Chris Jericho has revealed a new business partnership with Alex Van Halen, the renowned drummer of the rock band Van Halen. The announcement came this week via Jericho’s Twitter, where he expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration but did not divulge specific details about the venture. This development arrives shortly after Jericho’s encounter with Beatles legend Paul McCartney during the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door event in London.
Jericho’s excitement was evident in his social media post:
“Never thought I’d be business partners with @alexvanhalen! Stay tuned for more info … What a week I’m having! 🤯@stevebrownrocks @vanhalen”
—Chris Jericho, AEW Star
AEW’s Struggles Highlighted Amid Business Developments
While Jericho’s partnership stirs interest, the wrestling world remains unsettled about the future of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Bully Ray, a WWE and TNA Hall of Famer, publicly criticized AEW’s direction on Twitter, suggesting the company lacks clear leadership despite Tony Khan’s well-meaning efforts. Ray questioned Khan’s abilities as a booker, implying internal awareness of the company’s challenges.
These remarks sparked backlash from both fans and WWE talent, including Ricochet, who defended AEW’s current position. AEW launched in 2019 as WWE’s most formidable rival since the Monday Night Wars era but has since seen a gradual decline in viewership. The latest AEW Dynamite episode attracted only 472,000 viewers on TBS, marking its lowest audience ever on a Wednesday night slot.
Athena’s Unrivaled Women’s Championship Reign Continues
In women’s wrestling, AEW’s Athena has demonstrated exceptional dominance by maintaining the ROH Women’s World Championship for over 1,000 days since winning it on December 10, 2022, at the Final Battle event. During this period, she has achieved 31 successful title defenses against notable contenders such as Billie Starkz, Mina Shirakawa, Nyla Rose, and Thunder Rosa.
Athena’s reign extends beyond ROH, as she has defended the title across multiple wrestling promotions, including AEW, STARDOM, and MLP. Her consistent success has solidified her reputation as a cornerstone of women’s wrestling.
Anna Jay Credits Jack Perry for Popular Catchphrase
AEW star Anna Jay recently shared insight about her famous catchphrase, “Fat a*, bad attitude,” revealing it was actually created by her boyfriend, fellow wrestler Jack Perry. Jay disclosed on Highspots’ Sign-It-Live show that Perry encouraged her to adopt the phrase to leave a memorable impact, despite her initial hesitation. Chris Jericho also supported her decision to use the tagline.
“Um, I don’t know if I wanna say. It wasn’t me. Alright, it was actually Jack (Perry). Yeah, and for a long time, he was like, ‘Why don’t you say this? It’s kind of crazy and it’ll stick with people’ and I was like, ‘I don’t want to. That’s so not me to say,’ and then, one day, I think I ran it by Chris Jericho… And I think he was like, ‘Yeah, go for it,’ and then that’s how it happened.” —Anna Jay, AEW Wrestler
Although Anna Jay has been absent from AEW programming since mid-August, she is scheduled to appear at the AEW Collision event on September 6, with her role yet to be disclosed.
Implications for Wrestling Industry and Next Steps
Chris Jericho’s business partnership with Alex Van Halen underscores the evolving interests of professional wrestlers beyond the ring, signaling potential crossover ventures between sports entertainment and music or other industries. Meanwhile, AEW faces ongoing pressure to stabilize its viewership and clarify strategic direction amid public scrutiny. Athena‘s historic championship reign highlights a rare beacon of stability and success within the company.
The wrestling community will likely watch closely as Jericho unveils details of his new collaboration and as AEW responds to challenges in audience retention. The upcoming AEW Collision event may provide further insights into how key talents like Anna Jay will contribute to AEW’s future narrative and programming.
