Chris Jericho is never shy about talking about the way WWE does business and books stars despite no longer being with the company. He’s also quick to mention that AEW isn’t currently hiring nor an open-door company for former WWE stars. So why make so many comments?
Jericho spoke with Konnan on his Keepin it 100 podcast where he asked about the differences in working for AEW and WWE. Jericho discussed how the booking process works, how if stars like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins weren’t so handcuffed, they’d be megastars in AEW. He said:
"If you have a guy like Roman Reigns in AEW he'd be so over because Roman Reigns is a legit really cool dude." Suggesting that WWE is portraying Roman in a way that doesn't help him, he added, "He's a great guy, super cool. He's the kind of guy you want to hang out with, but they never portray that on the show."
There are few theories as to why Jericho is so quick to jump all over WWE.
First, Jericho is clearly a spokesperson for AEW. As their champion, his job is to get the brand over, even if it takes a shot at the competition. Second, Jericho is the king of playing the heel role. And, while pushing AEW might be considered a babyface move to loyal AEW fans, being a hypocrite is the ultimate in heel moves.
Finally, despite saying AEW doesn’t want to be a floodgate for WWE stars, AEW actually wants WWE talent. There is a sense that recent ratings and a drop in AEW attendance has the company slightly concerned. And, that current WWE stars are choosing to stay in WWE despite publicly suggesting they were annoyed with their positions in the company, AEW is realizing these stars might not be looking to AEW as an option any longer.
Jericho Is Actually Wrong
The reality here is that Reigns isn't the only star in WWE suffering from bad writing. But, this is often the way of the WWE, in that everything is detailed down to the letter. This isn’t new, but it is changing.
Look at NXT where stars are given much more leeway with their characters. Jericho might know that too and that’s a potentially scary thought for AEW. If WWE is figuring out where they’re making mistakes and correcting them, what can AEW trash WWE for?