"It's just fantastic" - JBL endorses top AEW star's controversial current run
As AEW prepares to close out 2024 with its second annual Worlds End pay-per-view, a top star is in the midst of one of his most controversial runs ever. WWE Hall of Famer JBL has now spoken up on the gimmick that has driven fans crazy over the last year.
Chris Jericho is a foundational talent for All Elite Wrestling. The legendary star was the company's inaugural World Champion and has remained in the spotlight over the last five years. However, many fans grew exasperated with his revolving door of factions and gimmicks, and he devised his newest persona, The Learning Tree, in response to their criticism.
JBL thinks The Learning Tree is brilliant, and he seems to be a fan of Jericho's work in AEW. On the latest episode of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, the WWE Hall of Famer heaped praise on The Ocho:
"He's doing a great job, by the way," JBL said. "I love the way he reinvents himself every couple of months, six months. It's just fantastic." [H/T Wrestling Inc]
AEW's Chris Jericho hasn't thought about retirement
Chris Jericho has maintained a full-time schedule in AEW since 2019, and he's even the current ROH World Champion. But at 54 years old, many are wondering when The Learning Tree might call it a career.
Jericho was recently a guest on Z100 New York, where he was asked if he's thought about hanging up his boots. Here's what Le Champion had to say:
"I really haven’t, man, because it could end tomorrow," said Jericho. "I mean, Sting quit at 65. You know, times have changed now in wrestling because there’s so much money involved from a television standpoint, and it’s still a very star power-driven business—it always has been. So, you can stay in this job a lot longer than you ever thought you would, as long as you’re healthy and can still perform."
Jericho recently defended his ROH World Championship against Matt Cardona. Although he's not currently scheduled to compete at AEW Worlds End this Saturday, it's a good bet that The Learning Tree will remain active in 2025.