Chris Jericho found himself embroiled in a social media dispute with CM Punk and Ace Steel’s lawyer, Stephen P. New. The disagreement stemmed from comments made by New during a podcast, in which he mentioned that the only individual present during the AEW All Out brawl who didn’t sign an NDA was Lucy, Ace Steel’s wife.
Jericho felt compelled to clarify that he had witnessed the incident and was never required to sign an NDA. This statement surprised some, considering there had been previous instances involving Jericho where he or others were obliged to sign NDAs.
In an interview with Rumor & Innuendo, Stephen P. New explained his surprise at Jericho’s response and his belief that Jericho should be subject to an NDA.
“The reason for that, without revealing too much of the confidentiality to which I am bound, is my understanding that anyone who witnessed the incident at All Out 2022 would have been obligated to sign an NDA. Chris indicated he was a witness, which, to me, implies that he would have been examined by the law firm investigating the incident and required to sign an NDA.”
“Furthermore, I believe that AEW talent is obligated to maintain confidentiality, as it is part of the company’s policies, handbooks, and regulations. Therefore, whether Jericho witnessed a part of the incident or not, he is still bound by the company’s confidentiality policies.”
Chris Jericho participated in an eight-man tag team match at AEW Worlds End, and due to the ongoing allegations, he faced a chorus of boos and chants from the crowd, including “NDA” chants.
During the post-show media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan was asked to clarify whether Jericho had ever been accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Khan repeatedly declined to absolve Jericho of any wrongdoing, leaving the situation unresolved.
Given the recent controversy surrounding Chris Jericho and the NDA allegations, what are your thoughts on the situation? Do you believe AEW talent should be subject to NDAs? Leave us know in the comments.
Quotes courtesy of Haus of Wrestling