10 Wrestlers Who NEED Out Of AEW

2. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho Learning Tree
AEW

Chris Jericho prides himself on never looking back and always pushing forward with new, new, new. He's been rather outspoken over the years about knocking back a retread as 'Y2J' in WWE, but that was then and this is now. Jericho didn't need to look over his shoulder when AEW launched in 2019; maybe he does in 2024.

A lot of fans are sick of him. His latest 'Learning Tree' gimmick is also reminiscent of something Jericho did before in WWE. He's encouraging the boos by being obnoxiously friendly, which is a gimmick Chris used to great effect in early-2012. There are definite parallels despite his claims of always trying something different.

Few would be upset if Jericho took a nap under his own tree and vanished from TV for a while. He's had aspects of AEW programming in a chokehold for a while, and his continued heavy presence feels counterproductive rather than progressive. This FTW Title business has been the sh*ts.

Absence would make the heart grow fonder, and lead to one more WWE run. That might be Jericho's nightmare, but it'd work.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.