Welcome to a new series of articles here at the MWC Blog that we shall call: Cases For The Greatest. This is where I examine some of the wrestlers who are often viewed by some or many as the greatest pro wrestler of all time and why they have an argument in being so. Think of it as similar to those "video essays" you often see on YouTube nowadays on a wide array of topics, but this one is in written format. Speaking of YouTube, a user by the name of Dom2k actually had a series called "Cases For GOAT" but his focuses on NBA. That is where I got the inspiration for this series. Now what makes finding the greatest ever in wrestling difficult more than other sport say basketball or boxing is because there is no unanimous G.O.A.T in wrestling. In basketball you got Michael Jordan or in boxing there is Muhammad Ali, maybe a few others to be arguably considered but that is it. The plan is I will be presenting 15 wrestlers over the following weeks and hopefully you'll join in for the ride! Anyway, enough with the formal introductions and get on with our first great: Y2J, Chris Jericho. ProfileRing Name: Chris Jericho From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Height: 6'0'' Weight: 227 lbs. Trained by: Stu Hart Debut: October 2, 1990 (ongoing) Notable Achievements: WWE Championship (1x) WCW World Heavyweight Championship (2x) World Heavyweight Championship (3x) WWE Intercontinental Championship (9x) WWE United States Championship (2x) WCW Cruiserweight Championship (4x) IWGP Intercontinental Championship 9th Triple Crown Champion in WWE 4th Grand Slam Champion in WWE WON Wrestler of the Year (2008 & 2009) Career Overview1990 - At the age of 19, he started training at the famous Hart Family Dungeon. October 2, 1990 - First ever match debuting as "Cowboy" Chris Jericho vs. Lance Storm in Stampede Wrestling. 1991 - Toured Japan for the first time for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW.) 1992-1995 - Toured Mexico under the names Leon D'Oro and later on Corazon de Leon for CMLL. He won the NWA Middleweight Championship. 1994 - Wrestled for Jim Cornette's Smokey Mountain Wrestling (SMW.) 1994-1996 - Another tour in Japan this time for Genichiro Tenryu's WAR promotion. 1995-1996 - Wrestled for Paul Heyman's ECW and this is where he donned his "Lionheart" persona. 1996-1998 - Finding success in WCW as a Cruiserweight winning the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and WCW Television Championship. 1997-1998 - Thanks to the partnership of WCW and NJPW, Jericho also wrestled a few matches there but as "Super Liger" the evil version of Jushin "Thunder" Liger. August 9, 1999 - Jericho makes his debut for the WWF. Still one of the greatest debuts of all time! 1999-2001 - Being involved in various storylines and feuds most notably against Chris Benoit. January 3, 2000 - His first of what would be many reigns as WWF/E Intercontinental Champion. December 9, 2001 - It's the Vengeance PPV wherein Chris Jericho defeated BOTH The Rock and Steve Austin to become the first ever Undisputed WWF World Champion! March 17, 2002 - Headlined WrestleMania 18 in Toronto against Triple H for the Undisputed WWF Title. 2002-2005 - Feuding with the likes of Shawn Michaels and Christian. 2007-2009 - Return to the WWE after a two year hiatus. 2009-2010 - Teaming up with the Big Show as "Jeri-Show" becoming Undisputed Tag-Team Champions. 2011-2017 - In the middle of all these Y2J appeared here and there while also being involved in some high profile feuds with the likes of CM Punk and Kevin Owens. January 4, 2018 - Chris Jericho loss to Kenny Omega for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in the Tokyo Dome. January 4, 2019 - Another loss for Jericho this time defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship from Tetsuya Naito. Present - Currently a member of the new promotion: All Elite Wrestling (AEW.) ArgumentIf there is one word that gets thrown around on why many consider Chris Jericho as the greatest of all time that is: relevance. Throughout his nearly three decade career, Y2J has managed to become one of the most high profile stars of the wrestling industry not only in the business itself but also thanks to his other ventures! He knows when and how to evolve his character with the timeline he is living at which is essential in someone's growth of character. Other wrestlers just get stuck with their singular gimmick for life, which makes them one dimensional, Jericho for better or worse, knows when to change himself while maintaining the essence of what made him successful. Speaking of what made him successful, it's a plethora of reasons really. Even right from the get go in his days at the Dungeon, Jericho was already deemed as a bright young prospect. As he thrives in his career, so did his wrestling abilities. He is one of those wrestlers you is always a good match up, pit him against anybody and you'll surely get an entertaining bout! From other technical wizards like Dean Malenko or Lance Storm to highflyers like Eddie Guerrero or Rey Mysterio, and even the brawling hardcore guys of ECW, Jericho has faced them all then and even up until now his matches against the likes if CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Kenny Omega, and Tetsuya Naito are always top billing and memorable. In terms of his charisma, only few can match the level of Y2J has. If you can go toe to toe on the mic with the likes of Stone Cold and The Rock in their primes, then you're certainly someone special! While Y2J certainly has his fair share of catchphrases over the years, he still has a unique way of delivering promos and has managed to evolve it with the times as well. He went from calling everybody "junior" to making a clipboard and pen over! His resume of accolades are great too all things considered although certainly not in the same bane as the likes of Ric Flair or even John Cena. Yes he is a 6x World Champion but Jericho was never really the top guy or main eventer, but was mainly circling around those said guys and was able to have great feuds with them. Although let's not get things confused here, he is still a draw and his name alone can definitely sell out a wrestling event or two, especially with his status now among the industry. Chris Jericho will never be out of place in wrestling. He knows his spot and when to take it, a genius as some would say. His evolution does not end anytime soon and his arc will only continue for many more years to come. That is why he has a Case for being the Greatest! NEXT: BRUNO SAMMARTINO Check out the Top 100 Wrestlers List here Follow on Twitter: @SuperMastodon Like on Facebook: Super Mastodon |
AuthorSuper Mastodon. Spent countless of hours throughout my life watching professional wrestling. Now I write about it, because I like that too. Archives
March 2021
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