Four Great Chris Jericho Feuds
Looking at Some of the Best Y2J Rivalries and Matches in WWE
Chris Jericho has been in WWE for about eight years, when one considers his two-year absence due to early retirement from 2005-2007. In his time in WWE, he has become the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion by defeating two of the biggest names in wrestling history in one night, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. He has also been WWE Champion twice in 2008.
Jericho has been Intercontinental Champion nine times, and one half of the Tag Team champions four times, currently holding the titles with Big Show. He is a huge player in the WWE game, if not always in the main event. His feuds with the following wrestlers, while they do not encompass his whole career, have had a big impact on Jericho’s time in WWE, and making for excellent viewing for true wrestling fans.
Chris Jericho vs. Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
While these two didn’t feud in the physical sense, they got in each other’s way incessantly while Stephanie was the owner of ECW, also when she was hanging around as HHH’s wife. He insulted her constantly, his favorites being that she was a “Filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, bottom-feeding trashbag ho,” and that she had many amorous partners. Some mistook this animosity between them as attraction, but there was nothing but vitriol between Stephanie and Y2J.
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
Jericho had multiple feuds with Shawn Michaels, the first of which occurred in 2003. Jericho wanted to prove he was better than Michaels. They fought at Wrestlemania XIX, and Michaels defeated Jericho. Jericho responded by giving HBK a cheap shot. Later that year, Michaels took exception to how Jericho had treated Stacy Keibler (on separate occasions he hit her with a steel chair and put her in the Walls of Jericho), so he attacked him.
In 2008, Jericho and Michaels had a confusing and lengthy feud that involved back and forth deception and changes of heart. When Jericho turned heel, their feud ramped up. After back and forth beatings and taunting, things came to a brutal point when Jericho (apparently accidentally) punched Michaels’ wife in the mouth when he was aiming for Michaels. The feud ended with Jericho defeating Michaels in a Ladder Match at No Mercy.
Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Steamboat
In 2008-9, Jericho routinely disrespected WWE Hall of Famers. He took a particular disliking to the legendary Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. He said that he was better than all the WWE legends, including Ric Flair, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Rowdy Roddy Piper. They all took exception to that, and with the exception of Flair, the three others took on Jericho at Wrestlemania XXV. Though they put up a good effort, Jericho still bested them.
Jericho wasn’t satisfied with defeating the legends at WM25, however. He continued to blast Steamboat verbally, saying that he was washed-up and pathetic. At Backlash, although the Dragon put up a good fight, Y2J defeated Steamboat, thereby ending their feud. Still, a chance to see a fight between wrestlers from different generations afforded a new and interesting feud for Jericho to have been a part of.
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio
Chris Jericho’s newer persona as a stony-voiced, stony-faced megalomaniac who knows what is best for everyone really shone when he began feuding with Rey Mysterio. He insisted that Mysterio remove his mask, even though it is a very respected and traditional part of Mysterio’s heritage, because Mysterio, he claimed, was using the mask to hide his real self like a criminal.
Jericho went to much trouble to get Mysterio to rid himself of his mask, going so far as to dress up as a fan, wearing a replica of one of Mysterio’s masks, then jumping out of the audience and attacking Mysterio whilst he was unaware, rendering him unable to wrestle for the night.
Actions like this continued for months, culminating in a final standoff between Jericho and Mysterio at The Bash on June 28, 2009, where Rey Mysterio defeated Jericho for the Intercontinental title and retained his mask. In this case, Jericho proved that he does not always need to win in order to put on a good feud.
Jericho as a Solid Heel and Champion
With all of his talents, Jericho has shone in WWE. His lack of serious injuries and possession of a good work ethic show him to be a valuable team player and his ability to work with a variety of wrestlers shows that he can put on a good feud with anyone.
Sources:
Chris Jericho Profile, Online World of Wrestling
Chris Jericho and Big Show, Tag Team Champions
|
Jericho Has Shawn Michaels in the Walls of Jericho
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles