All Elite Wrestling launched in 2019 as an alternative product to WWE. In the first two years, Tony Khan’s company gained huge popularity. However, AEW’s attendance and ratings have been declining over the past several months.
The company is currently focusing on NJPW styles. A month ago, they introduced the Continental Classic tournament, which is similar to NJPW’s G1 Climax.
Many fans criticize AEW for leaning toward sports entertainment with MJF’s storyline. With Continental Classic, some say AEW is going through an identity crisis. In an interview with WFAA, Chris Jericho was asked about fans’ criticism. Jericho said that he never worries about fans who don’t watch their product.
“People’s opinions are opinions, especially on social media, when everybody is going to say what they think, with no consequences, and mostly negativity. I think our shows have been great, the matches have been great, and we’ve done a great job of balancing the storylines along with these amazing matches. The most important thing we’ve been doing is building stars. I’m sure people on the Dallas Cowboys or people making movies or if you’re in a band. It’s like being a KISS fan, KISS fans hate everything, but they still buy everything.
I find a lot of wrestling fans are like that too. They hate everything. If you listen to public opinion online, I should be shot and killed and never show my face in wrestling again because I’m the worst possible thing that could ever happen to the business, me still being in existence. Either you believe that or you don’t, and I don’t. I don’t think the majority of people do either, but people are still going to say that. It’s your opinion.
I never worry about people [who] don’t like what we do because you can’t convince them, they just don’t like it, and that’s fine. It’s your opinion. I worry about the people that do like our show and worry about making new fans of our show, that’s the most important thing.”