Chris Jericho is preparing to enter what he calls the “biggest contract year ever” in his career, as his AEW deal approaches its crucial final phase.
Having signed a three-year extension in October 2022, Jericho’s contract runs through October 2025, putting him on the brink of a pivotal year for negotiations and opportunities.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Jericho shared his thoughts on this significant milestone, saying, “I’m about ready to go into my biggest contract year ever.
That’s one of the things I laugh about when people are like, ‘Jericho just has to be on TV.’ I don’t have to do anything. My boss puts me on TV because he pays me money to be there. To know that much money is at stake 25 years after the Attitude Era, it blows my mind.”
Jericho also discussed the value of live sports and television in today’s media landscape, explaining the financial importance of live programming for companies like AEW. He highlighted the competitive nature of the industry:
“This is a great time for the business and fans to be in it. Live sports is the last bastion of advertising. With all the streaming, nobody is watching commercials anymore. The only commercials are NFL, NHL, NBA, AEW, WWE, live sports. That’s why it’s worth that much money. For people going, ‘Oh, they’re overpaying.’ It’s what they have left to make money.
When WWE goes to Netflix, suddenly that changes the game as well. It’s an interesting time for the television business, the wrestling business, and live sports and advertising.”
Jericho remains a crucial figure in AEW, both in the ring and as a prominent voice for the promotion. As he prepares to challenge Mark Briscoe for the ROH World Title at AEW WrestleDream, his upcoming contract year will be closely watched, with major implications for his future and AEW’s continued growth.
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