[4.0] "I don't hate the learning tree. I think the direction for them was pretty bad, but just how damn over-the-top Jericho was with his mockery of professional help/evangelist type of people made me chuckle. It's not good, but I don't hate it."
[3.0] "Jericho again trying to make a faction in AEW work. The Inner Circle was pretty good. The JAS was pretty bad. This is probably even worst. Jericho is trying to ham it up, but that paired with his in ring work, which is not what it once was often leaves the fans wishing he just stayed home. I know Jericho is trying to an extent to use his star power to help younger guys get to the next level. And I can appreciate that. But looking at the people who he has teamed with, I'm not sure that Jericho's rub has really helped many in their journeys. I don't find this group as bad or cringy as some, but I do not call it good either."
[6.0] "I know that many people are annoyed at Chris Jericho. I like Chris Jericho as a wrestler, but sometimes as a person he can come across as a bit self centered. As for the team of Big Bill and Bryan Keith they have shown some promise as they work well together in the ring and can put on entertaining matches, so I'm not sure if they deserve such a low rating because of Chris Jericho's shenanigans. Big Bill seems to really excel in teams where his partner is much smaller than him, which makes sense given the complimentary skillsets. Maybe if these two betrayed Chris Jericho they would be more popular on this site but then their team wouldn't really make any sense now would it?"
[2.0] "'The Learning Tree' to me is the purest representation of what happens when you lack any crowd-understanding at all, as simply put, I think this faction is the drizzling shits. In contrast to 'The Death Riders', I knew that this shit was never going to be that good from the beginning, as the start of this was best described as literally Chris Jericho wanting to annoy us every week and deciding to make a faction to do so, so yeah, what do you expect? Subsequently, I don't even hate Chris Jericho that much, I know he seemingly has the ego of an eight-year old all of a sudden, but there's still worse out there and he can still go, just in way less circumstances than before. I'm also happy that Bryan Keith is getting a re-occurring role on television too, as he has at least made me laugh a few times and is still a very decent wrestler, even though the amount he can actually achieve in the faction seems extremely limited. However, my opinions on 'Big Bill', is different, as I've never got the guy since he was in NXT almost a decade ago, and he genuinely does seem like a nice guy and all, but he doesn't stand out at all and the fact that he's sitting under Jericho's 'tutoring' as a former AEW tag team champion is complete bullshit in theory. I guess it's good that he's been given a re-occurring role too, but when that's the only praise I can give, that says a lot. I think I can best describe the two as 'henchmen' and nothing more, especially Bryan Keith, who seems to only be in the faction to take pinfalls and hopefully quell some of the factions criticism because 'look, Chris Jericho is actually benefiting someone'. I also hate the fact that I have to emphasize that I don't hate personally Chris Jericho too before I actually can talk about this faction, I don't think that's something I should have to say about a storyline bad-guy in the first place, as I think wrestling heel's would at least be somewhat respected like a Kevin Owens, Konosuke Takeshita or Gunther because they are actually fully entertaining or engrossing. Nonetheless, I know that me giving 'The Learning Tree' a low rating was kinda the point of the faction, as some people are gonna say that 'this is just getting heat' or whatever the fuck their latest defence of Chris Jericho's onscreen presence is. I just want those people to know that I actively do not care at all about their opinion, this faction has bad matches, bad promos and annoying/ frustrating storylines, with Chris Jericho especially barely getting enough comeuppance to make his 'heat' worth it even on the smallest-scale. This is especially true with his current ROH World Championship reign, given how it's so fucking meaningless and I don't think it's actually succeed in anything besides having bad repeat-matches of his first reign. For instance, it definitely hasn't succeed in getting more eyes on ROH, as that promotion has already been cemented as a lost-cause that very few are gonna watch and he doesn't even appear on the fucking show. Also, what happened to Mark Briscoe? Since losing the belt he hasn't declared any intention of getting it back and is going nowhere, which is actively disappointing given all he went through to get it and how he was basically screwed out of it. This means that, at the time of writing, I don't think anybody has benefitted from the 'Chris Jericho Vortex', and especially not Hook, as his feud with 'The Learning Tree' was undeniable trash and he's still in the same position that he was before it started. His ROH championship matches have mostly been bad too, which follows a common trend amongst his matches in the past year. I just don't know how AEW thought that this was even going to work in the first place, as after the Kylie Rae accusations, fans simply thought that Chris Jericho needed time off and ignoring the justified concerns about having him on screen is flat-out weird and actively unhealthy. This is especially true giving the message it sends, as it did kinda make it seem like AEW didn't care that much about the seriousness of the claims made and they should've really done better just by principle. I get why some people may disagree with me on that one, but again I don't care and I think a I don't think 'go-away' heat is ever a good thing, and trying to lean into it is grossly-dismissive of your fans. You don't even have to believe the circumstances around Chris Jericho, but it's undeniable how much slower he's gotten in the ring and how frustrating he's been as a character and performer. I do think there wasn't any harm in him going away for a bit, and it's irresponsible for a wrestling company to completely ignore the negative stigma around him. He definitely should've disappeared for a few months at least, or at least long enough for at least a few fans to miss him. It definitely makes the 'TV Time' segments feel quite gross, as we want Chris Jericho off our screens for a different reason than him not being that good, so turning that into a joke is distasteful at best, and his self-admitted television-hogging attitude is flat-out corny and just makes a bad, unengrossing product. Nevertheless, the reason that I'm not giving this faction a lower rating is simple, and that's because the faction hasn't been too harmful yet, even despite its very few benefits. At least the 'Chris Jericho Vortex' remains somewhat limited as off now, but if that changes you can guarantee that this rating will plummet. I also will give some credit to Bryan Keith and Big Bills commitment, as they are at least trying to make something good out of the joy-blackhole which has been Y2J. Ultimately, I think AEW can do so much better than this, as this seems actively detrimental to the 'fans-based', 'wrestling revolution' like feel it had. Again, listening to your fans is important, and even if you don't agree with it, sometimes shallowing your pride is needed for the betterment of your product. These aren't things that I should have to write in a review."
[1.0] "I really like Bryan Keith, and Big Bill has done well so far in AEW, but this stable is making them both look like lackeys for a guy who is well past his prime. The idea itself isn't bad, and the wrestlers themselves aren't bad, but the booking is what makes this group unwatchable. These guys should be going after the Trios titles, but instead Keith and Bill are reserved for run-ins during Jericho's overly long singles matches (where they usually get disposed of pretty quickly by the face.) Jericho is actually still effective in multi-man matches, but his singles matches are a chore to sit through. So why does AEW book Jericho predominantly in singles matches? It makes no sense. Putting The Learning Tree in the Trios division would give Keith and Bill something meaningful to do, and it would also cover some of Jericho's weaknesses. The reason Sting's farewell run was so successful is because he was always protected by the booking: He only wrestled tags or multi-man matches, and Darby did most of the risky bumps. If Sting was booked in long singles matches the way Jericho is, he would've been exposed too. The current booking of Jericho is the exact opposite of Sting's, and what's frustrating is that they have the solution right in front of them."
[0.0] "I....am the Learning Tree! I....am the Learning Tree! I....am the Learning Tree! I....am the Learning Tree! I....am the Learning Tree! I....am the Learning Tree!"
[5.0] "Only giving it a 5 due to it giving Keith and Bill some tv time, otherwise it completly shits the bed and is once again giving more tv time to Jericho who doesnt need it. The fans have had enough of him and he needs to go away and have a break and give the fans a chance to want him again"
[0.0] "[0.4] For my money, genuinely the worst stable AEW's ever had. At least the Nightmare Collective both wasn't around for long and wasn't constantly taking spots high up on the card from more deserving people solely because of who led the group. What makes it worse is that everyone in this other than Jericho isn't horrible. Bryan Keith is pretty good and had a lot of momentum prior to joining, Big Bill has gotten it together and become a standout big guy, but this entire stable exists for Jericho, and he's just fucking horrible here. Its go away heat turned into an angle, and what's even worse, they do literally nothing for the people they feud with. HOOK got nothing out of this other than being stuck in the same place for 6 months, Mark Briscoe didn't need the rub, and now Rated FTR don't need the rub. They are genuinely one of the few acts where nine times out of ten, I will tune out when they're on. The day Jericho stops sullying every last moment of his career prior to this shit and this stable finally disbands for Bill and Keith to flourish, I will be celebrating."
[7.0] "Hi guys....I must be in the minority but Im not so down on the Learning Tree. As a stable it's given more screen time to Big Bill and given Bryan Keith something releventish to do. I can understand people are fed up with Jericho and as much as I echo some of the valid criticisms of others he still manages to get me to raise a smile with some of his comedy antics within this stable. Bye Guys...."
[5.0] "I actually think this stable is good as comic relief, but I can't take them seriously. I'm sorry. It's not as bad as some people say, but I personally just find it SUPER hit or miss."
[9.0] "Nah, this is wild. Chris Jericho in his Learning Tree character is a lot of fun and makes me laugh most of the time. While I don't agree with the feud he had with Mark Briscoe, other than that it has all been enjoyable television. And besides, Big Bill and Bryan Keith are both super over and popular with the crowd BECAUSE of this group. Big Bill especially has gotten super over with the crowds, and they typically have good matches. I think people blindly hate on Jericho more than he really deserves. I do have my moments of getting a little tired or overexposed with Jericho, but more often than not I am cracking up laughing and doing the wave and "Hi Guys" with him! It's so so so tongue in cheek and funny. I hope that Jericho keeps it up. Side note: Jericho has said himself that he uses online criticism for the character, which just means that the more people complain about wanting him to leave, the longer he'll stay. So this is on y'all."
[1.0] "(9/29/24) I am very in the middle with this gimmick. First of all, let me make this clear. I do not like chris jericho and have not for the last few years. I am very in the camp of getting him off my tv in favor of younger better talent. But id be lying if i said this gimmick wasnt hilarious. The hi guys! The overness of big bill, and (as much as he deserves better) the bad apple have been solidly entertaining with this. EDIT: (11/10/24) I'm tired."
[9.0] "LMAO: I like their group. They're funny, interesting and entertaining). It's better than HOB, Undisputed Kingdom, Don Callis Family, Dark Order, FTR, BBG and many others. They always do something, they can turn any bad situation, either on the show or in real life, into the profit. That's quite unusual so many people hate them. There are so many comedy teams, like Conglomeration or Outrunners for example, but people like them for the same reasons they hate Learning Tree."
[0.0] "AEW has had plenty of stables in the past that are this lowly rated (or even worse! ) mostly due to them being ultimately meaningless, having absolutely no direction, and fizzled out without even making a shade of an dent into professional wrestling. This is probably the worst stable that this company has *ever* had, because the entire point of this stable and Chris Jericho's current gimmick is that everyone is so fucking unbelievably tired of seeing him and no one wants to see him around. Started off with his match quality going off into the deep end of mediocre to piss poor in just a year or so, then him inserting himself into story lines and into the trajectory of many new talent, then it's the awful allegations that have been against them that the company just proceeds to not bother ever looking into (ultimately the biggest stain on AEW at the current moment), not to mention many of his comments and action by him and his partner as of recently just only sullying his reputation even more. Believe it or not, but having an entire stable be about how no one wants to fucking see them and ultimately lessen the quality of any card they are on, is just a fucking horrendous idea. Sure, you may be trolling the ones critical of Chris Jericho, and there may be some funny moments here and there, but you're also pissing off everyone else in the process. We've seen this sort of thing not work in the past couple years already, with the House of Torture. Not only is this stable something I just don't want to see ever, I especially don't want to see them because of how many wrestlers that I love have are always being thrown into feuds with the Learning Tree. The feud they had with Hook was so fucking bad, pointless, and I think actually damaging to Hook. Give Jericho the FTW title, a title that most fans really don't care about and were questioning why it was even around, was fucking awful and did nothing for anyone. Shibata losing to Jericho shouldn't ever happen, not in this day and age. And now, the Conglomeration getting involved with the Learning Tree genuinely hurts. Also, pretty obvious statement, but Big Bill and Bryan Keith deserve way better. This stable fucking sucks, please stop doing it."
[2.0] "I really don't know how to feel about this stable/faction, but I absolutely know how to feel about Jericho in 2024, and I think his decline is just sad, considering I was a fan of his growing up. Jericho has gone from the David Bowie of Pro Wrestling to someone who just isn't worth watching nor putting much stock into; In fact, his stock has declined considerably over the last 3 years. He unfortunately is the worst wrestler of 2024 and that was pretty much locked in place since the middle of this year. I laugh at Jericho's "HI GUYS! " a lot which is the whole catchphrase of this Learning Tree gimmick; I think it's funny, but that's the most redeemable thing about him right now, his wrestling is low quality compared to what he used to be 5 years ago. Now getting into his stablemates, I think Bryan Keith is okay but I think Big Bill has the brightest future of all in this group currently; What's helping this case is that fans adore him, I mean look at the reaction he got at Wembley, Bill is in a much better spot in his career now than he was in 2018, which was his lowest point. I don't know how long this stable will last but if it parts away tomorrow, I wouldn't have much of problem with that."
[2.0] "It was funny at first, and Jerichos Hey, Guys! still gets a smirk out of me sometimes, but the gimmick quickly became stale. Its not benefiting anyone involved anymore and is holding back the talent. At this point, it should be disbanded and accepted as a failed idea."
[8.0] "Like everyone else I was tired of Jericho but he did it again, he renewed himself again. He proves once again that he is gifted at retaining audiences, it's funny, it's interesting and it helps Bryan Keith and Big Bill. Jericho really works better with a clan. I love watching them do their stupid things, it's so entertaining."
[1.0] "Jericho in 2019-2021 was great as a faction guy, and he elevated the guys he was with that needed to be elevated, whether in The Inner Circle or in the squared circle. Jericho in 2022-2023 was ok as a faction guy, and he elevated a few of the people he was with that needed some elevation, whether in the JAS or in the squared circle. Jericho in 2024 is bad as a faction guy, and hasn't elevated Big Bill or Bryan Keith, stunted HOOK's rise, and really just fills time that should be for other, better wrestlers. Also he's not good in the squared circle like times before. The only reason this isn't a zero is because Bill having this platform given his career lows post-WWE and where he is now is honestly a great thing to see, even if this is most definitely NOT him being tag champs with Ricky Starks."
[6.0] "I'm not the biggest AEW fan but I am a big Chris Jericho fan, even in his later years. I think people are missing the point of this group, it's a commedy part. No it's not worth a 10/10, but a 0? A bit harsh. People talk about how Big Bill has a lot more in himself, but then you got to realize, AEW has an absolute massive roster, he should be lucky he's being included at all. He's good, but he's not great. Jericho has been doing his little "Hi guys :D" thing and it cracks me up. Though I don't think it'll be a long term stable, I think it'll keep these 3 busy for the time being."
[0.0] "I dont know, or even to be honest care if this is supposed to be bad but it is God awful. They take valuable TV time from more deserving people and spots on Pay Per Views that they do not deserve. Jericho is washed up, Big Bill has been doing nothing since his team with Ricky and Bryan Keith is just there."
[1.0] "I try to be understanding when it comes to wrestling. I really do. But this stable is the epitome of everything I dislike. An old-timer trying to suck the life out of everyone around him because he's trying to "mess with" the go-away heat he's been getting, and I almost feel bad for the rest of the guys. I'm giving them a point of sympathy because I really like Big Bill and Bryan Keith, and I hope they do other things after this is done, sooner rather than later."
[0.0] "Jericho has to stop. I know his current gimmick is "messing with the go-away heat" but it's just not working. I don't find myself hating it, I don't love it. I simply skip it because it's boring, silly and wasted TV-time. All the respect in the world to Jericho that he can do what most people can't even if they're half his age, but at this point it shouldn't happen anymore."
[0.0] "Wouldn't be really fun if we make the most hated guy in the promotion take TV time from talent that deserve it, give him wrestlers to join him and kill any hype they previously had and also bury young talent. This is the Learning tree."
0x
2x
1x
1x
2x
2x
1x
9x
9x
14x
38x