw directly from wrestling tropes, he believes the fanbases significantly overlap.
“I don’t know. The Jester doesn’t cash in on anybody. There’s no run-ins. The ending is not a schmoz,”
Baker joked.
“But that’s the beautiful thing. I’ve never met a wrestling fan that’s not really a horror fan or vice versa. So I just really hope the wrestling community enjoys it as much as the horror community does.”
—Jason Baker, Special Makeup Effects Supervisor
Baker’s contributions to WWE extend beyond Bray Wyatt, having created masks and makeup effects for other superstars such as Shinsuke Nakamura and Rhea Ripley. He described his collaborations with WWE talents as highly inspiring and highlighted that some of his work has gone unnoticed on WWE television despite its impact.
Jason Baker’s Role in Shaping Chelsea Green’s Cactus Jack Persona
One of Baker’s recent and notable projects involved helping Chelsea Green, then WWE Women’s United States Champion, develop her gritty street fight look on the March 7 episode of SmackDown. Green adopted a homage to Mick Foley’s Cactus Jack character, and Baker created a specially designed mouthpiece that made her appear toothless, enhancing the authenticity of her tribute.
Explaining the collaboration, Baker said Green was enthusiastic to embody the hardcore persona, and he contributed by crafting a custom mouth guard that visually echoed Mick Foley’s rugged image.
“Chelsea Green, she had a hardcore match, so she was like, ‘I’m gonna dress up like Cactus Jack.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, let me make you a mouth guard that looks like you’re missing teeth like Mick Foley,’ and that way I can just kind of add to [her cosplay idea]. She loved it. We made that for her and gave it to her. Just little fun stuff like that.”
—Jason Baker, Special Makeup Effects Supervisor
“That’s half the fun of working with WWE and working with the talent, is that it’s such a collaborative process. Good ideas come from anywhere if you’re listening. It’s so much fun getting to just kind of spitball ideas with people. Every day I go to work, I’m really fortunate. I’m really excited to see what comes next.”
—Jason Baker, Special Makeup Effects Supervisor
The Rising Impact and Recognition of Chelsea Green in WWE
Bill Pritchard observed how Chelsea Green consistently elevates every segment she participates in, earning acclaim from fellow wrestlers. Baker echoed that view, highlighting Green’s ahead-of-the-curve talent and predicting her growing legacy within the wrestling world.
“I say it all the time. In ten years, people will go back and study Chelsea Green’s tapes. I don’t think the audience realizes the genius that is Chelsea Green right now,”
Baker remarked.
“I think she’s so far ahead of the curve that people are going to go back and look at her and be like, ‘This was so much more than we realized what she was doing.’”
—Jason Baker, Special Makeup Effects Supervisor
Upcoming Releases and Next Steps
Fans interested in more of Jason Baker’s work can look forward to the full interview with him on WrestleZone, set for release this Monday. Meanwhile, tickets for the nationwide screenings of The Jester 2 are currently available through Fathom Entertainment, offering both wrestling and horror fans the chance to experience Baker’s latest creative efforts.
