Chris Jericho, a veteran wrestler and AEW star, has hit back at critics who have been calling for his retirement. The 53-year-old has been facing backlash for his current gimmick, “The Learning Tree,” where he leads a faction of emerging stars like Big Bill and Bryan Keith. In a recent interview, Jericho addressed the criticism head-on.
“Every time I switch up characters, it’s because I know it’s time,” he said. “There was some weird internet vitriol of angry people yelling at me to retire. I thought, ‘Why don’t I embrace that and lean into it?’ It made some people mad, and others thought it was clever.”
Jericho explained that he enjoyed creating the persona of an annoying type of person who has an answer for everything, even though they don’t know what they’re talking about.
He also pushed back against accusations of being a “spotlight hogger,” listing several AEW talents like Darby Allin, Cody, Hangman Page, and Jon Moxley, whose careers he helped elevate. “I’ve never been hurt, and I’ve been here since day one,” Jericho stated. “My boss wants to put me on the show and do these segments because ratings often go up when I’m on TV.”
Despite other wrestling legends stepping back, Jericho has no immediate plans for retirement.
Jericho addresses retirement speculation
“For me, I’m just happy to be doing it at a high level. When that time comes, I don’t want a retirement tour.
I don’t need a big retirement match. I’ll just stop,” he said. Jericho also highlighted his involvement in other ventures like his band Fozzy, his podcast, and acting roles, which keep him creatively fulfilled.
His acting career is flourishing, with roles in various genres, from family dramas to horror films. As Jericho continues his journey in wrestling and beyond, he remains focused on contributing positively to AEW and the entertainment industry at large. “As long as I feel the excitement of going to work every week and doing cool stuff, I will continue doing so,” he concluded.
Jericho’s adaptability, dedication, and multifaceted career ensure that he remains a significant figure in professional wrestling and beyond, no matter what the critics say. He is set for a high-stakes match against Hook for the FTW Championship at Wembley Stadium on August 25.
- F4WOnline.”Chris Jericho doesn’t think he wants retirement tour when career ends”.
- TVInsider.”AEW Star Chris Jericho Hits Back at Critics, Talks ‘All In,’ Acting & What’s Next”.
- WrestlingInc.”Chris Jericho Pushes Back On Criticism Of Recent AEW Gimmick, ‘Please Retire’ Chants”.