Jack Perry tears up AEW contract in shock return at NJPW Battle in the Valley

This is probably not the way you expected AEW wrestler Jack Perry to return to wrestling.

Although All In London featured standout matches and was AEW’s largest event ever, it was overshadowed by a backstage incident between CM Punk and Jack Perry. This conflict resulted in Punk’s termination days later from the company and an indefinite suspension for Perry from AEW.

Punk has since made his unforgettable WWE return, appearing at the end of Survivor Series while joining the build to WrestleMania season. However, Perry has been quiet, not making an appearance since his loss to Hook at All In, and there has been no hint of his comeback to AEW.

On Saturday night at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Battle in the Valley, that all changed when Perry made a shocking return under a mask. He attacked Shota Umino, tore up an AEW contract, and put an armband on that said “scapegoat.”

AEW and NJPW have had a talent exchange the last few years, which included Bryan Danielson competing at Wrestle Kingdom 18 earlier this month and Eddie Kingston becoming the NJPW Strong Champion. Therefore, this could simply be a continuation of that, with Perry finally bringing his highly publicized real-life situation to the ring.

The NJPW World tweet, which is directly associated with NJPW, also labels him as “AEW’s Jack Perry.” This gives us enough of a hint that he’s still an AEW talent.

As he officially returns to pro wrestling, all eyes are on his eventual appearance on AEW programming. This may be delayed if he enters a storyline with New Japan, but when he does eventually come back at Dynamite, Rampage, Collision or a pay-per-view, it will undoubtedly make waves to see how AEW uses him post-suspension.

Perry is certainly incorporating what happened last year with the armband used at Battle in the Valley, so let’s see how much he will integrate real life into the ring.

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