Chris Jericho has admitted that he remains unphased by the recent crowd reactions.
Still finding new ways to upset the fans in 2024, the FTW Champion recently debuted his latest persona of The Learning Tree, a veteran who is looking to help rising stars and remains delirious when it comes to the responses of those around him. Speaking with KCAL News, Jericho looked back on his lengthy career and how it has once again given him a refreshed feeling in the wrestling world:
“It’s amazing. When you have been in the business as long as I have, 33 years, you always wanna evolve and revamp your character. Kind of get some diversity with what you’re doing so I think reestablishing myself under this Leaning Tree, it gives you a new vibe, reinvigorates you, and keeps things fresh and fun.”
Continuing, Jericho detailed his approach to wrestling psychology and how he knew that it was time for a change:
“The one thing about wrestling is and it’s very important is you have to understand the concepts of being a good guy and when it starts getting stale, of being a bad guy. It’s kind of like when people say ‘It’s like a soap opera.’ In that way, it is a soap opera. You’re a good guy and then suddenly something happens and then you don’t like ’em for a while. You have to be able to read the room on that and know when people hate you.
People are really not liking me right now so it’s time to kind of change. And that’s ok, that’s the beauty of wrestling, you can just lean into it. I take great pride in kind of making people angry with things cause that’s what you want to do. You’re playing a character. When Chris Jericho comes on screen in AEW, it’s different from the Chris Jericho you’re talking to right now. That’s the way it should be. A larger-than-life character is kind of what wrestling is all about and I embrace that wholly.”
Chris Jericho Anticipated Hostile Crowd
Jericho began to show signs of The Learning Tree shortly before his FTW title win over Hook at the Dynasty pay-per-view back in April. Throughout the match, fans made it clear that they did not want Jericho to win the match as they chanted for him to go away and retire. According to a follow-up report, the reaction was exactly what Chris Jericho expected.
In a separate interview, Chris Jericho addressed the possibility of Becky Lynch joining AEW
H/t to SEScoops.