Following his recent hiatus from All Elite Wrestling (AEW), speculation has swirled about Chris Jericho’s possible return to WWE for retirement. Throughout his AEW tenure, Jericho has faced considerable critique regarding his character development and creative usage, notably responding with his tongue-in-cheek “Learning Tree” gimmick. Despite the backlash, Jericho did not ignore the feedback; instead, he confronted it during an interview on UNTAPPED, emphasizing the importance of patience and creativity in storytelling, which forms the core of his approach.
Championing Long-Term Storytelling Over Instant Gratification
Jericho expressed a preference for extended narratives rather than rushing resolutions, addressing the demand from many modern wrestling fans for immediate answers. He compared his style to films like Saving Private Ryan, which require viewers to invest time to appreciate the full impact.
I would rather make things go longer than shorter, and I always love wrestling fans – especially modern-day ones – who just want to know the answer right now!
He further asserted the creative freedom he embraces regarding the pacing of stories.
Shut the f*** up, and let me tell my story! When it’s done – if it takes a year, tough luck!
We can tell any story we want, and we can make it go as long as we want, or as short as we want.
Revisiting His Rivalry with Maxwell Jacob Friedman as an Example
One of Jericho’s most notable AEW storylines was his extended feud with Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), which he noted took over a year to reach its conclusion. Jericho challenged the criticism claiming the feud lasted too long by questioning why viewers would want to move on to other storylines if nothing else compelling was available.
There were people like: ‘this feud is too long’ – why go to something else? Why? What else do you got going on?
Jericho also reflected on his past with WWE’s Shawn Michaels, where a similarly long storyline was initially resisted by others but ultimately received acclaim.
That was the thing with Shawn Michaels and I. They wanted it to be a one month thing and [we were like] ‘what do you have coming up?’ ‘Nothing?’ ‘Well, what do you have coming up, Shawn?’ ‘Nothing.’ Well, then why are we ending this in a month? Let’s keep going!
The Art of Delayed Story Elements and Encouraging Fans to Engage
Jericho emphasized that sometimes aspects of a story need to be temporarily set aside to allow other parts to develop, reinforcing that wrestling is a form of entertainment akin to watching a TV series rather than real life. This insight encourages fans to appreciate the unfolding narrative rather than demanding instant resolutions.
That, to me, is the brilliance of wrestling,
Until then? Just sit back and enjoy the show! It’s a show! It’s show business; it’s not real, it’s like watching your favorite TV series.
Chris Jericho’s perspective underscores his commitment to a storytelling approach that values patience and long-term investment, which has shaped some of his most celebrated rivalries, including those with MJF and Shawn Michaels. This method may continue to influence how he engages audiences moving forward, especially as conversations about his wrestling future develop.
