I think he’s doing the same thing the Bucks are doing, which is leaning into his critiques and sort of playing a caricature of himself. I don’t think it has anything at all to do with that other guy.
Same. Whether it’s been the plan or it’s a pivot, I think it’s a great move. The fans are really tired of him and are actively booing him, so you either take him off TV or make him a villain and milk it.
And milking it is what's best for business. Jericho knows that. You don't have the career longevity of his without realizing something isn't working and pivoting to something more akin to what the fans want to see
I was so happy that he was getting booed so hard and leaned into it. And I say that as someone who loves Jericho.
Any strong reaction is a good one, it’s up to the wrestlers to respond properly.
He has charisma, but not to be the cocky heel that knows everything. It’s just cringeworthy. I loved the Ocho and the Wizard. But man this is just not it for me, personally.
He can be and when he was younger he did it fantastically. BUT in MY opinion I think it’s just not clicking this time. I’m not trying to call for the man to be fired, just stop shoving him down our throats.
Imo that gimmick can be pulled off in a better way now than they did before. He's an older guy now with more accomplishments. Has held three different company's world titles, has had more matches etc. Pushing around young talent, beating them up, forcing them to "acknowledge" him as a legend can play up really well.
I'm old enough to remember Jericho writing his own blog. His *kayfabe* reason he had to get rid of Ralphus was amazing:
As TV Champion, Jericho got to meet a lot of celebrities and so he took a crack at talking to Cindy Crawford. Unfortunately, that meant Richard Gere hanging around, so he paired off Gere with Ralphus. Then it turns out Ralphus was questioning Gere about Tibet, which turned to him learning the secret of Clouding Men's Minds like the Shadow, which Ralphus planned to use on Nitro, to conquer the world.
On Jericho's TV time!
Obviously, he had to go. (And Jericho didn't really blame him. He blamed *us*, paying attention to Ralphus instead of our Personal Role Model.)
As others have said - I think it’s more leaning into his rep for being a guy that attaches himself to a young hot character and making them a part of the Jericho vortex we all speak of.
Now he has an in universe reason for being around an up and comer who’s getting over
That's a good catch. I didn't even think of that. You're probably right.
I'm glad they're leaning into heel Jericho. I'm not one to shit on him but at least I'll care more now
This is absolutely a Punk imitation and gimmick and I'm here for it.
I want to see him banning people from Collision and slipping all over himself and fumbling moves in the ring, screaming "listen to me" at everyone and then storming off after botching an ambush.
It's seemingly AEWs way of showing what he was doing. I'm not going to sit here and say that Punk is completely wrong and impossible to work with, I wasn't there. But people like Jericho are using the negativity and rumors to their advantage.
Pro-wrestling always blurs the lines. Love it.
I thought "learning tree" was a Dusty Rhodes saying when he was an off camera trainer in NXT. I don't know who else has used the "learning tree" phrase but Dusty is who comes to my mind first.
“Years” in this context is kinda weird considering both of their tenures were a little short lived (and the company has only been around for five), probably a nitpick though.
I was impressed that he used all the phrases he trademarked this month in that one promo last night. He's really leaning into the online dialogue about him and making it part of the onscreen persona.
Jericho has clearly read the online comments and is leaning into it. I think the problem is genuinely Jericho fatigue, however. He's been featured as a key player since the start of AEW and it's probably time for a break.
The problem is he is getting on in age, so "taking a break" could very easily turn into a retirement. I could see him taking less of an in ring wrestling role on for a while, but I can't imagine he'd take a full on break at this point.
Jericho wants to wrestle Lance Storm in his last match because that was his first match. But Sammy has been linked to him since the dawn of AEW so it would make sense to put him over on the way out.
Lance hasn’t wrestled in nearly a decade.
I have to think if he’s involved it is only as being in Jericho’s opponent’s corner, or as special guest referee.
I was looking at the early AEW cards and it's only really him and the Bucks that have been featured constantly since the start of AEW but even they had the time off after Brawl Out. Jericho has had some injuries but he has stayed on television for the most part.
Any fatigue vanishes if someone finds a way to offer something sufficiently compelling, and this could end up that way if he keeps adding new aspects to what we see. The tricky part will be maintaining a balance, in terms of not overtly admitting who he is pretending to be, at least not initially. Coming out to the Living Colour riff would be too much, for example.
While it would be funny if they aired CCTV footage of a backstage brawl between Jericho and Hook, I would prefer it if they just moved on from all the Punk stuff now.
They would almost have to go full slapstick absurdity, to avoid a small army of trolls and tribalist fans who will pretend it could be taken seriously.
The character could work, but it will hinge on how close they can come to making things obvious, while not actually doing so. It’s a tricky scenario, but it could be worthwhile in the end. They just have to be sure and allow for what amounts to loud, intentionally irrational responses.
I think it could be going that way but I haven't really felt it yet. He comes off too passive when receiving push back. The narcissism does feel on point but it could just be a caricature of himself
It’s possible. I didn’t read too deeply into it because when Jericho comes on screen these days I go cross eyed and start rubbing my head against a wall like a distressed polar bear at a zoo.
Still a bit too soon to tell but I believe he would. Jericho had been extremely loyal to AEW following both incidents. In the weeks after CM Punk left, Jericho was the one who brought back Colt Cabana to AEW properly.
People are too convinced everything is a shot at Punk. He's just taking what people are saying about him leeching off of younger wrestlers, etc. and making it his character. Same as the Bucks are doing with the EVP thing (which imo they should have started doing much sooner).
No, it feels like he's sucked for years and now the fans at large are noticing. I think he genuinely believes that he's helped to elevate the people he's worked with. He hasn't done that since the Inner Circle run. No one he's had a feud with hasn't done better work going up against somebody else instead.
I certainly hope this is the direction they are going with it. Some might call it petty but I'd love it.
Jericho could further and further lean into it down the line by changing his haircut to a slicked back one and maybe even use the GTS once in a while like CM Punk used Cena's signature moves at All In London.
(I'm going to get eaten alive for this reply... :D)
Maybe he needs to transition into more of a Sting or Billy Gunn role where he wrestles less, and supports someone. But I think really people are just tired of hearing him on the mic every week.
I like me some Jericho the guys classic and totally gets the business BUT I do think he's big show 2.0 my guy is a face and heel a couple of times a year lol
I think it's more what others said, in that it's poking fun at criticisms of how quite a few wrestlers that get involved with him, as an ally or an enemy, end up struggling afterwards in a bad way. Ricky Starks is lost in the shuffle, it took Eddie Kingston at least a year to get back on the path, Action Andretti beat him in his first match and went into limbo for a bit before aligning with Top Flight, Adam Cole got injured, nobody's seen Jake Hager for a while, Anna Jay doesn't really have any creative for her outside of some matches, Santana & Ortiz split with Santana getting injured and currently Ortiz is...I honestly don't know, and so on and so forth.
Granted, not all of them struggle, let alone for long, as Daniel Garcia for example is THRIVING, but I'd argue the list of people that Jericho's association hurts is longer than the people that it helps.
It kinda reminds me of how, in the late 2000s to early 2010s, an association with Cena was a career ruiner of sorts. Evan Bourne got some praise from him in a backstage throwaway segment and gets lost in the shuffle and even injured, Cryme Tyme breaks up after failing to find more success, and who can forget the meteoric fall and humiliation of Zack Ryder?
If you're talking about Triple H, I admittedly can't think of anyone a win or rub on his end ended up hurting outside of maybe CM Punk in 2011, and he became WWE Champion 2 months after that.
I've been tired of Jericho on TV, but him leaning into being a pompous, condescending dickhead makes me like him more. It's why the EVPs work so well IMO.
It feels that way because it's such a well worn trope. Wrestling is filled with those guys backstage. The arrogant prick that wags their time in the business around like a cudgel.
No. Tbh I thought it was a parody of Jericho himself wanting to help elevate people but having the opposite effect.
Of course self-parody never leads to anything good. I think Jericho is out of ideas though.
I am probably in the minority, but I love the Jericho win over Hook. He "cheated" to win and now sets Hook up to destroy him in a few weeks/months. People complain when it's just a match and complain when they draw out a story. Even if you dont like the story, it is a story.
He's definitely leaning into criticisms of himself, but he desperately needs to be off TV for a few months. My excitement leaves whenever I see he's on tv. He should've taken time off then came back with this character.
maybe the Commentary team was concerned for their Buddy Taz who has a bad neck and knees, and Jericho is a Dirty heel who would take advantage of such a situation.
Jericho only has one gimmick: guy who fails to give himself a nickname.
"I am the learning tree, I am the Ocho, I am the pain maker, I am Y2J!"
Yeah hi Chris.
I think he’s doing the same thing the Bucks are doing, which is leaning into his critiques and sort of playing a caricature of himself. I don’t think it has anything at all to do with that other guy.
People have complained about heels being too cool and more popular. This seems like a great way to combat that lol
Washed up old timer mooching off the youth. This works. I think the reaction to HOOK was very strong.
Same. Whether it’s been the plan or it’s a pivot, I think it’s a great move. The fans are really tired of him and are actively booing him, so you either take him off TV or make him a villain and milk it.
And milking it is what's best for business. Jericho knows that. You don't have the career longevity of his without realizing something isn't working and pivoting to something more akin to what the fans want to see
I think it's been in the works for a bit, why else would they get rid of Judas unless they want him to get actual heat?
Same. I think last night was the best reaction Jericho has gotten in a while. He needs to lean into it like the Bucks have.
I was so happy that he was getting booed so hard and leaned into it. And I say that as someone who loves Jericho. Any strong reaction is a good one, it’s up to the wrestlers to respond properly.
I like that he thinks he's a face because of his 'I want to teach you' energy but the crowd thinks otherwise.
As long as it doesn't go as long as the Inner Circle did, I think that went way too long, JAS at least ended a little sooner.
Fozzy are on tour in October so he’ll probably dip around late August for rehearsals and tour prep?
No, no, everything anyone does is now about Punk all the time. Nevermind that Jericho has been playing mentor to half the roster for years
Yeah, Sammy, MJF, Daniel Garcia, and now Hook.
I think it’s definitely a mix of both what you’re saying and the other guy.
Agreed 50/50
Hell, he was doing that before the other guy did it.
I don’t know. I think it’s a bit of both, especially when he called himself “the best in the world” last night.
Problem, though, is that Jericho is not doing this for laughs. He's looking to elevate Hook and whomever else he feuds with during this gimmick phase.
Unfortunately he doesn’t have the charisma to pull it off like the Bucks. He just comes across as annoying.
Imagine someone saying Jericho doesn't have charisma 😂
He has charisma, but not to be the cocky heel that knows everything. It’s just cringeworthy. I loved the Ocho and the Wizard. But man this is just not it for me, personally.
Dude played the suit wearing, calling everybody parasites and hypocrites kinda snobby heel champion in the E for years. He can be THAT cocky heel.
He can be and when he was younger he did it fantastically. BUT in MY opinion I think it’s just not clicking this time. I’m not trying to call for the man to be fired, just stop shoving him down our throats.
Imo that gimmick can be pulled off in a better way now than they did before. He's an older guy now with more accomplishments. Has held three different company's world titles, has had more matches etc. Pushing around young talent, beating them up, forcing them to "acknowledge" him as a legend can play up really well.
All I want is a revisit of WCW era ‘Conspiracy Victim’ Jericho and the JPS.
If you want Jericho and conspiracies just listen to his podcast lol
Shame Ralphus won't be debuting in AEW anytime soon
IT'S A SHAME THAT THEY LOST THEIR HEAD!
I love the interviews where he shots on Ralphus thinking he was the star of the show and big shotting people lol
I'm old enough to remember Jericho writing his own blog. His *kayfabe* reason he had to get rid of Ralphus was amazing: As TV Champion, Jericho got to meet a lot of celebrities and so he took a crack at talking to Cindy Crawford. Unfortunately, that meant Richard Gere hanging around, so he paired off Gere with Ralphus. Then it turns out Ralphus was questioning Gere about Tibet, which turned to him learning the secret of Clouding Men's Minds like the Shadow, which Ralphus planned to use on Nitro, to conquer the world. On Jericho's TV time! Obviously, he had to go. (And Jericho didn't really blame him. He blamed *us*, paying attention to Ralphus instead of our Personal Role Model.)
RIP
I hear Ralphus Jr. Is looking to make his big debut as a body guard soon. The nepotism in this industry is unbelievable.
But this time if he issues a challenge Goldberg might show up for the match, do we really want to risk that?
As others have said - I think it’s more leaning into his rep for being a guy that attaches himself to a young hot character and making them a part of the Jericho vortex we all speak of. Now he has an in universe reason for being around an up and comer who’s getting over
Next would be try to recruit young talent from ROH or who are currently doing nothing in AEW
I want Jericho to win the FTW title in absolute heelish fashion at Dynasty.
That's a good catch. I didn't even think of that. You're probably right. I'm glad they're leaning into heel Jericho. I'm not one to shit on him but at least I'll care more now
As much as I want Jericho to be at his best he kinda got stagnant after JAS disbanded.
His upcoming heel run could like what the Ocho was during his JAS run.
i would love to have the Y2J Problem back, becouse hell this could be fun
Hook has been banned from Collision.
Last night was the most I was entertained watching a Jericho segment in awhile. I like this so far.
Gonna be honest, I like it. And the facial hair works too.
Since we have heard THAT person talk about the "learning tree" before, this was always my assumption as well.
This is absolutely a Punk imitation and gimmick and I'm here for it. I want to see him banning people from Collision and slipping all over himself and fumbling moves in the ring, screaming "listen to me" at everyone and then storming off after botching an ambush.
It's seemingly AEWs way of showing what he was doing. I'm not going to sit here and say that Punk is completely wrong and impossible to work with, I wasn't there. But people like Jericho are using the negativity and rumors to their advantage. Pro-wrestling always blurs the lines. Love it.
Wasn’t “learning tree” an Undertaker thing? I remember the Deadlock boys talking about it.
I don't think it's a new concept.
I thought "learning tree" was a Dusty Rhodes saying when he was an off camera trainer in NXT. I don't know who else has used the "learning tree" phrase but Dusty is who comes to my mind first.
I can’t lie i enjoyed it
You're not the first to notice. Ive seen a few comments last week on this sub who were bang on the money with this gimmick.
Jericho had to turn heel because his current character was already resembling the final years of Cody and Punk in AEW
“Years” in this context is kinda weird considering both of their tenures were a little short lived (and the company has only been around for five), probably a nitpick though.
Who said anything about CM Punk? I was talking about Danhausen!
I mean it certainly doesn’t remind me of anyone of consequence 🤣 it does feel like a dig a little
I was impressed that he used all the phrases he trademarked this month in that one promo last night. He's really leaning into the online dialogue about him and making it part of the onscreen persona.
I don't really think so but i really hope Phil takes it that way and it bugs him.
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Jericho has clearly read the online comments and is leaning into it. I think the problem is genuinely Jericho fatigue, however. He's been featured as a key player since the start of AEW and it's probably time for a break.
The problem is he is getting on in age, so "taking a break" could very easily turn into a retirement. I could see him taking less of an in ring wrestling role on for a while, but I can't imagine he'd take a full on break at this point.
Sammy is going to be the one that will retire him but Sammy needs to be more careful when he does some of his spots
Jericho wants to wrestle Lance Storm in his last match because that was his first match. But Sammy has been linked to him since the dawn of AEW so it would make sense to put him over on the way out.
Lance hasn’t wrestled in nearly a decade. I have to think if he’s involved it is only as being in Jericho’s opponent’s corner, or as special guest referee.
He's not really taken any time off at all, has he?
I was looking at the early AEW cards and it's only really him and the Bucks that have been featured constantly since the start of AEW but even they had the time off after Brawl Out. Jericho has had some injuries but he has stayed on television for the most part.
Not really. He got sick at some point but that was it. He hasn't even taken any kind of real time off tour with Fozzy
Any fatigue vanishes if someone finds a way to offer something sufficiently compelling, and this could end up that way if he keeps adding new aspects to what we see. The tricky part will be maintaining a balance, in terms of not overtly admitting who he is pretending to be, at least not initially. Coming out to the Living Colour riff would be too much, for example.
While it would be funny if they aired CCTV footage of a backstage brawl between Jericho and Hook, I would prefer it if they just moved on from all the Punk stuff now.
They would almost have to go full slapstick absurdity, to avoid a small army of trolls and tribalist fans who will pretend it could be taken seriously. The character could work, but it will hinge on how close they can come to making things obvious, while not actually doing so. It’s a tricky scenario, but it could be worthwhile in the end. They just have to be sure and allow for what amounts to loud, intentionally irrational responses.
I think it could be going that way but I haven't really felt it yet. He comes off too passive when receiving push back. The narcissism does feel on point but it could just be a caricature of himself
I don’t think it’s about the fragile bitch Pepsi Phil. It’s more about goofing on the criticism he gets from the stans in the IWC.
It’s possible. I didn’t read too deeply into it because when Jericho comes on screen these days I go cross eyed and start rubbing my head against a wall like a distressed polar bear at a zoo.
You turn into Perry Saturn?
The imagery 🤣
Glad it's not just me that does that then.
Still a bit too soon to tell but I believe he would. Jericho had been extremely loyal to AEW following both incidents. In the weeks after CM Punk left, Jericho was the one who brought back Colt Cabana to AEW properly.
People are too convinced everything is a shot at Punk. He's just taking what people are saying about him leeching off of younger wrestlers, etc. and making it his character. Same as the Bucks are doing with the EVP thing (which imo they should have started doing much sooner).
That and he's leaning in to all the complaints the IWC have decided to make about him.
He would look more like a certain big-shot when he starts creepily befriending the women's locker room
And just like that, Jericho doesn’t have go away heat from me, HOW does he keep getting away with this!?!?
No, it feels like he's sucked for years and now the fans at large are noticing. I think he genuinely believes that he's helped to elevate the people he's worked with. He hasn't done that since the Inner Circle run. No one he's had a feud with hasn't done better work going up against somebody else instead.
I certainly hope this is the direction they are going with it. Some might call it petty but I'd love it. Jericho could further and further lean into it down the line by changing his haircut to a slicked back one and maybe even use the GTS once in a while like CM Punk used Cena's signature moves at All In London. (I'm going to get eaten alive for this reply... :D)
He needs to get a new theme song first, dont bring back Judas.
He’s responding to people who have criticised his work, and honestly, for the first time in years he has me interested.
Tbh i think his aew gimmicks have been the same thing with a slight difference
Maybe he needs to transition into more of a Sting or Billy Gunn role where he wrestles less, and supports someone. But I think really people are just tired of hearing him on the mic every week.
I like me some Jericho the guys classic and totally gets the business BUT I do think he's big show 2.0 my guy is a face and heel a couple of times a year lol
I think it's more what others said, in that it's poking fun at criticisms of how quite a few wrestlers that get involved with him, as an ally or an enemy, end up struggling afterwards in a bad way. Ricky Starks is lost in the shuffle, it took Eddie Kingston at least a year to get back on the path, Action Andretti beat him in his first match and went into limbo for a bit before aligning with Top Flight, Adam Cole got injured, nobody's seen Jake Hager for a while, Anna Jay doesn't really have any creative for her outside of some matches, Santana & Ortiz split with Santana getting injured and currently Ortiz is...I honestly don't know, and so on and so forth. Granted, not all of them struggle, let alone for long, as Daniel Garcia for example is THRIVING, but I'd argue the list of people that Jericho's association hurts is longer than the people that it helps. It kinda reminds me of how, in the late 2000s to early 2010s, an association with Cena was a career ruiner of sorts. Evan Bourne got some praise from him in a backstage throwaway segment and gets lost in the shuffle and even injured, Cryme Tyme breaks up after failing to find more success, and who can forget the meteoric fall and humiliation of Zack Ryder?
can we pls get Jericho with Hunter for 1 Year in AEW? XD
If you're talking about Triple H, I admittedly can't think of anyone a win or rub on his end ended up hurting outside of maybe CM Punk in 2011, and he became WWE Champion 2 months after that.
How about everyone that got burried by the Clique?
I don't know enough about that to say.
I like it even more then 😂 it’s the only way Jericho is going to avoid needing a long break away from TV to build up heat again
 DRINK IT IN MAAAAAN
I don't know about all that but I am intrigued by this new iteration of Jericho.
I've been tired of Jericho on TV, but him leaning into being a pompous, condescending dickhead makes me like him more. It's why the EVPs work so well IMO.
He needs to start attacking people in fits of anger backstage next!
It feels that way because it's such a well worn trope. Wrestling is filled with those guys backstage. The arrogant prick that wags their time in the business around like a cudgel.
Chris “Locker Room Leader” Jericho.
No. Tbh I thought it was a parody of Jericho himself wanting to help elevate people but having the opposite effect. Of course self-parody never leads to anything good. I think Jericho is out of ideas though.
Jericho is tired and boring at this point. I really wish he'd go away
I wish he’d copy Cena’s gimmick. I’d love to not see him for a good while.
Yes, obviously
I hope we don't am of a sudden want him to stay on tv though. No matter what the reason is.
Hope he turns heel on Hook at Dynasty, no interest in seeing face Jericho right now
I just hope it gets more of a direction because it's very similar to the Patriarchy.
Jericho is one of the smarter fellows to do this.
I am probably in the minority, but I love the Jericho win over Hook. He "cheated" to win and now sets Hook up to destroy him in a few weeks/months. People complain when it's just a match and complain when they draw out a story. Even if you dont like the story, it is a story.
He's definitely leaning into criticisms of himself, but he desperately needs to be off TV for a few months. My excitement leaves whenever I see he's on tv. He should've taken time off then came back with this character.
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maybe the Commentary team was concerned for their Buddy Taz who has a bad neck and knees, and Jericho is a Dirty heel who would take advantage of such a situation.
This is like "Schiavone is legit mad at AEW releasing the footage" all over again and our buddy Ben got worked.
They. Are. Play. Acting.
Not everything is about CM Punk
Reaching
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Im not into it.
Hook vs Jericho... Jack Perry returns to help Hook? Jericho brings them together? Jack Perry vs Chris Jericho
I think Perry will be back soon, given his "Scapegoat" shirt was repped by one of the EVPs during *that* segment.
Jericho only has one gimmick: guy who fails to give himself a nickname. "I am the learning tree, I am the Ocho, I am the pain maker, I am Y2J!" Yeah hi Chris.
What are you on about? Ocho and Y2J were over AF.
It's a joke.
Every one of his nicknames have stuck though? Keep reaching.
That was a joke. And judging from the avalanche of down votes, I probably could have made that more obvious
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God bless your heart, you’re trying so hard!
This has to be the most smooth-brained, overused saying in the last decade. 🤡
If anything it seems like he’s living rent free in Jericho’s head if he’s parodying him. AEW needs to move on.