(Via @IAmJericho on Twitter)
Chris Jericho is by far the most influential pro wrestler of all time. Japan, Mexico, WCW, ECW, WWE and his child AEW to name a few place Jericho has started a revolution of his own. Chris Jericho was born in New York, where his father played hockey for the New York Rangers (NHL) at the time. Later moving to Canada, beginning his career in the Hart Brothers Dungeon. With that advantage already, Jericho is talented in the ring physically bur his character was just building.
"Lion Heart" Chris Jericho put him over to many fans as the battling, flashy, charismatic person he truly is. WCW was perceived by many in the end as a terrible place but Jericho had more in store after stealing the show and being 'the man of 1,004 holds'.
Debuting on Raw in 1999, "Y2J" is born and Wrestling fans already know and respect Chris Jericho but his persona in the WWE began with a fantastic entrance. After that he had notable feuds with Chyna, debuting in the middle of a Dwayne Johnson Promo and getting over with many, "Y2J" Chris Jericho became the first, then WWF, Undisputed Champion- unifying the WWF Championship and WCW Championship. From 1999 to 2018, Chris Jericho is the fourth ever "Grand Slam" Champion being a 1x WWE Champion, 3x World Heavyweight Champion, (record) 9x Intercontinental Champion and 2x United States Champion.
Jericho's ability to make anything work moved along with rivalries with talent such as Kurt Angle, Triple H and Chris Benoit. Jericho went on to Main Event WrestleMania 18 versus Triple H and the following year stealing the show versus Shawn Michaels for another many would call a "Mania Classic". Y2J is a entertainer at heart and had ventures aside from wrestling. Jericho is a extremely talented musician and with accomplishing everything on every side of the profession he felt as that he could take his Rock band "Fozzy' to a new level.
Traveling the world as the lead singer of a rock band was something Jericho checked off the list and made his illustrious return to Wrestling. Y2J returned with no-words in his promos and now proclaiming he was the best in the world. At the same time, CM Punk was on his run and the 2 crossed path to set course for one of my favorite matches of all time. Chris Jericho and CM Punk for the WWE Championship in Miami, Florida at WrestleMania 28. This was not the main event, just behind the tagged "Once in a Lifetime" matchup between The Rock and John Cena. Jericho ultimately putting Punk over in a thriller was the most respect I've ever had for him (aside from carrying AEW). Jericho was arguably in his prime, his best work behind him, giving us a master piece to go back and talk about for years to come. Of course I would have loved to see Jericho go over and finally get that title run in the WWE, in the modern era, for all the "Jericaholics" like myself, but he tapped out to the Anaconda Vice like the dirty heel that he is and completed that story line magnificently.
From 2012-2017, Chris Jericho did what he could with what he was given. Snubbed for the Main Event of WrestleMania for Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar, Jericho did exactly what he needed to. Chris Jericho went to Japan and challenged Kenny Omega. Attacking Omega in Japan, this made Chris Jericho a heel in another company for the first time since 1999. Jericho challenged Omega for the IWGP United States Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 12. This would lead to his contract finally running out and moving on the largest part of his career.
If you are a Wrestling fan, you have heard of AEW. I like to look at AEW as the competition and what will ultimately make Pro-Wrestling so much better. In 2019, Chris Jericho signed with All Elite Wrestling. On May 25th 2019, Jericho defeated Kenny Omega at "AEW Double or Nothing". On August 31st 2019 at AEW "All Out", Chris Jericho defeated "Hangman" Adam Page for the Inaugural AEW World Championship. Cementing the legacy of Jericho forever. No matter what, Chris Jericho will always be the first person to be AEW World Champion. Jericho has gone on to create "The Inner Circle", "The Jericho Appreciation Society", and "Le Champion"- This run is arguably the greatest and most engraving in his legacy/overall Wrestling history.
List of Chris Jericho's Nicknames:
Y2J, The Alpha, The King of the World, Lionheart, The Ayatollah of RocknRolla, The Savior, The Living Legend, The Best in the World, The Paragon of Virtue, Your Role Model, The Sexy Beast, The Epicenter of Excitement, The Most Charismatic Showman To Ever Enter Your Living Room Via A Television Screen, Le Champion, Demo God.
I really love Chris Jericho and truly appreciate all he has done for wrestling. It has been a pleasurer documenting his career and I one day hope this reaches the right people.
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EST.2022