Marcus Spears
An emotional scene in Lexington, Kentucky, at the Rupp Arena for the All Elite Wrestling Dynamite (AEW) show as Mark Briscoe defeated Jay Lethal in the main event. Mark is the younger brother of Jay Briscoe, who lost his life last week in a tragic accident in Laurel, Deleware. Jay was driving his 9 and 12-year-old daughters Gracie and Jayleigh to cheerleading practice when his truck and another truck were in a head-on collision.
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This is the first time Mark has wrestled for AEW on TBS, winning the match and landing his brother’s trademark piledriver, the Jay Driller. It would have been Jay’s 39th birthday. After winning the match, Mark had a message for his nieces and nephew Gannon, looking into the camera, “Jayleigh, Gannon, keep your heads up. I love y’all,” and to his brother, “Jamin boy, I love you, baby, I love you.” After the match, Mark and Jay Lethal embraced each other, and the AEW locker room came out to show support at the ring entrance.
The brothers are pillars of their hometown Sandy Fork, Deleware, where people who knew them spoke highly of the two. It’s a small town where people are close and know each other. Sandy Fork is just 2 miles down the road from Laurel. The town’s local businesses and the Laurel School District closed down schools the next day after the accident.
Wrestling hall of fame manager Jim Cornette would read an email on his podcast, The Jim Cornette Drive Thru, where he would quote an email sent by a local man named Scott, a listener of the show.
“Jay was a frequent sighting out and around Sussex County, Deleware,” he said, “I’ve never met a more friendly and down-to-earth human being in my entire life.”
Scott would refer to relationships of Jay with the people of his town. “It didn’t matter who you were, what color your skin was, or your sexual preference; Jay was a friendly face to all,” he said.
Scott would refer to Briscoe as a friend and family man. “I was proud to call him a friend and looked to him as an example of what a father should be,” Scott said. “I can only hope to be half the father he was to his children. He was an A-plus father up until the very end as he was killed taking his little girls to cheerleading practice.”
“Our community will never be the same after this horrible tragedy, but he will never be forgotten around these parts,” he said. “Jay Briscoe was a legend, and his memory will live forever. “
The Briscoe Brothers are a well-decorated tag team and the shining light of Ring of Honor Wrestling (ROH) which was purchased by AEW just last year. They are currently the company’s tag team champion. They have won the title 13 times and tag team titles in Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning the IWGP tag team championship. The tag won the National Wrestling Alliance’s Jim Crockett Cup last year.
Jay also was the leader of the ROH locker room, winning the ROH championship twice.
Even though the tag team has never worked for the WWE, the company mentioned Jay’s passing live on air on Smackdown last Friday. WWE’s HHH said in a tweet, “an incredible performer who created a deep connection with wrestling fans across the globe. My condolences to the family and friends of Jay Briscoe.”
Seth Rollins said via Twitter, “Being in the ring with Jay Brisco got me my first ROH contract. He and Mark so selfless helped Jimmy, and I find out footing as AOT. Without him, I don’t think Tyler Black could ever have been Seth Rollins.”
Our very own Stew Myrick of Sports Guys Talking Wrestling (SGTW) has been an avid viewer of ROH since 2014. At first sight, he was captivated by Briscoe Brothers in the ring. He met the two for the first time in Dallas in 2016 at ROH’s Supercard of Honor event. He has interviewed them several times since the show, and each time they would chat like they’ve known Stew for years. “Jay was always grateful to me, even talking about our mutual love of football,” Stew said. “Jay was a huge Raiders fan.
Our very own Stew Myrick of Sports Guys Talking Wrestling (SGTW) has been an avid viewer of ROH since 2014. At first sight, he was captivated by Briscoe Brothers in the ring. He met the two for the first time in Dallas in 2016 at ROH’s Supercard of Honor event. He has interviewed them several times since the show, and each time they would chat like they’ve known Stew for years. “Jay was always grateful to me, even talking about our mutual love of football,” Stew said. “Jay was a huge Raiders fan.”
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Myrick attended ROH’s Final Battler last December in Arlington. That’s where Jay and Mark captured their 13th ROH World Tag Team Titles, defeating FTR in a bloodied double-dog collar match. Sadly, it was the final time that Jay would grace the squared circle. “My heart goes out to Mark and the Briscoe family, and I pray to God to give them comfort and strength at this tragic time,” Myrick said. “I love you, Jay, and I’ll see you down the road.”
Jay’s daughters’ injuries from the accident were severe. Gracie suffered a dislocation to her L2 and fractures to her L3 and L4, along with spinal cord compressions. She underwent surgery last week, and doctors could relieve the compression in her spinal cord. Jayleigh suffered a C7 fracture, an L3, and an L4 fracture and will wear a neck brace for six weeks and a back brace for 12 weeks. She also suffered broken ribs and internal bleeding.
In a statement from Mark Briscoe, he said that Jay’s daughters are improving slowly from their serious injuries. Gracie has regained feelings below her knees but has not regained movement since the crash. Jayleigh’s feeding tube was removed last Saturday, and she was able to drink and eat as much as she pleased. With the help of physical therapists, she could get out of bed and stand up. Gracie’s improvement allowed her to spend time with her sister Gracie. Also, Jayleigh’s wound VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) on her abdominal incision was removed.
Jay and Mark’s brother is a special case in this wrestling world filled with men and women who create a gimmick to generate buzz in the square circle. Unlike most, these guys were who their gimmick showcase was a couple of country boys from a small town who loved to fight in the squared circle. They were believable because it wasn’t a gimmick. They were chicken farmers, and they learned the sport of wrestling on that chicken farm. The team has had opportunities to wrestle elsewhere but passed to spend only a little bit of time away from their family. On Cornette’s podcast, he mentioned that the team would travel in RVs with their family to significant events.
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