Chris Jericho Explains Why AEW Is Beneficial To WWE Stars

AEW

Chris Jericho has explained why AEW is beneficial to WWE stars.

Since the inception of All Elite Wrestling in 2019, the Tony Khan-led promotion has quickly become the second biggest pro wrestling promotion in the business.

With the foothold WWE held on the industry for the two decades prior to AEW, the company has seen many stars make their way to their ranks who previously worked for Vince McMahon.

One of the most notable was the first AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. Prior to signing with All Elite Wrestling, Jericho ventured off from WWE to join NJPW and then helped create this new promotion.

Appearing on “The AEW-some Pod,” Chris Jericho was asked about having alternatives in wrestling in the wake of Jade Cargill leaving AEW to sign with WWE. He answered:

“One of the best things about AEW, when we started, was it gave an alternative for not just the fans, but the guys and girls that are wrestling as well because it’s always good to have an option,” 

“It’s kind of like being in a band or being on a hit sitcom where somebody leaves. One of the cast members leaves or one of the guys in the band leaves and you just have to continue forward.”

“I think that’s what kind of makes AEW so special and so beneficial to the business is you have a place to go if you feel you’ve run your course at the other place, and it works both ways.”

After mentioning Adam Copeland as an example of someone who did everything he could do in WWE and made the leap to AEW, Jericho said:

“When I left WWE at the time, I was like, ‘I will never work for anybody other than Vince McMahon in wrestling.'”

“And then the idea for Kenny Omega vs. Jericho at the Tokyo Dome came up and it was a pretty exciting concept and pretty cool idea, so I actually asked Vince if it was cool if I go do it. He was like, ‘You gotta go do it, it’s awesome.'”

“Then you realize there’s other places where you can go and realize maybe here in WWE I’ve reached a certain peak, that maybe you have done everything you can do in that environment.”

“So to know New Japan or AEW existed, it just made options available.”

Transcription via Wrestling Inc.

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• jade cargill
• chris jericho
• AEW
• wwe

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