Chris Jericho has made peace with the uncertainty surrounding a possible WWE Hall of Fame induction, making it clear that he does not view the honor as something he needs in order to validate a career that has stretched across more than three decades.
Jericho, who is currently signed with AEW, addressed the subject during an appearance on TMZ’s Inside The Ring. The longtime veteran acknowledged that his nearly 20-year association with WWE produced the kind of matches, characters, rivalries and career milestones that make him a natural Hall of Fame candidate. At the same time, he said he understands why an induction may not be imminent while he remains prominently involved with another major promotion.
“I mean, once again, I had a great career in WWE. It was almost 20 years with a few years off. It was always my dream to be in the WWE,” Jericho said. “And did I create enough memorable moments and matches and characters and creations and rivalries and moments to be in the WWE Hall of Fame? Absolutely. That’s all I need.”
Jericho did not frame the situation as a grievance. Instead, he said that if business considerations, company loyalty or internal politics are factors in the decision, he can understand that reality after spending 36 years in professional wrestling.
For more background on this topic, read Kevin Nash Says Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins Match Pushed Him Away From Modern Wrestling.
“And I’m in, if I’m not in, if it’s tribalism, if it’s politics, I get that too, man. I’ve been in this business 36 years. I understand how it works. It’s not personal. I’m not insulted,” Jericho said.
Jericho’s WWE legacy remains extensive
Few wrestlers from his generation have been as closely tied to WWE’s major eras as Jericho. After arriving in the company in 1999, he developed into one of its most versatile featured performers, capable of moving between serious championship programs, comedic character work, tag team stories and marquee rivalries. His ability to continually alter his presentation became one of the defining traits of his time in WWE.
Jericho’s list of accomplishments in the company includes becoming the inaugural Undisputed WWE Champion, a distinction earned by defeating both The Rock and Steve Austin on the same night in 2001. He also held multiple world championships during his WWE tenure and worked with an enormous range of talent across his various runs. His body of work includes notable programs with names such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, John Cena, Edge, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Kevin Owens and many others.
Beyond title reigns, Jericho’s WWE run was marked by ideas that helped establish his reputation as an adaptable performer. Different versions of his persona, memorable catchphrases, shifting alliances and high-profile feuds kept him relevant through changing creative periods. Whether he was positioned as an arrogant antagonist, a self-serious veteran or an entertaining and unpredictable presence, Jericho repeatedly found ways to command attention.
That record is why the question of a future Hall of Fame induction continues to follow him. However, Jericho’s comments suggest that he is not interested in treating that question as an unresolved personal issue. For him, the work itself is the more meaningful measure of what he accomplished.
AEW Hall of Fame possibility also appeals to Jericho
Jericho also looked ahead to the possibility of an AEW Hall of Fame should the promotion establish one in the future. As AEW’s first world champion and one of the most recognizable names involved with the company from its launch, Jericho would have a significant place in any effort to formally honor the promotion’s history.
His first AEW World Championship reign helped provide the young company with an established face at the top of the card. Jericho’s presence gave AEW an immediate connection to a worldwide audience familiar with his previous work, while his character work and rivalries helped define a portion of the company’s early identity. He has remained a central on-screen figure across several phases of AEW’s development.
“And if I finish my career with AEW and the first inductee or the second inductee or the 10th inductee into AEW Hall of Fame, that’s great, too,” Jericho said. “But I’m in the Hall of Fame in my head and in the heads of anybody that appreciates the work that I’ve done.”
The comment underlines a point Jericho has raised previously: he does not believe a ceremonial recognition is required to determine whether a wrestler’s career has been historically important. He has previously downplayed the WWE Hall of Fame in part because there is no traditional physical Hall of Fame building tied to the honor.
That view does not mean Jericho is dismissing the accomplishments of those who have been inducted. Rather, his latest remarks present the issue as one of perspective. He believes the enduring response to his work, the moments he created and the longevity of his career already provide the recognition that matters most to him.
A career built on reinvention and longevity
Jericho’s perspective is informed by a career that began long before his WWE debut and has continued well beyond it. He has performed internationally, worked for major promotions in multiple countries and maintained a high profile in an industry where staying power is especially difficult to achieve. His ability to evolve has allowed him to remain part of important conversations in professional wrestling across several generations.
When discussing what he considers Hall of Fame-level success, Jericho focused less on trophies and formal ceremonies than on the wider experience of being able to make a living doing what he wanted to do. He pointed to the emotional connection performers create with an audience, whether that audience is cheering them or reacting negatively to their actions.
“Like, I’ve had a real blessed life and that I’ve got a chance to travel around the world doing what I always wanted to do and making people happy by doing it or getting people angry by doing it, which is the same thing,” Jericho said. “That’s Hall of Fame all across the board.”
It is a fitting description for a wrestler whose career has often been driven by audience reaction. Jericho has spent decades understanding how to adjust his approach to generate that response. His success has come not only from athletic performances and championship matches, but from knowing when to change course, introduce a new wrinkle to a character or make himself the center of a rivalry.
In AEW, that adaptability has remained part of his presentation. Jericho has been involved in various factions and programs while continuing to occupy a visible role on the roster. His position within the promotion has also kept the WWE Hall of Fame discussion complicated from a business standpoint, even if it does not appear complicated to Jericho personally.
No timetable, and no public frustration
There is no announced timetable for Jericho to enter the WWE Hall of Fame, nor is there an indication that such an induction is currently under consideration. WWE’s annual Hall of Fame class is typically revealed in the lead-up to WrestleMania, and the company has historically made its selections based on a range of factors that can include availability, current relationships and the broader presentation of a given year’s class.
Jericho’s active AEW status naturally makes any immediate WWE recognition less straightforward. Still, his comments leave little doubt that he considers his WWE accomplishments secure regardless of whether the formal induction arrives soon, later in his life or not at all.
For now, Jericho is focused on the larger picture: a career that fulfilled his childhood ambition, reached audiences around the world and gave him the chance to leave an impact in more than one major company. His response is not a demand for an invitation or a challenge to WWE. It is an assertion that his legacy does not depend on one.
Whether a future WWE Hall of Fame ceremony eventually honors Jericho, or AEW creates its own Hall of Fame and places him among its earliest inductees, he believes the essential verdict has already been delivered by the fans who remember the work. In Jericho’s view, the matches, characters, rivalries and reactions are the real evidence of a Hall of Fame career.
In pictures
Darryl Polo
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.