After spending months watching “consultants” like Eric Bischoff boldly declare that AEW could not presumably earn a nine-figure-per-year extension from Warner Brothers Discovery resulting from their declining rankings, members of the promotion, from Tony Khan to Chris Jericho, have taken a victory lap following a large new take care of $185 million a yr.
Discussing the promotion’s new deal and every thing that comes with it on Busted Open Radio in promotion of WrestleDream, Jericho laughed on the “fool consultants” who thought they knew higher, as AEW is not going anyplace any time quickly.
“I believe we proved numerous so-called ‘Consultants,’ and we made them appear to be idiots. We knew what was occurring with this. The panorama modifications continually; numbers go up, and numbers go down, however the total demo of what AEW brings to the desk as a stay sporting occasion is invaluable. We knew it was one thing that individuals would need to be concerned with. Warner Brothers Discovery did not need us to go anyplace, and you may see, $185 million a yr for an organization that has solely been going 5 years. That is by no means occurred earlier than. Ever,” Jericho famous by way of Fightful.
“Clearly, WWE is the gold normal. They did not have a deal like that 5 years in. With all of the rising pains, good and unhealthy, that AEW has, we’re nonetheless such a younger firm. That confirmed we now have an actual dedication. We’re not going anyplace. Tony Khan will not be going anyplace. I am not going anyplace, a lot to folks’s chagrin. Neither is the remainder of the corporate. It’ll be a extremely nice subsequent three to 5 years. There may be nothing worse than if AEW did not get an amazing tv deal. There may be nothing higher for the enterprise and the followers than for AEW to thrive and be wholesome. We’re.”
With conventional tv viewing at an all-time low, it is sensible that an organization like WBD would prioritize a present that really attracts in weekly viewers to the published and their DVR, versus streaming exhibits that usually come with out commercials. However that is not the solely negotiation Jericho mentioned on Busted Open, as he has his personal new deal within the works, too.
Chris Jericho is getting into his personal contract yr with AEW
Turning consideration to his personal contract negotiations with AEW, Jericho famous that 2025 may mark a giant yr for himself, too, because it may mark his subsequent massive professional wrestling deal.
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“I am about prepared to enter my greatest contract yr ever. That is one of many issues I snort about when persons are like, ‘Jericho simply needs to be on TV.’ I haven’t got to do something. My boss places me on TV as a result of he pays me cash to be there,” Jericho defined by way of Fightful. “To know that a lot cash is at stake 25 years after the Perspective Period, it blows my thoughts. It is a nice time for the enterprise and followers to be in it. Reside sports activities is the final bastion of promoting. With all of the streaming, no person is watching commercials anymore. The one commercials are NFL, NHL, NBA, AEW, WWE, stay sports activities. That is why it is price that a lot cash. For folks going, ‘Oh, they’re overpaying.’ It is what they’ve left to become profitable. When WWE goes to Netflix, out of the blue that modifications the sport as nicely. It is an fascinating time for the tv enterprise, the wrestling enterprise, and stay sports activities and promoting.”
An AEW OG because the first episode of Dynamite, Jericho is likely one of the most necessary performers in AEW historical past resulting from his religion within the product so early on. Whereas some followers might want him to retire, his clout ought to hold him employed for years to return.
