Chris Jericho and Nick Wayne will settle their developing rivalry at AEW WrestleDream after agreeing to a third singles match on AEW Collision. With each wrestler holding one victory over the other, the WrestleDream bout will serve as the rubber match in the series.

The stakes go beyond the win-loss record. Jericho agreed that he will apologize to Wayne, known as “The Prodigy,” if Wayne defeats him again at the pay-per-view. That condition gives Wayne an opportunity to claim not only the deciding victory in the rivalry, but also a public acknowledgment from one of AEW’s most established names.

A 1-1 Series Heads to WrestleDream

Jericho struck first in the feud, defeating Wayne on the September 16 edition of AEW Dynamite. Wayne later responded with a victory over Jericho at AEW Grand Slam France earlier this month, drawing the head-to-head record level at one win apiece.

That split made another match a natural next step. Neither man can claim a clear edge in the rivalry now, and WrestleDream will provide the setting for a definitive result. The announcement on Collision confirmed that both competitors were prepared to meet again rather than leave the issue unresolved after their first two encounters.

For more background on this topic, read Mojo Brookzz Joins The New Level and Prince Nana on AEW Dynamite Ahead of WrestleDream.

For Jericho, the third match is a chance to reassert himself after Wayne’s Grand Slam France win prevented him from taking full control of the program. For Wayne, it is an opportunity to establish that his earlier victory was not an isolated result. A second win over Jericho would give the younger wrestler the series victory and trigger the apology Jericho put on the line.

The Added Meaning of Jericho’s Promise

The agreement to apologize adds a clear personal consequence to the WrestleDream match. In wrestling, an apology is not a championship or a tournament prize, but it can carry substantial meaning when it is tied to respect and recognition. Wayne’s nickname, “The Prodigy,” has been directly attached to the condition, making the issue more specific than a standard challenge for another match.

Jericho’s promise means that a Wayne victory would require him to publicly concede something to his opponent. Whether the apology becomes a moment of respect, humiliation, or simply another chapter in their conflict will be determined by what happens at WrestleDream. What is already clear is that Wayne will enter the match with a concrete reward attached to defeating Jericho.

There is also a simple competitive reality behind the stipulation. Jericho won their first match on Dynamite, while Wayne answered at Grand Slam France. The WrestleDream contest is no longer about trying to get even; both wrestlers are already even. It is about who can move ahead when the series reaches its deciding stage.

Wayne Has Already Proved He Can Beat Jericho

Wayne’s victory at AEW Grand Slam France changed the shape of the rivalry. Had Jericho won both meetings, the issue might have ended with a decisive advantage on his side. Instead, Wayne gave himself a path to a much larger statement at WrestleDream.

Beating Jericho once established that Wayne can overcome a former world champion in a singles setting. Doing it again, on a pay-per-view stage and with the series on the line, would be a different level of accomplishment. It would turn a tied rivalry into a two-match winning run for Wayne after his September 16 loss.

Wayne does not need to speculate about whether victory is possible. He already has the Grand Slam France result to point to. The challenge at WrestleDream will be reproducing that success with Jericho now fully aware of the threat Wayne presents and motivated to avoid being forced into the promised apology.

That is what makes the rubber match significant for Wayne’s position in AEW. He is not entering the bout as someone seeking his first breakthrough against a major opponent. He enters with evidence that he can win and with a chance to make that win part of a larger, decisive story.

Jericho Looks to Stop Wayne’s Momentum

Jericho’s September 16 Dynamite victory remains just as relevant to the matchup. He has also beaten Wayne in this rivalry, and his objective at WrestleDream is straightforward: prevent Wayne from building consecutive victories and restore his own advantage in the series.

The apology stipulation increases the pressure on Jericho because a loss would bring an immediate public consequence. He did not merely accept another match; he accepted terms that give Wayne additional leverage. A Jericho win ends the debate on the scoreboard while ensuring he does not have to follow through on that promise.

At the same time, Jericho has experience navigating high-stakes pay-per-view environments. WrestleDream will be another major event on AEW’s calendar, and the match puts him opposite an opponent who has already shown he can capitalize on the rivalry. Jericho will need to find the answer that was missing at Grand Slam France if he is to leave with the rubber-match victory.

The series format also makes the match easier to frame for viewers. The record is 1-1. The prior wins are clearly defined: Jericho on Dynamite on September 16, then Wayne at Grand Slam France. The next result decides who owns the rivalry, and the apology condition ensures there will be an additional conclusion if Wayne prevails.

What WrestleDream Will Decide

The WrestleDream match will answer two connected questions. First, who is the better wrestler across this three-match series: Jericho or Wayne? Second, will Jericho have to apologize to “The Prodigy” after putting that pledge on the line during Collision?

A Jericho victory would give him a 2-1 edge and allow him to say that his September 16 win was the beginning of a successful series rather than a result later erased by Wayne’s response. It would also halt Wayne’s momentum coming out of Grand Slam France.

A Wayne victory would be especially meaningful because it would come after he rebounded from the initial Dynamite defeat. It would give him the final two wins in the rivalry, secure a 2-1 series lead, and compel Jericho to deliver the agreed apology. For Wayne, those outcomes would combine sporting success with the respect-based consequence he has sought from Jericho.

Neither result has been predetermined by the first two matches. The purpose of a rubber match is to create finality after a split, and AEW has built precisely that situation here. The participants have one win each, the next meeting has an added stipulation, and WrestleDream now has a personal singles match with a clear resolution waiting at the finish.

Current Focus Turns to the Pay-Per-View

With the match made on Collision, the focus shifts to WrestleDream and whether the two competitors can maintain their composure as the deciding bout approaches. The feud has progressed quickly through three major points: Jericho’s first win on Dynamite, Wayne’s equalizer at Grand Slam France, and the agreement for a final meeting with an apology at stake.

That progression has kept the story grounded in results. Wayne did not receive the WrestleDream opportunity without having answered Jericho in the ring; he earned the tie by defeating him. Jericho, meanwhile, has not been left without a claim of his own, because the September 16 victory gives him every reason to believe he can win the deciding contest.

AEW WrestleDream will therefore host more than another chapter in the Jericho-Wayne matchup. It will host the match that determines the complete series. Jericho can preserve his standing with a second victory, while Wayne can move past him with a second straight win and force the apology that has become central to the confrontation.

For now, the rivalry stands evenly balanced. Chris Jericho and Nick Wayne are 1-1, the next match is official for AEW WrestleDream, and “The Prodigy” has a public apology from Jericho waiting if he can win when it matters most.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.