11 Newsworthy Moments From Chris Jericho's Cruise (And What They Mean For Wrestling In 2019)
2. Rey Mysterio's WWE Woes
While Rey Mysterio officially returned to WWE in October, he had previously signed a contract to appear on the Jericho Cruise. The masked legend was indeed on the ship when it left port, but while he made an appearance at sea, he did not compete.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE attempted to keep Rey from fulfilling his prior contractual commitment to Chris Jericho’s Rager at Sea, but it was to no avail. While WWE is the biggest, most popular, and most prominent promotion in the sports entertainment world, independent wrestling as a whole has seen its largest upswing ever in 2018.
While it's unlikely that Rey's participation in Jericho's voyage will lead to any ramifications for the legendary star, it's indicative of WWE's awareness of the growing alternatives available to fans. While no one is currently in a place to directly compete with WWE, it seems that the company is quietly attempting to cut the legs out from under the movement. The move was surprising considering the seemingly congenial relationship Chris Jericho has shared with WWE, but perhaps their attitude toward the legendary star has changed as he further distances himself from the company.