Jack Perry has gone through a dramatic change since abandoning his ‘Jungle Boy’ persona at Forbidden Door this past June. Perry went on to become the first man in AEW history to defeat his former friend HOOK and capture the FTW Championship, using the belt to berate its origins in ECW and the wrestlers of that era – particularly ECW icon and HOOK’s father Taz.
Perry also took aim at another ECW mainstay in Jerry Lynn, who set up a match between the former Jungle Boy and the legendary Rob Van Dam for AEW Dynamite’s 200th episode. Despite the veteran’s valiant efforts, however, Perry ultimately came out on top thanks to a low blow and roll-up pin to sneak away with the victory. Now, fresh off his victory, the champion has revealed what’s next for him or rather what isn’t next: His title’s future!
“You can go ahead and call me ‘Mr. Wednesday Night’ because last week, I defeated the legend: Rob. Van. Dam,” Perry stated during last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite. “I am officially the greatest FTW Champion to ever live. But before some bozo comes along and tries to muck up the legacy that I’ve created, we are gonna get out whilst we’re on top. Because the only thing better than being the greatest, is being the last. So next week, live on Dynamite, I’m going to retire the FTW Championship.”
The FTW Championship was originally conceived and unveiled by Taz back in ECW in 1998. The belt’s only other holder was Sabu before it was combined with the ECW World Heavyweight Championship in March 1999 when Taz won back it back. The now-AEW commentator revived the belt two decades later and awarded it to Team Taz member Brian Cage. Cage eventually lost the title to Ricky Starks, who held the belt for over a year before losing it himself to HOOK after Team Taz dissolved.
Perry retiring the FTW title is currently the only segment announced for AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest, the final Dynamite before the company’s historic first show outside of North America takes place at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Last night’s Dynamite saw several announcements for All In including Will Ospreay vs Chris Jericho as well as The Golden Elite’s Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Hangman Page against Konosuke Takeshita and Jay White & Juice Robinson of Bullet Club Gold.
If you use any quotes from this article, please give a h/t to Haus of Wrestling.