Chris Jericho’s 13 greatest moments as WWE legend stuns the world with brilliant performance against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 12
The 47-year-old wrestled one of the best matches of his career in his first match outside WWE since 1999
CHRIS Jericho stunned the world on Thursday.
At 47-years-old he had one of the best matches of his career against Kenny Omega at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 12.
SunSport looks back at the incredible career of Y2J by counting down his 13 greatest moments.
The Man of 1,004 holds
WCW Nitro – March 30, 1998
In a career-making feud with Dean Malenko, Jericho mocked the 'Man of 1,000' holds by proclaiming himself the 'Man of 1,004 holds' – and proceeded to read them out one-by-one.
Hilariously, he began: "Number one – arm bar, number two – arm drag…"
Jericho was always a talented wrestler but this is what put him on the map – big personality and razor-sharp promos.
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Becoming Undisputed Champion
Vengeance – December 9, 2001
Jericho won a four-man tournament – beating both The Rock and Stone Cold in one night – to unify the WWE and WCW world titles.
Booking Jericho to win over the more credible main eventers was a swerve – and his reign fell flat.
But becoming the first ever Undisputed champ undoubtedly earns him a spot in the history books.
Out-masked by Rey Mysterio
The Bash – June 28, 2009
Rekindling an old feud from WCW, Jericho and Mysterio fought in an Intercontinental title vs mask match – the stipulation added after Y2J tore off Rey’s mask in a previous bout.
It was an exciting display from two highly experienced – not to mention familiar – performers.
Jericho pulled off Mysterio’s mask but found he was wearing another mask underneath, giving Mysterio the chance to get the win.
The phantom WWE Championship win
Raw – April 17, 2000
During the best year of the Attitude Era, Jericho won a red-hot match against Triple H to become WWE Champion.
The crowd went wild for the title change.
It was a testament to how over Jericho was at the time – and a reaction that catapulted him into WWE’s upper tier of superstars.
Unfortunately for Y2J, the crooked Triple H forced the referee to reverse the title win later on in the show.
Battling Eddie Guerrero for the Cruiserweight Championship
WCW Fall Brawl – September 14, 1997
Jericho wowed fans against his real-life friend Guerrero with a technical masterclass.
It was a loss for Jericho on the night, but this was the kind of match that made WCW the number one US wrestling promotion at the time.
Hulk Hogan and the NWO may have sold the tickets, but their lumbering main events were no match for the high-flying, technical wizardry of WCW’s cruiserweight division.
Last Man Standing against Triple H
Fully Loaded – July 23, 2000
Continuing their feud through the summer of 2000, often driven by Jericho’s name calling of Trips’ wife Stephanie McMahon, this was a real barnstormer.
Triple H was the best in the business at this time and won the match – but only by a second (he managed to stand at the count of nine).
The pair had natural chemistry, perhaps thanks to the fact they didn’t get along in real life – as Jericho has openly discussed since.
The Euro-Continental Triple Threat
WrestleMania 2000 – April 2, 2000
This fun twist on the triple threat saw both Kurt Angle’s Intercontinental and European titles on the line against Y2J and Chris Benoit – with each belt decided in two separate falls.
Angle lost both titles without being pinned or submitted.
Benoit pinned Jericho to become IC champ, then Jericho pinned Benoit to nab the Euro title.
It was also a well constructed match from three of WWE’s top talents at the time – and was leagues ahead of the usual triple threat.
Climbing the ladder with HBK
No Mercy – October 5, 2008
Jericho and Shawn Michaels – two superstars with undeniable chemistry – reignited their old feud with a sizzling series in 2008.
The storyline saw Jericho (accidentally) punch HBK’s wife and culminated in a classic ladder match for Jericho’s World Heavyweight Championship.
It ended with a tug-of-war for the belt at the top of the ladder – before Jericho knocked Michaels to the mat and grabbed his title for the win.
The Festival of Friendship
Raw – February 13, 2017
The reinvention of Jericho in recent years has proved he’s the undisputed king of getting a new gimmick over – a scarf, a clipboard, his friendship with Kevin Owens.
It all peaked at the Festival of Friendship, as Owens revealed his own list – the List of KO – then launched a brutal attack on the glittery scarf-wearing Y2J.
One of the best angles from modern-day Raw and a gripping storyline between two friends-turned-bitter enemies.
Taking the Ladder Match to new heights
Royal Rumble – January 21, 2001
One match that won’t be showing up on any official WWE lists thanks to Chris Benoit’s involvement, but an absolute classic regardless.
It was a hard-hitting match with inventive ladder spots – including a Benoit dive through the ropes that went face-first into the steel and a Walls of Jericho on top of the ladder.
Jericho got the win to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
Defeating Triple H and Stone Cold for the Tag Team Championships
Raw – May 21, 2001
Another one struck from the official history books, Y2J teamed with Benoit for this sizzling match against the 'Two Man
Power Trip'.
There was dynamite action back-and-forth – helped by a hot crowd – and Jericho and Benoit made this the high point of Stone Cold’s ill-conceived heel run.
The pair won the titles after Trips accidentally clobbered Austin with a sledgehammer.
Facing his idol Shawn Michaels on the Grandest Stage
WrestleMania XIX – March 30, 2003
This was built around the idea that Jericho had idolised HBK growing up and was seen as the 'new Shawn Michaels' when he broke into the business.
The match is a slow burner, but explodes in the second half at a breakneck pace with masterfully timed spots.
Jericho lost but ended the match with a sucker punch, hugging his idol post-match then nailing him a low-blow.
Heelish brilliance.
Y2J arrives in WWE
Raw – August 9, 1999
Jericho jumping ship from WCW is one of the peak Monday Night War moments – and still the greatest debut in WWE history.
(All debuts and returns since have tried to recreate it – Jericho’s done it several times himself, in fact.)
Jericho was WCW’s best talker, so it made sense to have him debut by interrupting The Rock mid-promo with his now-classic Millennium Man countdown.
His arrival provoked one of the greatest pops in the history of the business – enough to give you goosebumps 18 years later.
A reminder of when WWE was the most exciting show on TV, maaaan.