With Chris Jericho’s AEW contract reportedly set to expire at the end of the year, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray spent a significant portion of his “Busted Open After Dark” podcast discussing what he believes Jericho’s next career move should be. Bully stated that he feels Jericho would be better served by returning to WWE for a final run rather than staying in AEW.
The conversation began with Bully asking his listeners, “Would you like to see him stay in AEW?” He noted that the previous night, the reaction to Jericho potentially going to WWE was “a mixed bag.” A caller then suggested that Jericho should retire from in-ring competition and take on an executive role in AEW. Bully strongly disagreed with this idea.
“You just want Chris Jericho to retire because he’s going to be 55 and work behind the scenes. I’m sorry. I just don’t,” Bully said. He then made a bold statement about one specific match that he believes justifies a WWE return on its own. “I would bring Chris Jericho back to the WWE just to work with LA Knight,” he declared. “If you told me that that was the only thing he was going to do for one year, that’s good enough a reason alone.”
Bully argued that a return to WWE would allow Jericho to lean into nostalgia, something he believes would be very successful. “The beauty about going back to the WWE is Chris Jericho could show up at the WWE at the Royal Rumble with the same exact entrance that he made his debut in the WWE with… and that place would go f—ing bananas,” he explained. “Some people do nostalgia really well… and it does work for certain wrestling acts.”
He contrasted this with what he feels would be a more difficult path if he re-signs with AEW, where he believes fans may be less receptive to what he does next. “Do I think that Chris Jericho could do something different in AEW? Yes, I do,” Bully said. “Do I think the fans will be willing to accept it? No. I think Chris will be swimming upstream in AEW.”
Ultimately, Bully Ray’s advice for his long-time peer was clear. He feels that the best final chapter for Jericho’s career lies in a return to the company where he became a global superstar. “Lean into it or go do what you should do, ride off into the sunset in the WWE,” he concluded.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
