Chris Jericho Reveals Original Pitches For Inner Circle Lineup

AEW

Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho has recalled the original pitches for the lineup for the Inner Circle faction.

On the October 2, 2019 premiere episode of Dynamite, Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz teamed up to attack Cody Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes and the Young Bucks. On the following episode, Jericho confirmed that his new faction was called the Inner Circle.

On Talk is Jericho, Jericho revealed that there had been pitches for MJF, the Lucha Brothers and Anthony Ogogo to be founding members of the group, noting:

“Nobody that was actually in the Inner Circle was pitched first. I suggested MJF, but he was doing something with Cody and he wasn’t the right guy, and I had seen Sammy Guevara on an NWO pay-per-view and I called Cody and Tony and, ‘We should sign this guy, he looks really good’.

“I was thinking Fenix and Pentagon and then Tony had suggested Santana and Ortiz who I didn’t even know. I didn’t know their work, but I knew they were good. So, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s use those guys.'”

“(Tony Khan) had suggested Anthony, Ogogo, Ogogo as the heater and I had been training at a kickboxing gym where Jake Hager also trained. (WWE) didn’t use (Hager) up to his potential. They just never found a thing for him. Vince didn’t like him because he has a lisp. Vince doesn’t like Cesaro because he is from Switzerland.”

Jericho currently leads his Jericho Appreciation Society stable, with Hager, Guevara, Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Tay Melo and Anna Jay all aligned with the inaugural AEW World Champion.

Stay up to date with AEW win/loss records for 2022 using our tracker at this link.

Transcription via Wrestling Inc. 

Check out WrestleShop.com for all your favorite WrestleTalk merch, the WrestleTalk Magazine, wrestling shirts for grown-ups, and more!

Share this article with friends