Top AEW Star Has "Zero Interest" In Going Back To WWE
Potentially going back to WWE has little appeal for this AEW cornerstone.
Chris Jericho has claimed that he has "zero interest" in ever going back to WWE, stating that he doesn't see any reason why he wouldn't end his wrestling career with current employers, AEW.
Jericho, who was crowned AEW's first World Champion in 2019, made these comments in a new interview with the Daily Star. When quizzed on potentially ending his career with AEW, Jericho said that having spent decades in WWE, he understands how the machine works, though he likes AEW's way of doing things more.
Said Jericho:-
I don’t see why it wouldn’t be. I don’t hold a torch for WWE. To me, that’s not ‘the place to be’. AEW is the place to be. It really is. I’ve been in WWE. I know how it works. They work that way, I don’t care if Vince is there, Hunter is there, or whoever is there. They have a way of doing things, and I was there for 20 years and was pretty good at it. I like the way we do things at AEW better… so I don’t know why I wouldn’t want to finish my career in AEW. I never thought that I wouldn’t finish my career with WWE, but things happened, and I was just like ‘I want to go to Japan and do this match [with NJPW]’ and it opened up a whole new world for me. It was like ‘oh my gosh, this is the fun side of wrestling again!'
The 52-year-old then stated that he has "zero interest" in going back to the market leaders, though his stance isn't a product of bitterness. Jericho retains a fondness for Vince McMahon and Triple H, though he is seemingly more fond of AEW, where he has "a stake in the game":-
Business is business and there’s always ups and downs, but I have zero interest in ever going back to WWE. That’s not out of bitterness or anger. I love Vince and I love Hunter and all the people there. But I just really dig AEW, and I have a stake in the game. I came here right out of the gate – I was the guy. Besides Jim Ross, there was nobody that had really been on television on a national basis other than me. I take great pride in that. I started here, why would I want to walk away? There’s so much more that we can do. The sense of accomplishment is massive.
In and out of WWE between 1999 and 2018, when he concluded his final run with the promotion, Jericho spent huge chunks of his lengthy wrestling career with WWE. His last appearance for the company came in June 2022, when, as an AEW-contracted star, he appeared as part of a video message honouring John Cena on his career anniversary.
Jericho is currently locked in to face Ricky Starks at AEW Revolution 2023 this Sunday.