Chris Jericho’s missing AEW World Championship was apparently discovered on the side of the road by a good samaritan who turned it into police.
As we previously reported, Jericho reported to police that the belt was stolen on Sunday after he left it in his limo while eating at a Longhorn Steakhouse. It was later recovered by police.
In regards to what happened, The Tallahassee Police Department released the following statement:
On Sunday September 1, 2019, TPD responded to 2400 North Monroe Street reference a theft. Officers learned that a championship belt, reported to be valued at $29,250, was stolen from a limo recently occupied by the belt’s owner. On September 4, 2019, a citizen returned the championship belt to TPD headquarters, reporting that it was found along a local roadway.
This case has been assigned to investigators with TPD’s Burglary Unit and is still an active investigation. Investigators are asking anyone with information about this case to please call them at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS. TPD will provide more information when it becomes available.
Chris Jericho posted a video last night on several of his social media accounts that he and the AEW World Championship are reunited again. In the video, Jericho started off, “Hi, I’m AEW Champion Chris Jericho and less in 24 hours after I launched a worldwide investigation to find my missing championship title it’s been returned to me. That’s not because of any law enforcement that was too busy posting pictures on Twitter and deleting them and then posting them again or a funny meme or a funny GIF, it was because of me.”
He also shared on Instagram, “In celebration of my recovery of the #AEW championship, I’m releasing this #ALittleBitOfTheBubbly T-shirt…which I’ve been told is the most highly requested item in @prowrestlingtees history.! #YoureWelcome shopaew.com”
AEW World Champion Chris Jericho had his title belt stolen just days after becoming the inaugural champion by defeating Adam Page in the main event of Saturday’s AEW All Out pay-per-view.
A local police blotter in Tallahassee, Florida listed the incident report, seen below. Jericho apparently had the title go missing while he was eating dinner inside a Longhorn Steakhouse at 2400 North Monroe Street. Police were called and an investigation was launched.
Below is the full incident report with details on what happened. The report lists the crime as grand theft:
“The victim reported the theft of his championship wrestling belt while he was eating inside Longhorn Steakhouse. The victim stated he arrived at the Millionaire Club Airport Terminal and placed the belt inside his rented limousine. The limo driver shuttled the victim to Longhorn for dinner. The victim remained at Longhorn while the limo driver returned to the airport. The victim had taken the wrong luggage from the airport and the driver took it back to the terminal. When the driver picked up the victim from the restaurant, the belt was missing. Responding officers searched the limo and airport for the belt without success. On-call CID was consulted, and forensics responded to the scene.”
The report lists Jericho as the victim – Christopher “Jericho” Irvine.
Chris Jericho Issues Statement On AEW World Title Theft.
The AEW Twitter account posted a video of Jericho addressing the situation like only he can. Jericho promised to launch a “worldwide investigation using the top private investigators” to get to the bottom of the theft.
“I’m AEW Champion Chris Jericho and unfortunately, less than 24 hours after I became the first AEW Champion, with blood streaming down my face after one of the hardest matches I’ve ever had in my life, some low life scumbag committed grand larceny and robbed me of the AEWChampionship. Now, as I sit here in my beautiful mansion, I’m just imagining what I would do to that son of a b—h if he was here right now,” Jericho said.
He continued, “I’m launching a worldwide investigation, using the top private investigators in the world today, to find out who committed this crime. Trust me, as the AEW Champion, I promise to regain and restore and find and reclaim the AEW Championship, and once again give you another reason to finally give me the ‘thank you’ that I deserve. You’re welcome.”
The Tallahassee Police Department has apparently recovered the stolen AEW World Title Belt. AEW Tweeted that the case was solved with a thank you to the Tallhassee PD along with a screen shot of a post from the Tallahassee Police Department of a officer with the Title with a message to Jericho that they have something that belongs to him.
The people who were backstage at AEW’s All Out got treated to a roast after Chris Jericho won the World Championship … only they were the ones being roasted.
During the All Out post-show on YouTube, Jericho was shown complaining about the lack of a celebration for his win over Adam Page.
Y2J then asked The Young Bucks for a “thank you” before making the walk to his locker room. En route, Jericho encountered all sorts of people in the backstage area and made his feelings known about their quiet demeanors.
In case you missed it, Jericho defeated Page using his finisher the Judas Effect.
Chris Jericho took to Twitter and posted a storyline tweet that said he is pulling out of AEW Fyter Fest due to the decision to stream the event on B/R Live for free.
Jericho wrote, “In protest of @KennyOmegamanX, @CodyRhodes, @NickJacksonYB & @MattJackson13‘s foolish decision to give the #FyterFest live stream away to @AEWrestling fans for free, I am pulling out of the event. I refuse to be associated w such shameless pandering.”
In an update on the free Fyter Fest stream, B/R Live will air the event on Saturday, June 29 at 8pm ET. The event will be free to B/R Live subscribers who are logged in, but it is free to join the site.
Jericho is scheduled to face “Hangman” Adam Page at AEW’s All Out pay-per-view on Saturday, August 31 near Chicago. That match will crown the first-ever AEW World Heavyweight Champion.
Fyter Fest, from AEW and CEO Gaming, will take place on Saturday, June 29 from Daytona Beach, Florida. Tickets will go on sale this Wednesday at 12 noon ET.
All Elite Wrestling Executive Vice President Cody Rhodesspoke with ComicBook.com about the decision to air the event on B/R Live instead of traditional pay-per-view, noting that this was a huge discussion for the company. Rhodes said he’s thrilled to show the event for free.
“I’m thrilled that we get to do it for free,” Rhodes said. “That was such a huge discussion and I’m so excited. I mean, [you get Jon] Moxley’s first match in AEW for free. It’s great. The people at B/R Live, I couldn’t ask for better partners.”
Rhodes suggested fans get logged in before the event begins, just to make sure they’re good to go.
“You do need a subscription, but it is a free subscription,” Rhodes explained. “It’s not a hook in and you’re charged type of deal. You’ll need to probably, if you’re looking to see Fyter, and it’s streaming for free here in the United States, you should go on the site before the actual event, get yourself signed up so you’ve got all your ducks in a row and you’re ready to go.”
Below is the current Fyter Fest card:
Hardcore Match
Jebailey vs. Michael Nakazawa
The Elite (The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega) vs. Rey Fenix, Pentagon Jr. and a mystery partner
Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin
Jon Moxley’s AEW in-ring debut vs. Joey Janela
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. MJF vs Jungle Boy vs. Jimmy Havoc
Chris Jericho appeared on Busted Open Radio today and revealed that he will do battle with “Hangman” Adam Page at AEW’s All Out pay-per-view during Labor Day Weekend near Chicago.
Page won the Casino Battle Royale on the AEW Double Or Nothing “Buy In” pre-show this past Saturday night to earn a shot against the winner of Jericho vs. Kenny Omega, in a match that will crown the first-ever AEW World Heavyweight Champion. It looks like AEW will be crowning that champion at All Out.
All Out takes place on Saturday, August 31 from the Sears Centre Arena near Chicago, the same arena where All In was held last year. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 14.
For those who missed it, below is a closer look at the AEW World Heavyweight Title belt, recently tweeted by AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes. WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart appeared at Double Or Nothing last weekend to reveal the belt.
AEW’s Chris Jericho made a rare appearance at an indie show on Friday … and his “Double or Nothing” opponent made him pay for it.
It all went down at Southern Honor Wrestling’s Event in Canton, Georgia when Jericho interfered in a match by attacking two wrestlers with a chair.
Much to the surprise of Y2J … Kenny Omega’s music interrupted the beatdown and he attacked Jericho by hitting him in the ring with a Dragon Suplex.
Omega then gave his signature taunt to the crowd for a big pop, but he was attacked from behind by one of the local wrestlers. After he fought back, Jericho got involved again before more wrestlers hit the ring and a brawl broke out.
Watch how it all unfolded, as well as the post-match promo from Kenny, below.
Chris Jericho commented about Friday night’s brawl with Kenny Oemga at the above mentioned Southern Honor Wrestling event. On Instagram, Jericho said he wanted to remind everyone what the hottest match in wrestling is right now. He also “apologized” to Sunny Daze, who he attacked before Omega made the save.
“So, Kenny Omega & I made a little pit stop at the Southern Honor Wrestling show in Canton, Georgia last night in front of 1,000 CRAZY fans, to remind the world that the HOTTEST match in the entire wrestling biz is only 3 weeks away at the MGM Grand! Oh, and sorry about that metal chair to your enlarged melon, Sunny Daze.”
Popular comedian, Film Maker and multifaceted talent, Kevin Smith revealed that All Elite Wrestling’s Chris Jericho will be appearing in the reboot of his Jay and Silent Bob film. Smith described the scene that Jericho is in as “stolen from some of the 80’s road movies I grew up watching.”
Although this is the first time Jericho is appearing in a film alongside Jason Mewes (Jay), this is actually the second time that Smith and Jericho have worked on a movie together. Jericho will be a part of the forthcoming horror anthology, Killroy Was Here which was also directed by Kevin Smith.
Smith also mentioned in the Instagram post that they have 8 days left to shoot the remaining third act of the film. The post reads, “I was there when #y2jayandsilentbob happened! Chris Jericho joined the Jay and Silent Bob reboot last week in a scene stolen from some of the 80’s road movies I grew up watching! This was the first time Jason Mewes shared screen time with Chris Jericho but it’s the second time I’ve worked with the Fozzy frontman (the first being on the forthcoming horror anthology #killroywashere). And both times, this super sweet Canadian kid has been cast waaaaay against type. If I ever get to make another movie after this one, I told Chris he’s gonna be a good guy (maybe we’ll finally do that Canadian James Bond comedy we talked about on the podcast that one time). After today, we only have 8 shooting days left on @jayandsilentbob Reboot, which is basically the entire third act. I’ve got 40 minutes of the movie already edited and I’ll cut more this weekend. Thanks to @dpronlevy, the movie is way better than I even wanted it to be (Reboot is easily one of my best looking movies to date). And starting at noon, it’s all cameos all the time from here on out, as fresh famous faces join us every day until we wrap!”
Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega almost ended up signing with Impact Wrestling, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Impact Co-Executive Vice President Don Callis, who is good friends with Jericho, was reportedly very close to signing Jericho and Omega to contracts before All Elite Wrestling brought their offers to the table.
Jericho recently revealed that his AEW contract is the best deal of his pro wrestling career. Omega is expected to sign with AEW once his New Japan Pro Wrestling contract expires on January 31, however his signing has not been confirmed.
The Observer notes that before AEW was the plan, the idea was for Omega to keep working for NJPW and then do 30 dates per year for Impact. Jericho would have worked for Impact while working another year for NJPW since he would have had so much input on his creative plans. Jericho recently confirmed that he will continue to work with NJPW in the future.
Jericho recently spoke about signing with AEW on his “Talk Is Jericho”podcast and discussed his talks with Impact. Jericho praised Callis and Scott D’Amore for what they’ve done with the company, adding that he really enjoys the product these days.
“I’ve gotta tell you guys, man, I’ve been really impressed with Impact over the last year,” Jericho said. “I thought Don Callis and Scott D’Amore have really turned things around in that company, and I really, really enjoy it. And I thought long and hard about doing some shows there. I even had a meeting with Scott and Don in Toronto, and Ed Nordholm. The offer they made was a great offer. That’s something that’s funny when I hear all these companies are vying for the talent, for the free agents – WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, New Japan, and someone mentioned MLW. Dude, what about Impact? They’ve got money. They were going to spend some money on Chris Jericho. We had some great matches planned. Jericho vs. Sami Callihan maybe, or with Johnny Impact, Brian Cage, Rich Swann. I’d love to work with Rich Swann. I did honestly talk to Impact and really, really thought about going there. And then Tony Khan came in with this offer, that’s the biggest offer I’ve ever been offered in my career.”
Chris Jericho’s new contract with All Elite Wrestling is reportedly for 3 years, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer said Jericho revealed that this is the best contract of his career.
As noted before, Jericho talked with WWE and AEW up until the last minute, signing his AEW contract just recently. It came down to AEW offering Jericho a better deal. Jericho will be allowed to work New Japan Pro Wrestling and his cruise, which are stipulated in the contract.
It’s no secret that AEW and WWE are getting aggressive when it comes to signing top talents to contracts. AEW is expected to pursue WWE talents when their contracts expire. Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks have friendly relationships with many of the WWE talents, which will help with potential negotiations. One top WWE Superstar who has a contract coming up that they are familiar with is AJ Styles. Meltzer speculated on WOR that Styles has a lot of leverage right now because he’s a top WWE talent and AEW would offer him a significant deal with an easier schedule. Styles is making a lot of money with WWE right now but AEW potentially could beat that. AJ turns 42 this year and if he really wants an easier schedule with good money, he could get that from AEW.
Meltzer noted that no one is in a better position between WWE and AEW right now other than Styles, except for maybe Kenny Omega. Omega’s future has not been confirmed but it’s still believed that he will end up with AEW after his New Japan Pro Wrestling contract expires on January 31.
It was also noted that AEW is offering good money to wrestlers right now. During the recent Double Or Nothing rally, Cody talked about how AEW wanted to change the wrestling economy and how they wanted to pay wrestlers good money because happy, paid wrestlers translates to happy fans. Some of the AEW contracts are totally exclusive but others are being allowed to work elsewhere. AEW officials are wanting to make everything beneficial for all talents. There’s no word yet on what talents like “Hangman” Adam Page are earning from AEW but WWE made a strong offer to Page and he turned them down.
The new All Elite Wrestling promotion officially launched yesterday with their Double Or Nothing rally at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.
The biggest news coming out of the rally was the signing of future WWE Hall of Famer Chris Jericho, who closed the rally and announced that he is all in with AEW. Jericho said he’s with AEW because he believes in doing something new and something different, not for the money because he’s already got the money.
AEW also announced that their Double Or Nothing event will take place on Saturday, May 25 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They announced a second AEW event for Jacksonville to be held at a later date but details were not released. There were also no details on a possible TV deal or any kind of online distribution but more announcements will be made in the future.
AEW Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes spoke at the rally and confirmed the AEW women’s division, noting that they want this to be a strong division with the strongest women’s wrestlers in the world. Brandi said AEW cares about their female wrestlers and will be paying them equally with the male competitors. She said Cody agrees with her that there will be no sliding scale when it comes to pay. Regarding her role as CBO, Brandi said it will come with lots of hard work and long nights, but she is 100% committed to helping bring AEW to the level it’s supposed to be at, which she guaranteed.
Regarding the Khan family, several of the speakers gave thanks to Tony Khan and his father, Shad Khan. We noted that the Khans confirmed their roles with the company. Matt Jackson noted during the rally that the Khan family approached them after All In last year and asked them if they really wanted to change the world, then offered to really help make that happen.
It looks like AEW will be working with other promotions as well. Matt said they have come to an agreement with OWE (Oriental Wrestling Entertainment) in China, and that they will bring OWE into AEW to give them a major spotlight. Matt promised fans will love OWE if they’re not already familiar with them, praising the promotion for the “gifted” in-ring work they bring. It was also interesting that PAC (Neville) carried his Dragon Gate Open the Dream Gate Title when he came out for a confrontation with “Hangman” Page.
Cody Rhodes announced on Twitter before the really that former WWE Tag Team Champion Billy Gunn is the first agent for the promotion. He is the only producer announced as of this writing. Coming out of the rally, below is the confirmed roster for the promotion:
* Cody Rhodes (Executive Vice President)
* Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks (Executive Vice President)
* Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks (Executive Vice President)
* Brandi Rhodes (Chief Brand Officer)
* Billy Gunn (Agent)
* Chris Jericho
* PAC fka Neville
* “Hangman” Adam Page
* Britt Baker
* Joey Janela with Penelope Ford
* MJF
* Christopher Daniels of SoCal Uncensored
* Frankie Kazarian of SoCal Uncensored
* Scorpio Sky of SoCal Uncensored
The rally was trending on Twitter, before it even began. Hosts Conrad Thompson and Alex Marvez noted that more than 100,000 fans were watching the rally across the various platforms. I believe the YouTube stream peaked at around 60,000 live viewers. The rally featured pyro on the stage they used, and a larger fireworks display from inside the stadium, which is the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars mascot, Jaxson de Ville, and their cheerleaders were also featured.
Below is the video of Cody with Gunn, along with various shots from the press conference and the full stream video.
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