AEW: Is Chris Jericho really the best in the world?

Chris Jericho made the bold claim earlier this week that he is the undisputed best in the world, but can we really argue with the former AEW World Champion?

What does it mean to be the best in the world in wrestling? Best in the context of AEW’s world? Best in the WWE Universe? How do we compare wrestlers from different companies with much different products? Are we talking strictly in-ring wrestling? Are promos, character and presentation notable factors to consider? What about the whole package?

All of these questions rise to the surface whenever we dare beg the question, and with how often we tend to have the big “Mount Rushmore” debate every other month, we beg this question a lot. This week, Chris Jericho has opened the flood gates to restart the conversation with himself at the centerpiece of it all.

In a tweet that he has since deleted (h/t Bleeding Cool), Chris Jericho declared himself to be the best in the world. Not just the “best in the world at what [he] does,” as he’s pontificated oh so many times in his former WWE life. The best in the world: period.

“Not being egotistical or arrogant, but right here and right now, for the first time since 2010, I honestly feel that I AM the best in the world in the pro wrestling biz,” the tweet said. “Not gonna discuss or debate. It’s just the way I feel…”

The way reality blends with wrestling so often, it’s hard to discern a wrestler’s real opinions from the kayfabe ones. Maybe Jericho just wanted to rile up his followers as his heel persona. Maybe he really believes it. Wherever his opinoin truly stands, the conversation has commenced regardless and it’s a conversation worth having.

Before we debate if Chris Jericho’s the best in the world, we must first answer this article’s initial question: What does it mean to be the best in the world in wrestling?

What doesn’t get mentioned often enough is that whenever someone asks who the best in the world, there’s an asterisk next to it that reads “right now.” Who is the best in the world right now? Not to ever do it, not even considering what a wrestler did 20 years ago, or even a year ago. What are they doing right now that separates them from any other active wrestler?

To loosely quote something that Eddie Murphy said in his Raw standup special, it’s not about what you did in the past. It’s about “what have you done for me lately?”

And what has Chris Jericho done in wrestling lately? He’s currently coming off the heels of an inagural reign as AEW World Champion where in 182 days – as Bruce Lee Hazelwood expands on much better than I ever could – managed to elevate everyone who he stepped inside of the ring with, whether it be his opponents or the young guns in his top heel stable.

On paper, putting a belt on a 48 year old man and making him the proverbial flagbearer of a brand new company is a bigger risk that some may realize, despite that man’s impressive pedigree that spans 30 years.

However, the risk paid off as Jericho, even without a belt now, continues to attract worldwide interest in the AEW product. As recently as last week’s main event street fight, that match became viral across the internet in large part because of Jericho’s performance in it.

Which, speaking of his performances, at 48 years old, Jericho continues to deliver great in-ring content at a high level regardless if his opponent is as young as Scorpio Sky or tenured as Jon Moxley. He continues to put on great matches consistently on a full time schedule. Not a lot of wrestlers at his age or older can say the same.

So all things considered, is Chris Jericho the best wrestler in the world? Here’s the thing: opinions on wrestling are subjective. You may have a different definition and criteria for “best” than I do. As definitive as the word “best” sounds, your opinion of the best wrestler may just be your favorite wrestler and that’s okay. You can like what you like and I won’t fight it.

With that said, if we are talking about the best wrestlers in the world right now, Jericho has put in the work to at least earn him a spot in the conversation.