In recent weeks, the wrestling world has been buzzing with the news that Chris Jericho's contract with the WWE is coming to an end soon, and that he has yet to resign a new one. This fact has set a fire beneath many a fan of Y2J, a man who is largely considered one of the best in the business today...or even ever.
Chris Jericho's Side Ventures: Fozzy, Downfall and more.
A couple things that would seem to obviously lead to at least a little time off for Y2J, Chris Jericho, are potential scheduling conflicts due to the fact that not only does he currently host a game show on ABC, Downfall, but also the fact that in coming months, his band Fozzy have a tour planned. Obviously, Jericho cannot be in two places at once, so suffice to say that if tours are being planned, then Jericho will not be present at WWE showings. However, as has happened in the past, this may simply just mean a short break from wrestling, and not an actual goodbye.
Night of Champions: Six Pack Challenge
Even more disheartening perhaps, for Y2J fans, was the statement made by Jericho on RAW, where he claimed that if he did not win the match, that he would leave once and for all. Now, for fans who read the backstage dirt and know how to put two and two together, it became even more apparent that Jericho was planning to leave the WWE. In the very least, it certainly seems as though WWE is preparing for this possibility by instilling such ramifications into the match.
However, once we stop and think, this has been said many times by many different superstars over the years, and they more often than not end up coming back several months later, or simply switching brands. It is more than possible, therefore, that this is simply one of those cases, and the WWE is looking to take the WWE universe by surprise as they sometimes tend to do, by intentionally instilling this paranoia and then lowering the boom. An effective tactic that has worked for them in the past, there is no reason to believe this is not the same.
Radio Interviews
Further solace can be found in the fact that in recent radio interviews, Jericho has clearly stated that he still thinks he has plenty left in him, and plenty left to give to the wrestling world. Whilst admittedly he has also stated considering moving on and concentrating on Fozzy and his family, Jericho is well known for his side ventures. Again, this has happened in the past, and Jericho is still with the WWE today.
With many wrestlers who have been in this situation in the past, it has merely been to do with haggling over price, or an unwillingness to sign an overly long term contract. It is plenty plausible that Jericho will merely continue to compete on a weekly contractual basis until he can fully make up his mind. This too, has been done in the past.
Overall therefore, until further concrete evidence comes along that Jericho is truly leaving the WWE, suffice it to say that any such panic is premature. Whilst this writer will miss Jericho as much as anybody else if he truly does decide to depart from the business, it is not clearly written in the cards yet, and so in the meanwhile, I for one plan to enjoy the storyline WWE is delivering with this. One thing is for sure, it certainly will get people to watch. Jericho is a true legend of the business, and an ending to his career, even just a potential one, is not something a fan would ever want to miss.
Lee Wilson - Unlike many writers, Lee has never attended any form of college or otherwise, instead having dropped out of home schooling after passing ...
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