Chris Jericho remains a regular presence on AEW television, but a huge portion of the AEW audience has voiced their discontent and for him to be removed from television. In response to this criticism, Matt Hardy has stepped up to defend Jericho, showing his supportfor his former colleague.
Chris Jericho has received a lot of criticism from fans over the past several months. Some feel his involvement in AEW, particularly with The Learning Tree, isnt benefiting the show and that hes slowing down the progress of younger wrestlers. Despite this backlash, AEW continues to give Jericho prominent roles on shows like Dynamite, and even let him win the ROH World Championship, which has only led to more frustration from fans.
While speaking on theExtreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy addressed the criticism Chris Jericho often gets online, where some fans say they dont want to see him on TV anymore and just want him to retire. Hardy defended Jericho, stating that even though hes over 50 and cant wrestle like he did at 25, hes still an incredibly talented and skilled performer.
Hardy explained that Jericho works for a unique audience that Tony Khan focuses on, often called the sickos. Some fans might expect Jericho to perform like younger wrestlers such as Kyle Fletcher or Will Ospreay, but thats not realistic. Instead, Jericho offers entertainment, storytelling, and strong character work, even if his style isnt for everyone.
Hardy compared Jerichos situation to his and Jeff Hardys experiences. He said live crowds always cheered them on and showed support, but online fans were often critical and simply wanted Jericho gone from television.
Chris Jericho also previously denied claims of having go-away heat. It remains to be seen whether AEW will decide to repackage Chris Jericho in a way that will ensure he doesnt face so much criticism online, as that may not happen anytime soon.
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