Chris Jericho has seen it all in professional wrestling—from the peak of the Attitude Era to today’s modern landscape. And in his recent interview with Chris Van Vliet for Insight, the veteran wrestler made one thing clear: while the Attitude Era may have been more widely watched, today’s wrestling business is far more lucrative.
“Maybe from an overall popularity standpoint the Attitude Era was bigger, but you weren’t making the money that you are now—as both a wrestler and as a wrestling company,” Jericho stated.
“I know the difference in salaries of what a top guy made then versus now—because I was one then, and I am one now.”
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, wrestling’s biggest stars were drawing massive TV ratings, sometimes exceeding 8 million viewers per episode. But Jericho pointed out that viewing habits have drastically changed. Fans now consume wrestling differently, whether through streaming, social media, or highlights on YouTube—metrics that weren’t available during the industry’s previous boom period.
Beyond financial growth, Jericho also addressed how modern fans and critics perceive wrestling. He believes that today’s audience places too much emphasis on match quality in a way that can be misleading.
“25 years ago, you could do a lot less and have people think it’s an amazing match. Now, you can do the exact same thing, have the crowd react the same way, but critics will say it was terrible.”
Chris Jericho Quits Twitter
That increased scrutiny, amplified by social media, is something Jericho has largely tuned out. He admitted that while he used to engage with online criticism, he now avoids platforms like Twitter altogether.
“I’m done with Twitter. It’s just so negative—why waste your time?”
Despite criticisms from online fans, Jericho remains one of AEW’s biggest draws, consistently appearing in high-rated segments. He also pushed back on claims that working with him “drags people down” in AEW, arguing that many wrestlers he’s feuded with—like MJF, Daniel Garcia, and Sammy Guevara—have only elevated their careers.
Jericho’s insight sheds light on the evolution of wrestling’s business model. While nostalgia may keep the Attitude Era on a pedestal, today’s industry is more financially successful than ever—whether fans and critics want to admit it or not.