Interview: Chris Jericho on His Schedule and Only Working for WWE in US

A recent episode of the Inside the Ropes podcast had Chris Jericho as the guest discussing his wrestling schedule, not wanting to work for non-WWE promotions in the United States, and juggling his indies work with staying in WWE’s good graces.

On the topic of his current wrestling schedule, Jericho stated he rejected offers from NJPW to work at their upcoming Cow Palace event and from Cody for his upcoming All In event due to being very selective with his bookings and his high asking price.

“I got asked to do [Strong Style Evolved in] Long Beach, I said ‘no.’ I got asked to do [the G1 Special at the] Cow Palace, I said ‘no.’ I got asked to do “All In,” I said ‘no.’ I don’t want to do that. You should see how many indie promoters have contacted me over the last six months. … You guys have to understand, this is not just me…it’s a calculated, big money proposition. Big money for me, big money for the company doing it. I’m not going to work anywhere else, unless you want to pay six f—— figures, I’m not bragging, but this is where we’re at. This is McGregor-Mayweather type s— for me. I’m not saying I’m making $55 million like those guys, but what I’m doing it’s the most I’ve made for the least amount of matches in my entire career. So, it’s very calculated, everything I do has to be very smart.”

On the topic of only working for the WWE in the United States, Jericho stated it is due to the respect he has for Vince McMahon.

“It’s not a matter of just going out and doing indies – and like I said – I always felt like the unwritten rule is I don’t want to go into the states. I felt like that would be a real slap in the face of Vince [McMahon]. Ya know if something ever went down with us, I probably would do a show in the states and we could probably fill the Cow Palace. Jericho and Kenny [Omega] rematch, or whatever it may be. “All In” I’d love to be a part of that, but ‘A’ it’s in Chicago and ‘B’…at the risk sounding like an ass—-, but I can’t lower my value by working one of these shows. It’s about picking my spots with the right guys at the right places for the overall contract I’m signing.”

On the topic of working for multiple companies, Jericho stated he currently enjoys working for multiple companies but also does not want to do stuff that could cause him to fall out of WWE’s good graces.

“I’m doing all these different things and enjoying the freedom, but still rooted in the respect for Vince McMahon and the WWE. And I don’t want to do anything that goes too far over that line, right now.”