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At AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023, there were many phenomenal matches and incredible moments. However, one moment in particular saw Hook blindsided by his tag team partner and ally, Jungle Boy. This came as a shock to fans, as Jungle Boy had been a long time babyface in the promotion. It truly was a surprising moment. However, it is also a welcome and necessary change for one of AEW’s most notable up-and-coming stars. It is a new era for Jungle Boy, and one that he ushered in a major way on the June 28, 2023, edition of Dynamite. A heel Jungle Boy is a welcome change for him.
Jungle Boy Has Been Without Direction For A While
Ever since he had signed with AEW, it was apparent that big things were destined for Jungle Boy. He had been a member of an incredibly successful and popular tag team in Jurassic Express with Luchasaurus. They are former AEW World Tag Team Champions and faced off against some of the very best AEW had to offer. In addition, Jungle Boy also showed how talented he was as a singles competitor, with matches against the likes of Kenny Omega, Darby Allin, MJF, Cody Rhodes, and more. He had shown time and time again that he was able to hang with the very best and put on match of the night contenders.
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Following Jungle Boy’s split and feud with Christian Cage and Luchasaurus, it could have catapulted him to big levels. To an extent this did happen, with him being a part of the four way match for the AEW World Title at Double or Nothing 2023 against MJF, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara. He also challenged SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at Forbidden Door 2023. However, for the most part, Jungle Boy was directionless. He was paired with Hook in a tag team, but it did not truly benefit either one of them. In addition, Jungle Boy did not break out to be a major big time babyface at the top of the card. He was getting lukewarm receptions from the crowd night after night.
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Jungle Boy's Heel Turn Came At The Perfect Time
This is not to say that Jungle Boy was not a good babyface. For a very long time, he was. However, AEW did not capitalize on making him a big time star after his feud with Christian Cage and Luchasaurus. In contrast, Luchasaurus went on to win the TNT Title with help from Cage. It was time for something new for Jungle Boy. At Forbidden Door 2023, he turned his back on Hook and attacked him following a loss to SANADA.
Jungle Boy followed up his shocking betrayal of Hook by delivering a very strong promo on the Dynamite after Forbidden Door. Dressed in a way similar to Christian Cage during his promo after turning on Jungle Boy, he meant business. He rejected fans singing his popular entrance song, “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora, and told them that it would never be heard again. He bragged about his youth, the money he was making, and made reference to his real life relationship with Anna Jay. He also questioned fans for not giving him the proper respect that he deserved and for their love of Hook, even mocking the FTW Title and how it is not recognized by AEW. He called Hook a “fraud.”
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A Fresh Direction For Both Jungle Boy And Hook
It was a Jungle Boy that fans had not seen at all during his time in AEW. It was not a lukewarm reception, he was getting genuine boos and disapproval from the fans. It was a well done heel turn by AEW. Not only was Jungle Boy having an issue with lack of direction, but Hook was also. Though he is incredibly popular and beloved by fans, Hook had not been involved in a major storyline for his character in a while. This feud will pit two of AEW’s biggest up-and-coming stars against each other in a rivalry.
While Jungle Boy did well as a babyface, it will truly be interesting to see this part of his character explored further in AEW. It is something that has a lot of potential for him as he embarks on this new era of his career. He gained the title of a “Pillar” for good reason and that was due to the amount of incredible talent that he possesses. There are numerous possibilities with a heel Jungle Boy in AEW and the storylines that he will be in. And to begin it with Hook, an incredibly popular babyface, is the perfect start for Jungle Boy’s next chapter.
