On January 17, 2023, the wrestling community was shaken by the tragic news of Jaymin Pugh, famously known as Jay Briscoe, who passed away in a car accident at just 38 years old. AEW President Tony Khan revealed his deep regret over never being able to bring Jay Briscoe onto AEW Dynamite, despite his strong efforts. Although Jay had expressed regret about past mistakes and showed willingness to work with AEW, various hurdles, including a ban by WBD on certain content, prevented his full integration into AEW programming. Khan stated, “I fought really hard to get Jay Brisco on the show… that’s my biggest regret.”
Following Jay’s passing, his brother Mark Briscoe appeared on AEW Dynamite just eight days later, participating in a tribute match before officially joining the AEW roster a few months afterward. AEW and ROH have continued to support Jay Briscoe’s family and honor his legacy by airing a special “Celebration of Life” show on ROH’s YouTube channel, available for free.
Fan Take: This news underscores the deep respect and desire to honor wrestling legends within AEW, showing how the promotion values its community and history. For fans, it highlights AEW’s commitment to legacy and family, potentially influencing the sport by emphasizing heartfelt storytelling alongside competitive action.
