Chris Jericho Takes Shot At DX + AEW-NJPW Status

Chris Jericho Takes A Shot At DX In New Interview

Anyone who has paid attention to Chris Jericho during his storied career knows one thing to be true. The talented wrestler is not shy. He will not sugarcoat things. This was certainly the case in a recent interview he gave to Sports Illustrated.

Jericho has proven time and time again to be as smart as he is talented. Over the course of his career, his persona has evolved. While discussing this evolution, the former WWE Champion took aim at WWE Hall of Famers D-Generation X.

Great article! This is a MUST READ!! @AEWrestling @njpw1972 https://t.co/6o6XnqxitZ

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) January 3, 2020

In the interview, Jericho had this to say: “I have a great list of hits, but a lot of those will never be played again because I’m too busy concentrating on new hits and performing at the highest level,” said Jericho. “It’s hard to leave all the old gimmicks and catchphrases, and take a chance, but if you don’t do that, it’s like DX coming to the ring in 2019 and yelling ‘Suck it!’ It looks like a relic from the past, and I never wanted to be that.”

While it might seem like a harsh thing to say, Jericho isn’t really wrong here. While wrestling fans love their trips down Memory Lane, not everything is worth keeping around. Some personas just do not age well, or don’t work well on Superstars who are older now.

More to Jericho’s point, he seems to say that while he gets the enjoyable fun that is the nostalgia act, he isn’t interested in that. His critiques aren’t off base.

When you think about it, if you lean on a gimmick too much, it can get stale. If you only allow some wrestlers to embody that image, it can suffocate them creatively. Jericho basically said he has more new material to use, so why waste it on the old stuff.

What he had to say certainly makes sense. It also makes an eventual WWE Hall of Fame induction that much more interesting.

What Is Going On Between AEW and New Japan?

Back when All Elite Wrestling was getting going, the company was big on partnerships. One such arrangement the new promotion had hoped to establish was with New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, as AEW secured the services of some popular stars from NJPW-like Kenny Omega-the chances for a partnership dwindled.

Over the months since AEW kicked off, the idea of a relationship with NJPW seemed like a long shot at best.

Now, according to new rumblings covered by Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez, that may not be the case.

Specifically, Alvarez said that, while there is nothing to announce as of yet, the two promotions are at least being friendly now. This warming is backed up by AEW Champion Chris Jericho working against NJPW’s Tanahashi-while featuring the AEW Championship.

The move might not mean much, if anything. However, seeing NJPW make mention of the AEW Championship seemed like a long shot just a few months ago. Now, it’s happening and it could lead to bigger and more exciting things down the road.