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NJPW: 3 reasons Chris Jericho shouldn’t win the IWGP Heavyweight Title

By Corey Collins

TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 08: Chris Jericho attacks EVIL prior to the match between EVIL and Zack Sabre Jr. during the King of Pro-Wresting at Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 8, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 08: Chris Jericho attacks EVIL prior to the match between EVIL and Zack Sabre Jr. during the King of Pro-Wresting at Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 8, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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On June 9 at Dominion, Chris Jericho returns to New Japan Pro Wrestling to challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Coming off of a successful defense over SANADA at Wrestling Dontaku, retaining the title is more important than ever for The Rainmaker.

I love Chris Jericho. Let’s just get that out of the way before anything else is said. I’ve been a raging Jerichoholic since his ECW days, and the way he’s constantly been able to reinvent himself over the years has blessed us with one of the most unique and constantly evolving characters in pro-wrestling.

When I was a kid, I waited in line at a record store in Tampa, Florida to have Chris Jericho sign my copy of his VHS tape Break Down The Walls. When he debuted on RAW opposite The Rock, I absolutely lost my mind.

For a brief, yet shameful, period of time I also adopted his top-knot as my go-to hairstyle. I’m not entirely proud of that.

All that being said, I don’t see an upside to Jericho becoming the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. His run with the Intercontinental Title was great fun and his feud with Tetsuya Naito led to some awesome interactions and matches, but I don’t think we need a rehash of that storyline.

Jericho last appeared in a New Japan ring at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in a losing effort to Naito. On the second night of Wrestling Dontaku, Jericho returned via video to surprise Kazuchika Okada.

Having just bested SANADA in a classic main event, Okada watched on as Jericho made his intentions immediately clear: he was going to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title – and he was going to win.

For Okada, the next defense of his IWGP Heavyweight Title comes at a time when the top spot in New Japan is in an extreme state of flux. Over the past five months, four different men have held the championship. On May 4, Okada became the first new champion in that span of time to successfully make a first defense.

On June 9th, Okada absolutely needs to vanquish Jericho as a challenger – here’s why.

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