Add as a preferred source on Google Chris Jericho has once again addressed one of the most common debates in modern pro-wrestling: the difference between impressing the audience and actually connecting with them.
Speaking in a recent interview with Dan Marston, the AEW veteran said he is not looking to criticize the athletic evolution of wrestlers, but stressed that the fundamentals of wrestling remain the same regardless of the era.
“You have to connect with the audience. When I started, our style was the version of what’s happening today. The peak of athleticism in 1991 was a moonsault. I remember the first guys to do a moonsault in Japan were me and Lance Storm. Now, a moonsault is an opening move. But that’s fine. Athleticism evolves. The principle of wrestling never changes, though. It all comes down to your personality, your character, your charisma, and connecting with the audience.”
Jericho also emphasized that without that bond, matches can become little more than a sequence of high spots with no real reaction from the fans.
“If you don’t connect, it’s just two guys doing big moves with no reaction, because there’s so much going on that nobody is paying attention. Nothing is special.”
The former AEW World Champion also said every move inside the ring needs to have a reason, just as the match itself needs to justify its existence. In his view, it is up to wrestlers to find a unique and memorable character.
Jericho returned to AEW on the April 1 edition of Dynamite in Winnipeg after nearly a year away from television.
Jericho was the first world champion in AEW history, defeating Hangman Page at All Out 2019. He remains involved in the company’s programming and recently crossed paths with Tommaso Ciampa on Dynamite.