AEW Dynamite: Chris Jericho is a ray of sunshine as a heel commentator

Chris Jericho has been a ray of sunshine on commentary during recent episodes of AEW Dynamite with the nuance of being a heel without tearing people down.

In recent weeks, AEW Dynamite has seen some changes in scenery due to the ongoing effects of the global pandemic and the ways they’ve had to adjust when filming. One key change has been putting Chris Jericho on commentary with Tony Schiavone, and it’s been a ray of sunshine in dark times.

While it can be interesting to watch wrestling in its current state, there’s definitely something missing without the roar of the crowd or many of the other norms we’re currently going without. As much as I miss Excalibur, and to a much lesser extent Jim Ross, it’s been a real shining light every week to hear Chris Jericho calling the action alongside fellow WCW alum Tony Schiavone.

It’s no surprise that his inclusion on commentary has led to little heel jabs and jokes at times, with Jericho tending to support his own fellow Inner Circle members and other heels. However, he’s been a lot more unbiased at times than you’d expect.

Certainly more unbiased than we’re used to getting with the competition. Whereas names like Corey Graves and other heel commentators in WWE tend to spend their time attacking every good guy in sight, usually with as little logic as possible, Jericho has managed to buck the trend while still remaining true to his character.

Even in a match where you’d expect significant bias, Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara, Jericho spent a good chunk of his time on commentary calling the action and expressing how impressed he was with the strategy and tenacity of Allin. He doesn’t like him, but he respects him and makes sure the fans understand how good he is.

It’s a level of nuance that has seemingly been drained from WWE commentary in recent years, and one that’s surprisingly pleasant in these uncertain times. Showing his versatility as a talent yet again, Le Champion manages to seamlessly put over the talent in the ring while sneaking in funny moments and little heelish jabs.

It’s actually the rarity of those jabs that makes them so much better. Whereas you’d be likely to hear someone like Corey Graves burying someone with insults seemingly the entire match, they stand out more when Jericho slips them in because of their scarcity.

On top of that, there’s a distinct stylistic difference in those insults and heel moments. While Graves, usually at the behest of Vince McMahon screaming in his ear from production, tends to bash characters and discredit them, Jericho only expresses personal distaste while still acknowledging their undeniable skill.

The few times we hear a heel commentator in WWE acknowledge the skill of a face, it’s done so begrudgingly and is quickly brushed off as nonsense as they get back to verbally attacking them. During Orange Cassidy’s match on AEW Dynamite, Jericho constantly expresses his distaste for Cassidy’s attitude and style, but he does so without degrading him.

Chris Jericho manages to make it clear that he doesn’t like that person without tearing them down in the process. Sometimes we have to take solace in the little joys, especially at a time like this, and Chris Jericho’s commentary during AEW Dynamite has been bringing me little moments of joy on a weekly basis.