Jack Perry recently opened up about his experience with the Four Pillars storyline in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), describing it as the most miserable chapter of his career. Perry spoke candidly on why the storyline, involving himself, MJF, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara, left him frustrated and disconnected during that time.
Jack Perry’s Struggles Within the Four Pillars Story
In an interview with Haley Miller from VICE, Jack Perry expressed how difficult the Four Pillars storyline felt for him. He described feeling trapped and conflicted, believing the storyline primarily benefited just one participant and limited the growth of others involved.
The pillars thing up to that point was the most miserable I had ever been, I didn’t wanna do that at that time,
said Jack Perry.
I literally said, I begged, I was like, ‘Can we do this later? I feel like this is only really benefiting one person. And we all could grow so much more.’ I had just beaten Christian when that happened and then Christian got injured and that whole thing took way longer than it was supposed to.
Perry explained that after his victory over Christian, the injury delayed further plans, leaving him waiting without meaningful direction. He felt sidelined until Christian returned, saying:
“I was kinda floating around killing time until he got back so I could beat him. After I beat him, the next thing I got put in was that.”
Perry wished for a different approach, suggesting that other wrestlers like Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin also deserved a chance to be spotlighted, making the storyline’s outcome more open and significant.
How the Storyline Affected Perry’s Connection with Fans
The dissatisfaction Perry felt extended beyond the storyline’s creative direction; it impacted how fans perceived him. He shared that the audience’s enthusiasm for his character began to wane during this period, pushing him to reconsider his role and image.
I felt so not good about what I was doing at the point I was at. I really felt people were starting to turn on me a little there. And I thought, ‘I think I should lean into that and like make this story here. Am I gonna turn to win the world title?’
Perry noted that his idea to shift his character towards a heel direction was met with resistance from others who urged him to remain a fan-favorite, or “face,” citing his Jungle Boy persona.
However, Perry recognized that his character had become too passive, leading to diminishing interest from viewers. He noticed more engagement when he teased a darker turn, which reignited his own passion for performing.
The heel turn was like a whole new world for me. My main thing there was people told me, ‘you’re never gonna be able to be a heel.’ I knew I could. Obviously, I wasn’t the greatest in the world. There were parts of it that were rocky and I had to figure it out ’cause I’d been Jungle Boy my whole life. To me, it was just to prove that I could do it.
This quote highlights Perry’s determination to break out of his comfort zone and challenge perceptions within AEW.
Implications for Jack Perry and AEW’s Future Storylines
Perry’s reflections on the Four Pillars storyline reveal the complexities wrestlers face when balancing character development and audience expectations. His desire for a more inclusive narrative that highlighted multiple competitors points to potential opportunities for AEW to tailor multifaceted storylines.
By embracing a heel role, Perry demonstrated a willingness to evolve and engage fans in fresh ways. This experience may influence how AEW presents his character in future arcs, possibly allowing him greater creative freedom and a stronger connection with the audience. Meanwhile, the reception of his comments invites broader discussion on timing and creative direction within the wrestling world.
