Chris Jericho has opened up about why he committed his future to All Elite Wrestling rather than returning to WWE, explaining that his connection to AEW extends far beyond simply being a member of the roster. Speaking with SHAK Wrestling, Jericho said that helping launch the promotion gave him a level of personal investment he had never experienced elsewhere in his career. “I helped start AEW. I have a stake in the game,” he said, adding that while he enjoyed successful runs in WWE, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, CMLL, ECW, and WCW, AEW is the only company he has helped build from the ground up. Jericho explained that being involved in the company’s foundation gave him a sense of pride and responsibility that ultimately influenced his decision to remain with the promotion instead of pursuing another run in WWE.
“You know, once again, I mean, you weigh your options, but I helped start AEW. I have a stake in the game. And that’s… there’s something special about that.” “I didn’t help start WWE. I didn’t help start New Japan Pro Wrestling or CMLL or ECW or WCW or any of those places that I worked in the past. I helped start AEW …. So, that’s kind of what I always was thinking, was I’m really happy to be in the company that I had some skin in the game and helped kind of get rolling.” – Chris Jericho
Jericho’s influence on AEW has been evident since the company’s inception in 2019. As one of its first marquee signings and the inaugural AEW World Champion, he played a pivotal role in establishing the promotion’s credibility and attracting mainstream attention during its formative years. Throughout his tenure, Jericho has consistently reinvented himself through multiple factions and storylines, working alongside established stars and rising talent alike, including Jon Moxley, MJF, Orange Cassidy, Eddie Kingston, and Konosuke Takeshita. His willingness to elevate younger performers while remaining a featured attraction has reinforced his reputation as one of AEW’s cornerstone figures and a driving force behind the company’s continued growth and evolution.
