Chris Jericho is aware of the reaction to his recent segment with Tommaso Ciampa, but he seems perfectly happy with how it played out.
During the June 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, Jericho and Ciampa engaged in a heated in-ring confrontation that quickly turned comedic when Jericho began calling him “Tommy.” After Ciampa insisted that nobody calls him Tommy, not even his own mother, Jericho launched into a series of jokes about “Tommy’s mommy.”
The segment led to plenty of discussion online, with many fans criticizing the comedy-heavy exchange and particularly the “Tommy’s Mommy” portion of the promo. However, while speaking on Busted Open, Jericho defended the segment and said the live audience reacted exactly the way he hoped they would.
“Well, you know, you always try different things to have some fun. Sometimes you do a little bit more laughing stuff and sometimes you do a little bit more serious stuff but, it all ends up being good so, the live crowd enjoyed the Tommy’s Mommy.”
Jericho pointed to the crowd participation during the segment as proof that it worked. The chant became one of the most memorable parts of the opening confrontation, with fans in Cincinnati loudly joining in throughout the exchange. According to Jericho, getting that type of reaction from the audience was the entire objective: “So, we had a good time. It was a great show, and a great crowd in Cincinnati for sure.”
Jericho’s comments make it clear that he is not focused on the criticism coming from social media. Instead, he appears to be judging the segment based on how the live crowd responded in the arena, and from his perspective, the audience engagement made it a success.
Whether fans loved the “Tommy’s Mommy” jokes or hated them, the segment certainly got people talking. And judging by Jericho’s reaction, that alone may have accomplished exactly what he wanted.
What did you think of the “Tommy’s Mommy” segment between Chris Jericho and Tommaso Ciampa? Did it work for you, or did it miss the mark? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.