Mark Briscoe: I Like To Think Jay Briscoe Is Still Watching Every Match And Promo
Mark Briscoe continues to carry his brother Jay’s spirit with him.
Mark Briscoe continues to carry his brother Jay’s spirit with him.
The Briscoes (Mark and Jay Briscoe) were 13-time ROH World TagTeam Champions, and they were inducted into the ROH Hall of Fame. Jay passed away in a car accident on January 17, 2023. Mark went on to sign with AEW, and he has competed for the company and ROH ever since.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Mark discussed how he is still adjusting to life in the aftermath of Jay’s death, and he stated that the rides to the airport are the hardest part, as they used to drive there together.
“There are reminders of him everywhere, but it’s the random ones that hit me hardest. You know what’s been the toughest? The drive to the airport. At first I didn’t think about it. Then 45 minutes into the drive, I’d be balling. I’m getting used to it. It’s like our new normal. But when something catches me off guard, that’s when it hits me,” Mark said.
Mark also commented on how the family, and the community as a whole, has bonded together in the aftermath of the tragedy. Laurel Middle School recently renamed a locker room to honor Jay (real name Jamin Pugh). Mark noted that it feels like Jay is still with them in spirit.
“It feels like he’s still with us in spirit and in our hearts. We’ve all bonded together. In a strange way, tragedy comes with beauty. I pick up his kids for school every morning. When we’re all together, it makes my heart feel so good,” he said.
On the November 8 episode of AEW Dynamite, Mark will compete in his first singles match since June, as he missed several months after he got knee surgery. Ahead of the bout, Mark described how he still hears Jay’s voice in his head. He went on to state that he likes to think Jay is still watching him every step of the way.
“I know exactly, after every match, what he’d say to me. Jay wanted me to be the best. The way he’d critique me, I still hear that voice in my head. Sometimes, my rebellious nature would show in our sibling rivalry–if he said I should do something one way, then I’d say no, I’m going to do it this way. So my mindset has changed there. He was pretty much always right. It’s been 22 years straight of wrestling. Me and him. Always me and him. I like to think he’s still watching every single match and every single promo. It’s a crazy journey, man,” Mark said.
In the same interview, Mark discussed his injury and his road to recovery. Click here to see what he had to say.
Mark recently said that they are in the early stages of thinking about a Pugh school of wrestling. Check out his comments here.
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Dynamite on November 8.
