Should pro wrestling be an Olympic discipline? Chris Jericho thinks so

If it were up to Chris Jericho, professional wrestling would be an Olympic discipline.

During a recent interview on Neal Brennan’s podcast blocksJericho proposed the idea, saying, “I started thinking seriously about how professional wrestling could easily become an Olympic sport, since it is a sporting performance between two people, similar to figure skating or synchronized swimming or anything else that is scored on points.”

Unlike other Olympic sports, which are about winning and losing, Jericho proposed that wrestlers from their respective countries could perform a match (or routine) that focused on technique and execution rather than the result.

Jericho said: “Let’s say I’m from Canada. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, the best wrestler from Canada. We put together our routine, and then Will Ospreay and Michael Oku came from England. They put together their routine. Then Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson – from the United States – put together their routine. Then the judges said, ‘Okay, that was the best.’ It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. Like figure skating.”

While Jericho’s idea initially makes sense, the key question is what criteria are used to judge a wrestling match or routine. Figure skating routines, for example, are judged on technical elements such as difficulty and execution of jumps and program elements such as choreography.

With this in mind, one must consider what wrestling moves would form the core of a routine. Will wrestlers be expected to perform a Spanish Fly, or is the emphasis on executing traditional holds and sequences?

Another complexity is the psychology and structure of a match, including the dynamic roles of heels and babyfaces, storytelling and selling. How would these elements factor into scoring? Or would a wrestling match be judged by audience response, similar to the current star systems that are rated by fans and observers?

While some elements of professional wrestling are comparable to sports like figure skating, its nature remains predominantly artistic rather than purely athletic. To reduce wrestling to the mere execution and difficulty of maneuvers is to overlook the unique elements that make it so special: character development, promos, and the storylines that culminate in matches that tell distinct physical stories in a specific place and time.

Ultimately, despite its impressive physicality, professional wrestling is not suited to the Olympics. Instead, its dramatic flair and mastery of storytelling deserve recognition on stages like the Oscars or Emmys rather than the pursuit of gold, silver or bronze medals.