Chris Jericho Reveals He Turned Down Early WWE Offer Over Ridiculous Gimmick Idea

AEW star Chris Jericho has revealed that he once declined an opportunity to join WWE in the mid-1990s because he did not want to wrestle under a gimmick based on a hockey player.

Speaking at the Horror, Rock & Wrestle Fest 2025 event, Jericho recounted how Jim Cornette, then working for WWE, approached him with the offer.

“He [Cornette] was like, ‘Should I put you down with an asterisk?’ And I was like ‘No, put me down with a ‘no,’ I’m not interested,'” Jericho recalled. “This was when they had The Goon, they had Salvatore Sincere, and they had The Pug, they had TL Hopper, who was a plumber, and The Goon, which I’m convinced was supposed to be me.”

The “Goon” character, ultimately portrayed by “Wild” Bill Irwin, was introduced as a hockey enforcer-turned-wrestler. Jericho, uninterested in adopting such a persona, opted to turn down what would have been his first full-time offer from a major North American promotion.

Fortunately, another opportunity soon arose that would alter the course of his career.

“At the same time, I also got a call from WCW, from Kevin Sullivan, who asked me if I wanted to come in for a try-out,” he said.

Jericho impressed WCW management during his try-out and was offered a full-time contract in 1996, allowing him to wrestle under his own name without an outlandish gimmick.

His success in WCW’s Cruiserweight division paved the way for his eventual move to WWE in 1999, where he would quickly become one of the company’s top stars, capturing the Intercontinental Championship four times in his first two years, and eventually capturing the Undisputed WWE Title in December 2001.

Which WWE Hall Of Famer Believes Chris Jericho Will Retire In AEW?

WWE Hall of Famer and AEW announcer Jim Ross spoke about how he believes AEW will be Chris Jericho’s “last stand.” Ross believes that, due to Jericho’s good relationship with AEW’s President Tony Khan, coupled with the fact that he practically has creative control over his storylines, Ross thinks that Jericho has no reason to leave the promotion and that he will likely wrestle his last match with them.

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