Chris Jericho Comments On Fans Not Liking Him: ‘As A Heel, Isn’t That The Idea?’

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet for Talk is Jericho (via Fightful), Chris Jericho spoke about the backlash against him in AEW and suggested that just meant he was doing his job as a heel. He also spoke about the ‘Jericho Vortex’ and talent he worked with.

Chris Jericho said: “It’s funny how I’ve kind of become public enemy number one. As a heel by the way, isn’t that the idea? Aren’t you supposed to be public enemy number one as heel? Aren’t you supposed to not like somebody’s character when they’re a heel? Maybe I’m actually smarter than everyone and am manipulating people to what I want them to do. ‘Well fuck off, just retire already’, it’s like, okay, doesn’t that make you mad? What I look at is the ratings and nine times out of ten, my segments always go up and they’re still some of the biggest ones on the show. That tells me that whatever I’m doing is working. I do have a target on my back for that. Once again, it’s kind of the idea. It’s like, I am a bad guy on the show. It’s public opinion and it goes in cycles. When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, especially at the top level, that makes people mad. I always love the concept of the Jericho vortex and how anybody that works with me gets dragged down. Name one. Name one person that got dragged down from working with me. Maybe afterwards they didn’t go higher, but that’s not up to me. I’m not in charge of booking the entire company. All I can do is influence the storylines that I work on. Everybody that I can think of that worked with me certainly went to a higher level. I did a year with MJF, look where he’s at. Danny Garcia to Sammy Guevara. Daddy Magic comes off of commentary last week and gets a big pop, who do you think put him in that position? I think Big Bill and Bryan Keith have grown by leaps and bounds from working with me. I’m not gonna go through the entire cast of characters. I definitely know what my intentions are and it’s not to bury anybody, it’s to build as many people as I can and give them experience so they can start shouldering things on their own.”