The whole thing is weird. But the Cody-verse feels so disconnected from everything else in AEW that it wouldn't surprise me if Tony didn't feel like he was as valuable to deserve the contract he wanted. On the Fed's end, it's a no brainer because he's a founding member of AEW, a name their viewers recognize, and is more positive news after keeping Owens and Zayn in house. Jericho has been floundering in AEW's mid-card since his MJF feud. Tony has always been against breaking up Inner Circle, now they are doing it in Jericho's final year of his contract.