Tony Schiavone Defends Chris Jericho After Fan Backlash Over His Physique

Tony Schiavone has been a stalwart in Tony Khan’s company since its inception, fulfilling roles as a commentator and occasional announcer. He is never afraid to stand up for his co-workers and it appears he is now defending Chris Jericho following the backlash Jericho has been receiving lately.

Tony Schiavone has encountered many stars during his four decades in wrestling, but he always looks forward to seeing one in particular: former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. Schiavone and Jericho both worked in WCW in the ’90s before reuniting in AEW in 2019.

Jericho has fully committed to his “Learning Tree” gimmick, mentoring younger wrestlers and developing his character. However, this approach hasn’t struck a chord with fans, and many people change the channel when his segments come on. Although Jericho insists he doesn’t have “go-away” heat, the response from viewers says otherwise.

While speaking on his podcast What Happened When, Tony Schiavone expressed his enthusiasm for watching Jericho in the ring and addressed some of the criticism Jericho often receives.

Schiavone mentioned that he gets excited when Jericho is involved in an event or storyline because he appreciates the effort Jericho puts into his performances. He acknowledged that some fans criticize Jericho for not being in the shape he once was, but Schiavone emphasized that this is understandable given their age, and he enjoys everything Jericho does.

“I’m always pumped when Chris Jericho is in the event or is wrestling for us or is doing an angle because he’s so cool and I know he gets a lot of heat because a lot of fans say ‘Well, he’s not [in] the shape he used to be. Of course, he’s not. None of us are at that age, but I really enjoy everything he does and all the effort he puts into it.”

However, quite a few fans were seen leaving the arena during Chris Jericho’s match on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Regardless, Jericho will always get criticism one way or the other, but that will not faze Tony Schiavone one bit.

What’s your view on what Tony Schiavone had to say? Do you feel a lot of criticism that Chris Jericho gets is warranted? Let us know in the comments section below!