Chris Jericho and Nick Wayne are set to meet in singles competition on this week’s AEW Dynamite, and Tony Schiavone believes the match carries potential beyond the immediate result.
Wayne recently addressed the upcoming bout in a promo, telling Jericho that he wanted the veteran to “teach him a thing or two” when they stepped into the ring together. That line has opened up an interesting question surrounding the direction of the program: is Wayne looking to test himself against one of AEW’s most experienced names, or could Jericho become a mentor for the young wrestler after the match?
Speaking during an appearance on Coast Live, Schiavone said he would be watching closely to see where the Jericho-Wayne encounter leads. He pointed to Wayne’s status as one of AEW’s younger rising talents and suggested that a mentorship arrangement is a possibility worth considering.
“Okay, I’m going to be watching for Chris Jericho has done a lot of things. I mentioned him before, and he’s now going up against one of the real young stars in AEW who won his first championship at age 19, and that’s Nick Wayne, and I’m kind of surprised if their match tomorrow is going to lead to a feud, or lead to maybe Chris Jericho being his mentor. So I think there’s some intrigue into that.”
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Schiavone’s comments do not confirm an alliance or a post-match angle. Instead, they underline the uncertainty surrounding the contest, which is precisely what makes the pairing notable. Jericho has spent decades adapting his presentation and finding different roles alongside younger wrestlers, while Wayne remains early in his AEW career and has already experienced markedly different forms of guidance on television.
A Match With Multiple Possible Directions
On the surface, Jericho versus Wayne is a generational matchup. Jericho is one of the most recognizable and decorated veterans in the company, a performer whose career has included major championship reigns, reinventions, groups, rivalries, and high-profile matches across several eras of wrestling. Wayne, by contrast, represents a newer generation in AEW: a young competitor still building his identity while gaining major exposure against established stars.
That contrast makes Wayne’s invitation especially meaningful. Asking Jericho to teach him something can be read as a sign of respect for the former world champion’s experience. It can also be interpreted as a challenge. Wayne may be telling Jericho that he is prepared to learn through competition, which is a familiar wrestling idea but one that can lead in several different directions.
A hard-fought match could give Wayne an opportunity to show that he belongs in the ring with a veteran of Jericho’s stature. A decisive Jericho victory could establish that Wayne still has lessons to learn. A Wayne win, depending on how it happens, could become a defining moment for the younger wrestler. And if the story continues after the bell, the two could move toward either an uneasy partnership or a more traditional rivalry.
Schiavone specifically framed those two outcomes as the central possibilities: a feud, or Jericho taking on a mentor role. Both would fit the language Wayne used ahead of Dynamite, though they would offer very different paths for him.
A feud would put Wayne directly opposite a major AEW name and give him a chance to develop through a sustained conflict. It would also test how he handles a more experienced opponent who knows how to manipulate the pace and emotion of a match. A mentorship angle, meanwhile, could place Wayne alongside a wrestler with extensive knowledge of the business and create a new dynamic for his character.
Nick Wayne’s History With Mentors in AEW
The possibility of Jericho mentoring Wayne is particularly interesting because Wayne has not lacked influential figures during his time in AEW. He has previously been associated with both Darby Allin and Christian Cage, two wrestlers whose approaches could hardly be more different.
Allin’s relationship with Wayne connected the younger wrestler to a fellow risk-taker and an established AEW original. Allin’s style, attitude, and willingness to endure punishment made him a natural figure for Wayne to learn from as he sought to establish himself on a large stage. Their association gave Wayne an important link to a respected name who had carved out his own place in the company through a distinctive in-ring identity.
Christian Cage’s influence carried a very different tone. Cage is a veteran whose character has repeatedly centered on control, manipulation, and using relationships to his advantage. His involvement in Wayne’s AEW journey showed that mentorship is not always a purely supportive arrangement in wrestling storylines. A mentor can provide opportunity and direction, but the relationship can also come with expectations and consequences.
Wayne has been operating as a solo act lately, which makes the timing of his comments toward Jericho stand out. Without an established on-screen mentor currently at his side, Wayne’s invitation creates room for the relationship to evolve. Whether that evolution becomes genuine guidance, a strategic partnership, or the foundation for conflict remains to be seen.
Jericho would bring a third and distinct perspective to Wayne’s development. Unlike Allin, whose reputation is built around a fearless and unconventional style, or Cage, whose veteran presence has often been tied to calculated control, Jericho’s career has been defined by longevity and reinvention. He has remained prominent by changing with the circumstances around him. For a wrestler as young as Wayne, that kind of experience could be valuable if the story takes the mentorship route.
Why Jericho Is a Natural Figure in This Story
Jericho has consistently occupied a position in AEW where he intersects with established headliners and developing talent alike. His presence gives a newer wrestler immediate visibility, whether they are positioned as an opponent, a teammate, or someone trying to earn his approval. That is why Schiavone’s suggestion carries weight even without any official indication that a mentorship angle is planned.
The phrase “teach him a thing or two” also plays into Jericho’s established image. Jericho is a performer who can credibly claim to have seen nearly every possible situation in professional wrestling. He has competed at the highest levels for years, and he is capable of presenting himself as a teacher, an adversary, or a veteran who believes a younger wrestler needs to be humbled.
For Wayne, engaging with that history is an opportunity. The match gives him a chance to show confidence without pretending that Jericho’s experience does not matter. The young star does not need to enter the contest as a finished product; in fact, the tension between potential and experience is what gives the matchup its appeal.
There is also a character question at the center of the bout. Wayne’s request could be sincere, but wrestling audiences are accustomed to hearing respectful words turn into a trap, an insult, or a challenge after the opening bell. Jericho’s response in the ring will be as important as what happens before it. If he embraces the idea of helping Wayne, it could signal one direction. If he takes offense to the implication that he has something to prove, the match could quickly become much more personal.
The Importance of the First Meeting
Not every first-time or early-stage matchup has to produce an immediate alliance or a long-running feud. Jericho and Wayne may simply have a competitive match that helps define where each man stands. Still, Schiavone’s remarks reflect the fact that the setup has been presented with enough ambiguity to invite closer attention.
Wayne is at a point where matches against elite veterans can add important layers to his AEW profile. He has already won his first championship at 19, as Schiavone noted, but continued growth depends on how a young wrestler responds to larger challenges and shifting relationships. A contest with Jericho offers one of those challenges.
For Jericho, the match provides another opportunity to demonstrate how he fits into AEW’s evolving roster. A veteran can remain relevant by defeating younger opponents, by elevating them in competitive matches, or by finding a new on-screen connection that creates fresh story possibilities. The intrigue Schiavone described is rooted in not knowing which of those choices will emerge on Dynamite.
As of now, the only certainty is that Jericho and Wayne will meet in singles action. Wayne has made his request for a lesson, and Schiavone has identified the potential consequences of that request. The bell will determine whether it becomes a lesson delivered in defeat, the beginning of a rivalry, or the first step toward an unexpected mentor-and-protégé pairing.
With Wayne currently on his own and Jericho possessing the experience to influence almost any storyline he enters, their match has more at stake than a standard one-on-one contest. AEW Dynamite will reveal whether the young star’s words were an invitation, a provocation, or both.
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.