Chris Jericho

All Elite Wrestling Double or Nothing is three weeks away, but with just one match officially set for the show, AEW's decision-makers will undoubtedly be hard at work when it comes to building and adding matches on Dynamite.

Pre-taped episodes of Dynamite have aired in recent weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, but with Dynamite set to go back live next week, the Double or Nothing card should take shape quickly so that AEW can begin ramping up the advertising for the show.

The only match that is set in stone for Double or Nothing thus far is the final of the TNT Championship tournament between Cody and Lance Archer, as Cody beat Darby Allin and Archer beat Dustin Rhodes in the semifinals this week.

Although there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding who will and won't be available for Double or Nothing because of the impact COVID-19 has had on the company and its talent, here are three matches you can expect to see on the May 23 pay-per-view.

       

Chris Jericho vs. Matt Hardy

While few rivalries have truly been built in recent weeks, AEW has managed to focus on the issues between Chris Jericho and Matt Hardy.

Hardy debuted on Dynamite several weeks ago and was named part of The Elite's Blood and Guts team against The Inner Circle, but that match has yet to happen because of the restrictions that exist because of the coronavirus. Even so, Jericho and Hardy have continued to be at odds.

They engaged in a bizarre promo battle weeks ago that resulted in Hardy turning down Jericho's offer to join The Inner Circle. Hardy later challenged Jericho to an "Elite Deletion" match, but Jericho has yet to accept.

Since this year's Double or Nothing won't have the usual big-event feel since no fans will be permitted to attend, doing the Elite Deletion match between Jericho and Hardy on the card makes all the sense in the world.

WWE was dealt a tough hand with WrestleMania 36 having to take place in front of no fans, which forced it to get creative and stray from having only in-ring matches.

The Boneyard Match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles and the Firefly Funhouse Match between John Cena and Bray Wyatt were both universally praised because of their cinematic nature and the fact that so much effort was put into making them different from everything else.

An Elite Deletion match between Jericho and Hardy can fill that same role at Double or Nothing and would have a good chance to steal the show given how creative the two participants are.

Hardy held cinematic-style matches and segments at his compound in both Impact Wrestling and WWE, so he has the experience needed to make it a success in AEW as well.

There likely wouldn't be a ton of interest in a basic singles match between Jericho and Hardy now since they are both somewhat limited compared to what they used to be able to do, but an Elite Deletion match would play to both of their strengths.

       

Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee

AEW World champion Jon Moxley said on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite that he would be on the show live next week, and he strongly suggested that he will find an opponent for Double or Nothing.

Moxley won the title from Jericho at Revolution and then beat Jake Hager in a No Holds Barred match to retain. Since he seems to have moved on from The Inner Circle, it is time for a new challenger to emerge.

There is no obvious person who has issues with Moxley, but Brodie Lee makes plenty of sense as Mox's next opponent given how quickly he has risen through the ranks in AEW.

Lee was introduced as the leader of Dark Order last month, and he has run roughshod over AEW since then. AEW has also firmly established him as a villainous egomaniac, which makes him the perfect foil to Moxley.

Mox thrived against Jericho and The Inner Circle since he was a lone wolf overcoming the odds, and he could do the same against Lee since Lee has Dark Order backing him up.

The timing of when Moxley's promo aired this week is worth noting, as it was played immediately after Lee's win over Marko Stunt, which may have been the company's way of planting the seeds.

Moxley and Lee have plenty of experience facing each other dating back to WWE and the independent scene before that, so they should be able to deliver a great match even with an abbreviated buildup.

       

Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy

Since AEW Women's champion Nyla Rose and one-half of the AEW World Tag Team champions, Adam "Hangman" Page, haven't been on television in weeks, it is difficult to predict if they will be available for Double or Nothing.

Given that uncertainty, it stands to reason that AEW will include a match on the card that features performers who have been at odds in recent weeks.

The newly formed trio of Kip Sabian, Jimmy Havoc and Penelope Ford have had no shortage of issues with Best Friends lately. On Wednesday's Dynamite, Trent and Chuck Taylor beat Sabian and Havoc in a No Disqualification and No Count-Out tag team match.

Prior to that, Orange Cassidy beat Havoc in a singles match on a recent episode of Dynamite, so pivoting to a never-before-seen Sabian vs. OC match is a strong possibility.

Sabian has been a steady presence on Dynamite lately, including last week when he pushed Dustin Rhodes to the limit in the first round of the TNT Championship tournament.

AEW fans seemed to enjoy Cassidy's match against PAC at Revolution a few months ago, and they would likely react positively on social media to a clash between Cassidy and Sabian as well.

      

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Dustin Rhodes stared dead-eyed into the camera, face devoid of both life and expression as he laid motionless on the mat. Blood trickled down the right side of his face, a shade of red that perfectly matched the face paint that decorated the left.

He'd been in some bad places in a wrestling career that spans more than three decades, sharing the ring with some bad hombres over the years. He fought Roddy Piper in a parking lot and Blacktop Bully in the back of a moving 18-wheeler. But nothing had prepared him for Lance Archer, the monstrous new protege of Jake "The Snake" Roberts who advanced to the finals of the TNT Championship tournament to face Rhodes' brother Cody at Double or Nothing.

https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1255674533018771458

The match capped one of the best episodes of wrestling television this year, certainly the finest weekly show in the era of COVID-19. AEW Dynamite opened with a spectacular match between Cody and Darby Allin in the other semifinal and never really lost momentum through Archer's bravura performance to close things out. Dr. Britt Baker and the Inner Circle both provided legitimately funny vignettes, and the Best Friends filled the middle of the show with a truly impressive "no disqualification" match with Jimmy Havoc and Kip Sabian that stole a packed show.

It was a fantastic two hours of wrestling, the culmination of all the lessons learned over the last month of empty-arena shows. It moved quickly, balancing dramatic action with comedic flair, a handful of squash matches serving as a palate cleanser between courses. The show was good enough that you don't have to grade it on a curve or take into account the circumstances that forced it to be filmed and produced the way it was.

This wasn't wrestling that was good despite the empty arena and these uncertain times. This was wrestling that was so good that you forgot about that, lost in the stories unfolding in front of you.

Dr. @realbrittbaker D.M.D takes us on a tour of her dental practice, we meet her makeup artist @RebelTanea (not Reba), and she explains Rule #2.
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama or https://t.co/GdI7QAsxEP for our International fans. #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/duYKs14UhY

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 30, 2020

Wrestling in a vacuum can be difficult. The crowd, especially for a promotion like AEW that draws thousands of hugely devoted fans to watch Dynamite live each week, can play an integral role. It provides the passion that many wrestlers draw power from, energizing the performers, which only further inflames the audience—a feedback loop that some nights feels like magic.

Absent that, AEW was forced to improvise. It brought wrestlers out to chant and cheer (and sometimes interfere) bringing life to what might have been dull, by-the-numbers matches. The camera work was adjusted, cutting the angles tighter and tighter each week, making it easy to forget there was no one there.

The wrestlers, too, adjusted their games. With no audience, they eliminated most of the crowd participation spots, speeding up their matches and tightening up their ring work to accommodate for the closer camera.

Luck, as always, played a role. With their regular announce crew unavailable, they tried out a couple of partners for Tony Schiavone, eventually landing on Chris Jericho, who was a revelation. His passion for the show was contagious, and his banter with Schiavone is what most heel announcers think they sound like when they're actually stinking up the joint.

The last month has been unprecedented, testing our resiliency, both as individuals and a people. Barely a year into its existence, AEW both adapted and overcame, setting the industry standard and daring everyone else to keep up.

The TNT Championship tournament exemplified what has generally been the AEW approach to the coronavirus—live audience or not, the promotion was never content to simply produce television to fill quotas and time. It continued to build characters and storylines, making sure the shows mattered.

And, in my house at least, that level of caring was deeply appreciated.

     

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.

Much of the attention in All Elite Wrestling goes to the stars at the tippy top of the promotional pyramid. The wrestlers main-eventing on pay-per-view shoulder the bulk of the media responsibilities and both the fan praise and criticism alike.

And that's probably how it should be.

These are the wrestlers best-suited for the spotlight right now, competent, seasoned professionals with the experience to handle the pressure that comes from having all eyes on you. The life of the company depends on these performances both inside the ring and out, and it only makes sense to put people in those roles who are ready to succeed right away.

Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes and Matt Hardy are all established wrestling superstars with one thing in common beyond their Hall of Fame pedigrees—and that's extended runs in Vince McMahon's WWE. Wrestling fans know them, and they've created a legacy and a relationship with the fans they've carried with them into this new venture.

The truth is, it will be rare, going forward, to find a high-profile free agent who hasn't spent time in the WWE system. New York has been the mecca for professional wrestlers, after all, longer than most of us have been alive.

But that common experience has done more than help generations of wrestling talent shine under the brightest of lights. It's also given AEW, in certain circles, an unfair rap as a promotion full of its competition's leftovers, a place for failed WWE stars to come for a second chance at success.

This episode of AEW Dynamite, like so many others before it, shows that criticism of the promotion to be unfounded at best and cynical nonsense at worst. Because, while it's the WWE veterans who have secured many of the prime spots in the AEW hierarchy, it's the newcomers and found gold that have given the promotion luster and life.

Far from feeling like a WWE knockoff, the combination of old talent energized by a fresh start and wrestlers new to the national stage has helped AEW create something vibrant and unique. AEW is a Frankenstein's monster, a mixture of old-school WCW, the energy of ECW and the ethos of the modern indies quite distinct from the sports entertainment WWE has presented for over a decade now.

The quarterfinal matches in the TNT Championship tournament was the perfect example of the balance AEW has maintained throughout its short existence. Dustin Rhodes main-evented the show, but it was the opening match between newcomers Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara he was attempting to equal, two young prospects who have lit a fire underneath a roster that has been forced to do more than merely jog in place to stay a step ahead.

https://twitter.com/sammyguevara/status/1253129033337974785

Allin and Guevara, two otherworldly athletic talents with charisma oozing off them by the bucket full are hardly alone. They were followed by the cult superstar Orange Cassidy, the personification of "too cool to care," who has become one of the promotion's most popular figures despite (or because of) doing, well, absolutely nothing.

The week before it was Dr. Britt Baker, and before the pandemic, Jurassic Express was on the same rocket ship to the stratosphere. Acts like Penelope Ford, Kris Statlander and Joey Janela are just an opportunity away from a similar chance to take the wrestling world by storm.

AEW isn't a promotion full of the scraps left over after the WWE machine was created. It's, instead, a promising new creation built with parts from all over the wrestling world, the diversity of style and approach a feature to be shared, not a weakness to strip away until only an exhausting sameness of purpose and intent remains.

In an era of overwritten, overproduced wrestling, AEW has brought the wrestler back into the creative process—and the difference is obvious. The promotion trusts its talent to follow their own instincts and hearts. And, it turns out, when wrestlers care about the material they're performing and feel invested in it, good things happen. It creates an authenticity that doesn't (and can't) exist when the same television writers attempt to create dialogue for 20 different characters.

“You're special. There is a gift that you have.”
The story of @scorpiosky and his life long journey in professional wrestling.#AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/jtigstS5AM

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 23, 2020

The AEW formula for creating new stars is innovative in its simplicity. Generally, they film an introductory video, giving the audience the opportunity to meet the wrestler and get a glimpse of their world. From there, it's totally in the talent's hands to sink or swim.

Allin and Guevara not only have distinct in-ring styles but also film different kinds of promos and video packages. Each AEW wrestler has the freedom to create the kind of character that works for them.

And, so far, it's worked for me too.

     

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.

Although his journey with All Elite Wrestling has only just begun, Jim Ross has already firmly established himself as one of professional wrestling's greatest commentators of all-time.

Good Ol' J.R. has had an illustrious career that spans over six decades, both on and off screen. In addition to serving as the voice of WWE for so many years behind the booth, he worked in talent relations and had a hand in hiring everyone from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Mick Foley to Eddie Guerrero and Brock Lesnar.

Ross details his time with the company and close relationship with Vince McMahon in his new autobiography Under the Black Hat, a direct sequel to his first tell-all Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling that was released in 2017.

"There's a lot of topics I didn't cover in that first book because of the chronological nature of it: the Attitude Era, the Monday Night Wars, the XFL original launch, WWE going public, more bouts of Bell's palsy, being relieved of my post another time or two," Ross said. "The story wasn't finished, so Under the Black Hat takes us all the way through those WWE years right up to me leaving WWE last year and going to work with Tony Khan and AEW."

Khan scooped up Ross as soon as he was contractually available in April 2019 and positioned him as the promotion's lead play-by-play announcer. The credibility and legitimacy he's brought the commentary table has been, in a word, invaluable.

The AEW president made the executive call last month to sit Ross at home for the foreseeable future, at least until the coronavirus pandemic subsides. Khan highly values the WWE Hall of Famer and considers his health to be of utmost importance.

"Tony Khan called me two weeks ago and said 'You need to stay home. If you get sick, I'm going to be feeling horrible,'" Ross said about his boss. "My problem of being home and isolated pales in comparison to the deaths and tragedies people are enduring today. It's bigger than wrestling, obviously. I love what I'm doing, and I can't wait to get back in the game."

While in quarantine, Ross has been binging everything from old episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to the new Netflix phenomenon Tiger King. The similarities between the show's over-the-top characters and the wacky world of wrestling are not lost on him.

"He's a crazy person he seems to me like," said the Oklahoma native about Tiger King star Joe Exotic. "He reminds me of a guy trying to be a wrestler and he never makes it past the opening match on an independent show. It's crazy. It's such a train wreck."

The Dream Team you didn't know you needed in your life - for the first time | #LeChampion @IAmJericho & @tonyschiavone24 will be your announce team for #AEWDynamite TONIGHT on @TNTDrama 8e/7c. pic.twitter.com/TOnYZJBx3E

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 8, 2020

Having called a handful of AEW Dynamite shows shortly following the outbreak of the coronavirus in March, Ross believes it's "challenging but not unattainable" to make wrestling watchable in empty arenas and that the "reverend of reinvention" Chris Jericho has filled in for him exceptionally well in his absence.

"I thought he and Tony Schiavone were really entertaining," said Ross. "Wrestling fans like new and they like different, but they also like consistency and stability. Chris Jericho is one of the most talented guys in a variety of ways I've ever worked with in my entire career that started in 1974."

Jericho was one of the biggest names Ross recruited into WWE while serving as a talent scout in 1999. It was his faith in the former WCW star that led to McMahon becoming a big believer in the future multi-time world champion, and the rest is history.

Jericho joins "Broken" Matt Hardy and Brodie Lee on the long list of AEW stars that Ross applauds for utilizing their creative freedom to stand out, something that isn't always possible in WWE.

"All those cats get a chance to step outside those restrictions and into an area where they can create," Ross said. "We encourage our guys to improve their skill sets in every area, and to do that they have to think on their own and not just memorize lines like they're a trained actor. They're not. They're people, they're athletes."

Ross continued his praise of the ex-AEW World champion: "Chris is a great leader in our locker room and a positive influence with Santana, Ortiz, Sammy Guevara and Jake Hager. I just have so much respect for Chris."

Despite not being seen on recently on AEW TV, Good Ol' J.R. confirmed that he'll be calling this week's empty-arena No Holds Barred bout between Jon Moxley and Jake Hager for the AEW World Championship remotely.

Ross has always brought a "big fight feel" to any match he's lent his iconic voice to, including every pay-per-view main event AEW has had over the last year.

He's been an incredible asset to the company's commentary team thus far, which currently consists of himself, WCW alum Schiavone and PWG founding father Excalibur. Despite their strong chemistry, even Ross realizes there is still room for improvement for the trio.

"All three of us get along and don't have agendas. We're team players, we like working with each other," Ross said. "You can tell by our broadcast that we're having fun and that we're not being dominated by overproducing or [someone] telling us what to say. We're creating our own content, and I love that."

To say social media has drastically changed the wrestling business would be an understatement, but that has especially been true for how fans react to the commentary. Even with the slightest slip-up, J.R. and every other announcer out there with an online presence are bound to hear about it almost immediately one way or another.

Ross has worked through the early hiccups in his AEW work and has truly hit his stride again as the reliable voice fans grew up watching. Considering the company started from scratch and he's been there since its premier pay-per-view Double or Nothing, he feels he's done a decent job behind the booth up to this point.

"It's a stark reality for some of us and we all have to remember that it's just some people exercising their opinion. They have a right to their opinion," Ross remarked. "My issue, if any, is that we seek out these half-empty glasses rather than the half-full glasses, so it's a somewhat cynical, defiant culture. I'd probably give myself a B."

What many fans may not remember is that, after being deemed "retired" by WWE in 2013, Ross returned in 2017, calling the main event of WrestleMania 33 between The Undertaker and Roman Reigns. He was used sparingly over the next two years for the inaugural Mae Young Classic, pre-show panels, NXT TakeOver shows and special episodes of Raw, among other things.

For a variety of reasons, his latest stint there wasn't what fans hoped for when news first broke he was coming back. After being used only twice in 2018, he knew it was time to move on once his contract expired the subsequent spring.

He's grateful to Vince for giving him the opportunity to grow over the course of his career in WWE as he is excited for what lies ahead for him in AEW.

"I had a great run there and I'm so thankful for all that, but I wanted to get back in the game. Tony Khan facilitated that happening," Ross said. "I've had a chance to mentor and coach, which I love doing. I've always thought that my greatest accomplishment in wrestling was the talent relations work and providing opportunities for guys that went on to become hall of famers, financially secure and happy in their lives. To me, that's better than calling Mick Foley getting tossed off the Hell in a Cell. The call is memorable no doubt, but the other part is what I'm particularly proud of."

That Hell in a Cell clash between Mankind and The Undertaker is far from the only memorable moment involving The Deadman that J.R. has been on the call for. He returned for what was likely intended to be his final match at 'Mania in 2017 and gave him a sendoff befitting of a phenom.

Having been on WWE commentary for all of Undertaker's American Badass run in the early 2000s, Ross was thrilled to see 'Taker bring that persona back at WrestleMania 36 against AJ Styles. He was happy to exchange words with his longtime friend via text afterward and is of the mindset that fans order the event in part to see what he's going to do.

"He's a wonderful guy and is the Clint Eastwood of that locker room without a doubt. I thought he and AJ Styles were absolutely amazing in their graveyard match and the concept, how it was shot, how it was edited was artwork," Ross said. "I think Undertaker is the greatest attraction wrestler in the history of the business. I hope we don't wait until he is retired to start truly appreciating what Mark Calaway, a.k.a. The Undertaker, has contributed to the pro wrestling business."

Along with Undertaker, the Attitude Era arguably produced more megastars than any other era in WWE history, most notably "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. Ross was present at ringside to call all the action and played a pivotal role in those guys becoming the box office attractions they are today.

In other words, if anyone can spot a soon-to-be world champion from a mile away, it's this famed broadcaster.

When looking ahead to the future of the industry, Ross is confident that some of AEW's top talents, such as Cody, Darby Allin and Jungle Boy, have it in them to be main event players for years to come. The youth and willingness to learn from the locker room will be what carries the company into the next generation, Ross believes.

"I think Cody has the ability to connect with the audience and the skill-set in the ring, we haven't seen the best of Cody yet because he's an athlete. You can't not mention Darby Allin as well," Ross said. "Watching Sammy Guevara makes me think of Eddie Guerrero watching old tapes of him. He does things so naturally and so athletically that he makes it look easy.

"We have a great young nucleus of 20-something-year-old kids who are wrestling fans to start with and they love the role of pro wrestling. They don't really love the role of sports-entertainer, they want to be a pro wrestler, and that's what we foster in AEW. We are a pro wrestling company, unabashedly and unapologetically."

The Revival could soon join AEW's ranks as well coming off their release from WWE last week. Ross has admired their work from afar in recent years and would love nothing more than to see them ply their trade in the company's stacked tag team division.

"They're one of my favorite teams, and they're certainly a combination I've enjoyed watching. They're pro wrestling guys," Ross said. "I don't know what The Revival's plans are, I don't know what their no-compete clause looks like, but if you're going to get your release and you have a no-compete, now's not a bad time with everything being so crazy. I hope that when we get back to normal and if those gentlemen are interested that they will give us consideration for their next stop."

As for what he aims to accomplish himself going forward, it's hard to imagine he has anything left on his professional bucket list. Between mastering his commentary craft to writing two books to hosting his own podcast, Good Ol' J.R. has seemingly done it all, but he doesn't consider himself finished by any means.

Never one to settle for being content, Ross plans to not only make the most of his time with AEW, but also leave behind a legacy that ensures he is remembered as a positive influence to all who were fortunate enough to have interacted with him.

"This is a journey I'm on," Ross said. "I believe I was meant to be on that journey. I wish Jan was here to see it. She'd be so happy that I'm back in the game doing what I love. I feel like I have more self-esteem and worth.

"These young kids are so bright and inquisitive, they're thirsty for information. They trust me and they know my track record. When a kid comes up to you saying they grew up idolizing you and can't wait for you to call their match, I can't tell you how wonderful that is. In a business that's not long on sensitive moments, I found those moments. It's been wonderful."

With his late wife Jan in mind and millions of wrestling fans worldwide in his corner, anything Jim Ross is involved in is sure to be a slobberknocker.

   

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.

Chris Jericho drew rave reviews for his commentary on last week's AEW Dynamite.

Turns out he enjoyed it enough that it might become a post-wrestling career.

"It was pretty fun," Jericho said on Facebook Live, per Wrestling Inc. "I've never commentated on a whole show before. The reason why I wanted to do it was just to have a presence on the show. As we kind of put a hold on so many things, including Blood and Guts, so I wanted to be on the show and provide a little energy, just in case. You know we are working in front of eight people, 10 people all strategically spaced apart of course."

Jericho and Tony Schiavone provided the commentary, with regulars Excalibur and Jim Ross not being available amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said the pair would be back doing the show next week and added it'll be a consideration once he retires.

"Absolutely, I always loved doing commentary," Jericho said. "To do it for a whole hour or two hours is not easy to do."

Jericho is widely viewed as one of the greatest promos in wrestling history, so it's no surprise to hear him thrive when given two hours of open mic time. His longstanding relationship with Schiavone, which dates back to WCW, also helped give the pair some natural chemistry.

If Jericho ever winds up in commentary, it might solidify his status as the greatest pro wrestling personality in history. 

It's been a challenging time for everyone, many of us quarantined at home in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. The wrestling promotions we love are no different. For weeks, the wrestlers and behind-the-scenes-personnel at both AEW and WWE risk significant harm in an attempt to entertain wrestling fans around the world.

And, weekly, they manage to amaze with their creativity and willingness to push themselves to new heights, testing limits and comfort zones in the name of putting on a great show.

AEW, in particular, manages to run a weekly "empty arena" show that somehow feels different each time out. Sometimes, it's the venue that has changed. Other times, they've recruited a loud contingent of wrestlers to take the place of fans and add an energy to the room that might otherwise be lacking.

This week, it was Chris Jericho filling in on color commentary—making what might have felt like a lifeless display of wrestling-by-the-numbers feel very vibrant and alive.

It shouldn't really come as any surprise that Jericho sat down, sipped a bit of the bubbly and totally owned the broadcast booth. He's been owning everything he does in a wrestling ring for almost 30 years now.

Interviews, matches, skits, merchandise—he does it all at the very top level, always managing to stay current and remain relevant even as the wrestling industry has gone through several seismic shifts during his tenure on top. In his day, he's seen Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, The Rock and John Cena all rule the roost. And he's seen them all fade from glory. The only constant, year after year, decade after decade, has been Jericho himself—one of the few survivors of his generation.

But for all his success, even on the microphone, color commentary is a notoriously difficult gig. Plenty of wrestlers, cocky because they had no trouble delivering a five-minute promo, have flamed out dramatically when given a live mic for two or three hours at a time.

Not so Chris Jericho. He didn't just fill time or manage to get by without embarrassing himself. He actively added to the show throughout, a complete and utter delight in a time when we all could use a smile or two.

It's not just that he was funny throughout—though he was. What took his appearance to the next level was the way he managed to get the talent over in the ring while also delivering line after funny line.

https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1248066744817762304

Heel commentary is a tricky act—most people attempting it today just cartoonishly root for the bad guys. When done poorly, it's just some guy insulting the babyfaces and defending the heels, often in a completely off-putting, intelligence-insulting and predictable way. It becomes, very quickly, all about the announcer.

Jericho, believe it or not, was more subtle. One of the great things about Bobby Heenan and Jesse Ventura was the way they made you laugh when you knew they were being a little tasteless and you probably shouldn't. But you did anyway because you had to acknowledge that, like it or not, they were just plain funny. Jericho has that gift too.

I busted out laughing when he dropped the Cody Exotic line, one of several times I couldn't stifle a guffaw. Best of all was his infectious enthusiasm. He wasn't in pure heel mode. He was the obnoxious Chris Jericho we love to hate, sure, but the version of Chris Jericho who didn't try to hide that, in his heart, he's a wrestling fan just like us.

Shaking hands and kissing babies didn’t get Chris Jericho anywhere. He made it when he started kissing hands and shaking babies! #AEWDynamite @IAmJericho

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) April 9, 2020

In the Kenny Omega and Michael Nakazawa vs. Best Friends match, Jericho couldn't hide just how amused he was by all the shenanigans. He was similarly impressed with Hikaru Shida and Dr. Britt Baker. Match after match, while doing his best to entertain, he made it a point to put over the wrestlers in the ring. It may sound like a simple thing, but it's something too often forgotten in contemporary wrestling.

It was a strong enough performance to make me think immediately of Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who stepped off the playing field and immediately into the lead color commentary gig at CBS Sports. Romo was a natural, a gifted communicator with an intuitive grasp of the rhythms and nuances of the game. Jericho was that good—so add announcing to a list that includes wrestling, singing, writing and podcasting.

It's unclear how long wrestling fans will have the 49-year-old Jericho in our lives. While he's still performing at an amazingly strong level in the ring, we all know that nothing is forever. But Wednesday night was good news for Jerichoholics—he showed enough to demonstrate he has the talent to be around for as long as he wants to be.

     

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.