5 reasons why Chris Jericho is the real G.O.A.T. in pro wrestling
By Kyle Brown
If Chris Jericho isn’t in your conversation for the greatest professional wrestler of all-time, you’re doing it wrong.
Do you wanna start a war? Ask any pro wrestling fan for their Mt. Rushmore of wrestlers. My guess is that you probably won’t find all that many that list Chris Jericho among the four.
I’d like to make those people rethink their selections.
Jericho has, literally, done it all in the professional wrestling world. He holds claim to titles won that Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels do not.
Jericho’s list of accomplishments would rival even that of most people’s choice for greatest of all-time, Ric Flair.
The current All Elite Wrestling headliner is scheduled to face ‘Hangman’ Adam Page at the August 31 pay-per-view ALL OUT with the opportunity to be crowned the company’s first heavyweight champion. He earned this right by defeating Kenny Omega at AEW’s inaugural show, Double or Nothing.
The Omega/Jericho saga is a perfect example of just how versatile Jericho is, as he was able to carry a feud across multiple promotions (and even on a cruise ship) before finally ending (?) it on the most talked-about wrestling show in recent memory.
Before he deals with Page, Jericho is slated to appear on June 9 at New Japan’s Dominion pay-per-view to face Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Jericho is competing for multiple titles across promotions, across the world, because that is how big of draw he is.
There are so many things that make him great, it was difficult to narrow it down to just five.
Not making the cut:
- Y2J: WWE debut
- “Jeri-Show”
- Price is Raw with Bob Barker
- Feud with Kevin Owens
- Ralphus: Jericho Personal Security
- Getting lost on his way to the ring
- The Thrillseekers: Smoky Mountain Wrestling
With that, here is a new ‘List of Jericho’ with the top-five reasons to consider Chris Jericho as the Greatest of All-Time.
5. Feud with Shawn Michaels
In November of 2007, Jericho was back in WWE after a two-year absence. He began a program with Shawn Michaels that stemmed from Jericho accusing Michaels of cheating to win a match against Batista that Jericho was refereeing.
The months-long back and forth saw Michaels deliver his Sweet Chin Music as a cheap shot, Jericho put Michaels through the JeriTron 6000 (in a segment reminiscent of Michaels turning on his Rockers’ tag partner Marty Jannetty in the early 90’s), and Jericho trying to sucker-punch Michaels only to hit Rebecca (Michaels’ wife) instead.
The two would put on wrestling clinics in their bouts, which culminated at 2008’s Unforgiven pay-per-view in an ‘Unsanctioned Match.’ Michaels would win by referee stoppage.
The two would have one more bout, for the World Heavyweight Championship, at No Mercy. The ladder match was won by Jericho after outside interference by Lance Cade.
The two competitors won Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s “Feud of the Decade (2000’s)” and “Feud of the Year (2008)” as well as Wrestling Observer’s “Feud of the Year (2008)” and “Match of the Year (2008)” for their ladder match at No Mercy.
The in-ring wrestling, the work on the microphone, the verbal and nonverbal expressions made this feud feel real and should be taught as a masterclass in professional wrestling storytelling to every young, aspiring performer.