All Elite Wrestling star Chris Jericho recent had Jim Ross on his podcast to discuss the WWE Hall of Famer's new book, and among the topics they discussed was the night the then Undisputed Champion defended his title against Triple H at WrestleMania 18. While it was the main event of the show, it was the same night The Rock faced Hulk Hogan in a bout many viewed as the true main event match.
Jericho recalled learning that Triple H - who was returning from an injury as a fan-favourite babyface - received a much larger payout that he did, and the difference between what the two men earned left him fuming.
"It was after The Rock and Hulk Hogan, that was THE main event, but we were on last," Jericho recalls. "Then it was just a passing conversation between me and Hunter. I found out that he got four fifths of the pie of the payout from the match and I got one fifth. I was furious. And you [JR] explained what Vince’s theory was. ‘When somebody’s a hot babyface that’s gonna win? People are gonna pay money to see him win. And that’s more important than the actual foe that he’s in the ring to face.'"
Ross confirmed that, explaining: "That was his, it was his rule of thumb. And the other thing too that you’ve got to remember? Triple H had a unique relationship with the old man. Yeah, he’s gonna father his grandchildren! And I haven’t got a problem with that. I mean, I get it, you know? He [Vince] cared about his family in that respect."
However, Jericho would later reveal that Vince made things right with a substantial cheque, so he clearly realised he should have treated Y2J a little better at the time. Unfortunately, the former AEW Champion failed to elaborate on just how much money he ended up receiving...