Among the most recognisable and flexible professional wrestling stars, Chris Jericho has developed a 30-plus-year career spanning WWE, AEW, NJPW, and more. Jericho, who is renowned for his ongoing self-reinterpretation, has stayed at the top of his field for decades. Fans and analysts alike are starting to conjecture on when and more crucially where Jericho will hang his boots for good as the “Demo God” of AEW reaches 54. Recently on Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray offered an interesting picture of how he sees Jericho’s legendary career ending.
Bold Prediction of Bully Ray: WWE Farewell for Jericho
Wrestling veteran Bully Ray didn’t hold back while talking about Jericho’s ultimate retirement. “Chris Jericho will end his career in the WWE,” Bully boldly said. His view results from Jericho’s close relationship with WWE, the business where he established his career with historic rivalries and title runs and became a household figure.
Still, Bully Ray went beyond the prediction. “And be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and then pull an Axl Rose and no-show his Hall of Fame induction,” he said in line with Jericho’s rockstar reputation. Jericho’s rebel-with-a-cause mentality goes quite nicely with the allusion to Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who notoriously snubbed his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Jericho has also hinted at this kind of action, acknowledging in interviews that he finds the Hall of Fame to be not very important.
With his band Fozzy, Jericho—who has always crossed the boundaries between wrestling and rock ‘n’ roll—would be suited for this kind of unusual farewell. His Hall of Fame rejection would probably be remembered as a trademark Jericho moment—bold, rebellious, and loyal to his brand—since he has always followed his own guidelines instead of others.
WWE’s Interest in Final Chapter of Jericho
Based on Bully Ray’s forecast, WWE and Jericho will both gain something. Bully remarked, referencing Jericho’s career-long capacity to shape his story, “Chris is very smart, Chris is a master chess player.” Bully’s remarks, however, most stand out for their belief that WWE would respect Jericho’s last run. “You don’t believe Chris Jericho’s last run in the WWE has value? … It’s a no-brainer, Bully stressed.
Though he is currently running in AEW, a business he helped start from the ground up, Jericho is unquestionably important in WWE history. Unquestionably, Shawn Michaels has shaped WWE’s reputation from becoming the first Undisputed Champions to iconic battles with The Rock, epic rivalries with Triple H. Not only would his comeback for a last WWE storyline and finally a farewell tour appeal greatly to fans, but it also brings his career full circle.
Unfinished Business in WWE for Jericho?
Among the unresolved issues is whether Jericho has unfinished business with WWE. Interviews clearly show that his AEW run has offered him creative freedom never seen before, but he has also left the door somewhat open for a hypothetical WWE comeback. His ability to come back, rule, and produce some of the most gripping events in AEW further heightens his aura; however, would WWE viewers demand one last run in Vince McMahon’s company? Given past performance, the response is indeed yes.
Although Jericho has said he has no intentions to retire anytime soon, his work ethic, charm, and capacity to reinterpret himself have demonstrated he can still be a significant participant in whatever program he decides upon. Though it’s still up for discussion whether he will complete a last lap in WWE or retire under the AEW banner, Bully Ray’s assessment is not outlandish.
Conundrum of the Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame conundrum is another element of Bully Ray’s forecast that has drawn notice. When it comes to conventional wrestling respect, Jericho has always been a divisive figure. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jericho is not motivated in getting honours just for legacy reasons. Actually, in multiple interviews, Jericho has indicated that he would rather go on his own terms than accept or dismiss a Hall of Fame entry.
Furthermore revealing a great deal about Jericho’s character is his apathetic attitude towards the Hall of Fame. He lives on creative freedom, dictating his own narratives, and staying contemporary by always changing his identity; a wrestling Hall of Fame ring does not define him. For Jericho, being inducted into a Hall of Fame—either WWE’s or another—is not the ultimate accolade. His real success is in his capacity to keep at the top of his game without sacrificing who he is.
The Inaccutable Future
Jericho’s own erratic nature adds to the thrill of this situation. He exhibits no slowing down even at 54. Whether he’s hitting a Judas Effect in the ring or playing a Fozzy concert, Jericho has stayed front and front in anything he does. His commitment to both wrestling and his musical career keeps him in the public eye; his ability to constantly reinvent himself means fans will always be wondering what comes next.
Though Jericho is the master of his destiny, Bully Ray’s forecast that he will have his last chapter in WWE could have some validity. The wrestling scene will have to wait to see if Jericho will keep paving his path in AEW for years to come or if Bully Ray’s vision comes true.
