William Regal: Darren And Chris Are Friends Outside Of Wrestling, But I Don’t Like Chris Jericho

William Regal says that despite his closeness with Chris Jericho outside of the wrestling ring, their characters could never get along long enough on-screen to be paired together.

The issues between William Regal and Chris Jericho extend well beyond the current circumstances that play out on a regular basis on AEW programming. In fact, Chris Jericho was William Regal’s first WrestleMania opponent back in 2001 and the two men would go back and forth many times over the years. Outside of the squared circle, Darren Matthews and Chris Irvine get along swimmingly but William Regal says that despite this, their characters could have never coexisted, no matter what era of Chris Jericho is being discussed.

Regal explains all of this on the latest episode of his podcast, Gentleman Villain, when asked if “Lionheart” Chris Jericho could have ever been a part of the Blackpool Combat Club. 

“Well, he wouldn’t, because I never liked him. We don’t get on. But as far as his drive, his fighting spirit, his incredible brain, he would fit in. But I can’t be around him,” Regal says. “Chris and Darren get on very well. William Regal and Chris Jericho don’t. I know that’s a strange thing to say, but it’s true. We don’t get on with each other. But we get on with each other when we’re not in wrestling and we’re just talking music and whatever else. 

“We don’t — it’s not a ‘play it out’ thing with me and him. We don’t — we’ve never liked each other. We never liked each other as far as when we were in wrestling. But as far as everything else, yes. I mean, he went out and showed the world from a very young age and got people to pay attention to him and went all over the world and did everything that you’ve got to do, but we wouldn’t be able to — I openly say that me and Jon Moxley have a different kind of relationship. I can’t control him, you know, but me and Chris, we just couldn’t be in the same group together. We wouldn’t get on,” William Regal said.

Chris Jericho is resurrecting the “Lionheart” for one night at Quake by the Lake against Jon Moxley for the interim AEW World Championship. Fans can check out a preview of Quake by the Lake at this link.

Elsewhere in this podcast, William Regal spoke about what the formation of the NXT brand was meant to bring to professional wrestling. Read more here.

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