WWE's booking hurt AEW star's career, veteran says Vince McMahon didn't understand how "cool" he was (Exclusive)

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon led the company's creative team for years before his retirement. Vince Russo recently claimed that McMahon's booking of AEW star Chris Jericho hurt his career.

Chris Jericho joined WWE in 1999, interrupting The Rock in one of the most iconic segments in pro wrestling history. Y2J is a six-time world champion in the Stamford-based promotion. However, there were times when the veteran was seemingly frustrated with his creative direction in the company.

Jericho even considered retiring in 2005 but eventually came back in 2007. He ultimately left World Wrestling Entertainment in 2018 and shocked the world by signing with AEW in 2019.

On a recent edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing with Russo podcast, the former head writer claimed that Vince McMahon failed to realize how cool and unique Chris Jericho was when compared to other performers. Russo further mentioned that McMahon seemingly failed to recognize The Learning Tree's real potential.

"Bro, I think it definitely hurt his career. I was working with Vince [McMahon] when he was in his late 40s. Bro, Vince did not understand 'cool.' Vince was not cool, nobody in the McMahon family was cool. They just weren't cool people. [Chris] Jericho was cool. Vince failed to recognize that in him because Vince is at the bottom of the cool. So, yeah bro, the way he was booked that certainly could have hurt him over decades and decades without a shadow of a doubt." [4:58 - 5:55]

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AEW star Chris Jericho became the first-ever Undisputed World Champion in WWE

While many questioned Jericho's booking in the Stamford-based promotion, Vince McMahon did hand the ball to him on multiple occasions. In a shocking moment, Jericho beat two of the biggest stars in the Stamford-based promotion in 2001.

At Vengeance, Chris Jericho defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWE and WCW World Heavyweight titles, becoming the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion in the global juggernaut.

The Learning Tree is currently among the top names in AEW. Fans will have to wait and see whether Jericho returns to the global juggernaut after his All Elite Wrestling contract expires.

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