How AEW Are SECRETLY Telling A Genius Long-Term Story

Wardlow AEW
AEW

Tellingly, that shared November 13 segment saw MJF introduce Wardlow as his henchman. Wardlow is his Jake Hager. Like Hager, Wardlow serves to interfere in MJF's matches, is smartly-dressed, and most conspicuously, rarely speaks. On December 12, Jericho and Hager provided commentary duties for Sammy Guevara Vs. Luchasaurus. Jericho asked for Hager's thoughts on the match. Hager did not respond out loud, but Jericho received his thoughts "telepathically" as a bit. MJF did the exact same thing - "Good talk, good talk" - on January 1 when listing the stipulations for his match with Cody at Revolution.

Jericho surrounded himself with the Inner Circle to preserve his spot at the top of the card. MJF has Wardlow, the Butcher, Blade and the Bunny on hand to improve his win-loss record and do his dirty work. Both MJF and Chris Jericho luxuriate in their avarice. MJF wears expensive Burberry scarves, and his backstory is that of a Long Island rich brat; Jericho meanwhile sups champagne "in his palatial estate, in his beautiful mansion".

All of this will one day enhance the MJF Vs. Chris Jericho story. When that day arrives, Chris Jericho will turn babyface; all of this is building towards Jericho's first post-turn programme, and what's more, that turn has also been telegraphed for a long, long time.

That "Thank you" he so repeatedly, obnoxiously demands may be extended in earnest, in a subverted moment of real gratitude and pathos, at which point MJF may strike.

CONT'D...(4 of 5)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!