Action Andretti Signs AEW Contract & More on AEW’s Plans for Match with Chris Jericho

Wednesday’s AEW Winter is Coming 2022 themed Dynamite show in Garland, Texas featured a match between Chris Jericho and indie wrestler Action Andretti, which was won by Andretti.

Following Andretti’s match, AEW CEO Tony Khan announced on Twitter that Andretti had recently signed an official contract with the company.

Congratulations! It’s official! @ActionAndretti is ALL ELITE!

Thank you to everyone watching #WinterIsComing on @TBSNetwork Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/b22U3v1da9

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) December 15, 2022

In a backstage exclusive interview, Andretti gave his thoughts about beating Jericho.

“Renee, words cannot describe how I feel right now. I just went out there and beat, like you said, the former AEW World Heavyweight Champion and an eight-time world champion at that. I’m pretty new to this game but that’s pretty damn good for a rookie if you ask me. And if I can do that out there against a guy like Chris Jericho, well then Renee, I think there is no telling the rest of the things that I can do here in AEW.”

Following his incredible victory over #TheOcho @IAmJericho on #AEWDynamite, an ecstatic @ActionAndretti catches up with @ReneePaquette! pic.twitter.com/jYmhDIGQcB

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022

In regards to AEW’s plans for Andretti’s match with Jericho, Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that AEW officials had plans for Andretti to beat Jericho as far back as this past October. Jericho reportedly had requested a match with Andretti after being very impressed with his work in a match against QT Marshall on the October 11th AEW Dark show, which was taped on October 7th. Jericho reportedly made the decision that he wanted to make Andretti a star for the company.

Meltzer reported that the reason for the long delay in AEW’s plans was due to AEW wanting to first finish Jericho’s feud with Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH World Championship before having Jericho move onto his match with Andretti.