Chris Jericho believes modern wrestlers are missing one major piece when it comes to getting over with fans.
While speaking with Dan Marston, the AEW star said athleticism has changed a lot since he first broke into wrestling, but the core of the business has not. Jericho explained that moves that once felt special, like a moonsault, are now common, so wrestlers need more than big spots to stand out.
“You have to connect with the audience. And I’m not going to throw stones at the style of wrestling nowadays because when I started, our style was the version of what’s going on today. But the peak of athleticism in 1991 was a moonsault, right?”
Jericho then pointed out how much the in-ring style has evolved, using his own early career in Japan with Lance Storm as an example. He made it clear the same principle for wrestling never changes at all.
“You know, I remember the first guys to do a moonsault in Japan were myself and Lance Storm. Now, a moonsault is the opening move. But that’s fine. The athleticism grows, but the same principle for wrestling never changes.”
According to Jericho, the real key is still personality, character, charisma, and giving fans a reason to care. He said wrestlers who only focus on high spots risk blending together if nothing about them feels special.
“It’s all about your personality, your character, your charisma, and connecting with the audience. You have to connect. If not, then you’re just a couple of guys out there doing high spots and not getting any reactions because there’s so much going on. No one’s paying attention because nothing is special.”
Jericho also said wrestlers need to understand why a match is happening and why fans should invest in it. To him, the responsibility falls on performers to find something unique that makes people remember them.
“There has to be a reason for what you’re doing, a reason why the match is even happening. So it’s up to all the guys and girls to figure that out for themselves. You have to find a character that’s going to connect and be a little bit unique that people are going to remember.”
Jericho’s message is simple: moves can get a reaction, but character keeps people invested. In an era where athleticism is everywhere, he believes the wrestlers who truly stand out are the ones who make fans feel something beyond the next big move.
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