Chris Jericho Sets the Record Straight on GCW Appearance

Chris Jericho shocked fans when he made an unannounced appearance at GCW’s Highest in the Room 3 on December 14, blindsiding Matt Cardona and Effy in a move that set the wrestling world abuzz. While the chaos helped heat up Jericho’s ROH Title defense against Cardona at Final Battle, Jericho wants one thing crystal clear—this wasn’t about bridging gaps between AEW and GCW.

Speaking to Josh Martinez on Z100, Jericho explained how the surprise attack came together, revealing it was more about timing and strategy than mending fences.

“We were looking at Matt’s dates because I really wanted to do something on an independent show,” Jericho shared. “He’s the King of the Indies, and you want to create focus on this. I saw he had a GCW show in Los Angeles, and I just happened to have a gig at the Whiskey with KUARANTINE [Jericho’s KISS cover band]. Serendipity. It’s fate. We have to do this.”

Jericho shut down any speculation that this was an olive branch between AEW and GCW, saying, “Everyone thinks, ‘Is this an olive branch with GCW?’ No. I just happened to be literally in the same city on the same date with this idea of wanting to attack him.”

The meticulously planned ambush saw Jericho lay out Cardona, inadvertently helping Effy secure the win before turning his fury on Effy as well. Cardona’s original opponent, Ricky Starks, had been pulled from the event by AEW, reportedly due to comments Effy made about Tony Khan and Shad Khan, adding another layer of drama to the night.

Jericho’s calculated attack proved to be the perfect appetizer for Final Battle, where he defeated Cardona to retain his ROH Championship, cementing his reign and leaving fans with a night to remember.

With Jericho squashing rumors of AEW and GCW collaboration, the focus shifts back to the masterful storytelling that has kept his career in overdrive for decades.

What do you think about Jericho’s reasoning? Was it pure serendipity, or could there be more to the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!