Speaking to ET Canada to promote this week’s Dynamite and Rampage TV tapings in Winnipeg, AEW wrestler Chris Jericho commented on working with younger talent in WWE and AEW, his recent match with Top Flight and AR Fox, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On working with younger talent in WWE: “I don’t want to single out just one wrestler. When I came back to WWE, in 2016, I had no interest in working with Shawn Michaels or Triple H because I had done that already. I didn’t want Chris Jericho to turn into like a seniors tour. I thought it would be really smart to work with younger guys, so they get the rub from me, and in return, I get the rub from them. That’s why I had a run where I worked with Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins — all the guys who are on top now but were bubbling under the surface at the time. But working with me helped them get to the next step. Plus, it helped me learn the old dog and new tricks analogy. A lot of guys say, ‘In the 1990s we never did this.’ Guess what? Those days are gone. It’s 2023, and you have to wrestle the style people want to see now but also incorporate the experience you have.”
On his recent match against Top Flight and AR Fox: “The amount of athleticism was off the charts. But what I brought to the table was where and when to place the spots, and how we could make the most impact. That’s a great example of combining youth and experience. I don’t want to work with Matt Hardy or Christian. Let’s work with the younger guys and see where it takes us.”
On AEW being a risk for him: “I could have stayed in WWE and been comfortable for the rest of my career. If I had done that, I’m not sure I’d still be wrestling today. AEW reignited my passion and creativity…took things to the next level all across the board. As a result, I think 2022 was a career year for me. That was one of the greatest feuds nobody ever saw live because there were no people [at the arenas]. Some people think it was corny, but it was perfect at the time. He’s orange juice and I’m bubbly, you put it together and it’s almost like an FMW exploding landmine match.”
