Chris Jericho...Overrated?

[The Madrid Slam]

So on another wrestling forum, there was a discussion going on about Jericho. One user kept bashing Jericho while many others including myself tried to defend him.

My stance on Jericho is, that I feel, that today he is one of the charasmatic, well-spoken individuals that the WWE has. He is also one of the biggest draws the WWE has imo. I don't think anyone, currently produces more heat than Chris Jericho besides Vicky Guerrero. I think personally, TODAY, Jericho is the best on the mic. In-Ring I consider him very talented as well. He may not be Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels or Ric Flair were but I consider him good.

His argument has been...and with quotes.

"Jericho is not the kind of guy who can carry a match. Look at Rock vs. Hogan. All time great match that the Rock carried and many people will try and say Jericho is better than the Rock in the Ring. But Jericho could not carry that match. Look at Micheals vs. Flair. Shawn Micheals who is over 40 carried a guy who is nearly 60 to one of the most memorable matches in the history of wrestling, Could Jericho have done that? No way in hell. Jericho has never headlined wrestlemania and why is that? He cant sell thats why. Look at what they are doing with him this year. They are burying him with 3 guys in their late 50's/60's and he will not put on half the show that Micheals did. "Go over all the past champions in the history of the world title, or even intercontinental title (Either Major title or Mid level title you can look at). How many of those guys has Jericho actually been better than? I bet if you look at all the world champions from either WCW or WWE/F Jericho will be in the bottom 10% at best. Think about it Hart, Flair, Sting, Rock, Austin, Benoit, Angle, Lesnar, Guerrero, Micheals, Undertaker and those are just guys from the top tier. All those people are well above Jericho in both talent and charisma. You have next level guys (Foley, Ultimate Warrior are just an example) that can also sell much better than Jericho could ever dream of. A guy like Rick Rude has left a better Legacy than Jericho, and so has Mr. Perfect. In ten years when you look back on Jericho can you say he had as much of an impact Jeff Hardy? Could he do what Rey Mysterio could? Is he as strong as Cena or Batista? Can he talk like HHH? Those are all guys who will be sploken about as legends in the future, Jericho will be spoken about in the same breath as Skinner, Doink and the gobbledy gooker. Nothing about Jericho stands out. He doesnt take risks, he cant mat wrestle or carry a bum to a great match, on the Microphone he is a middle of the road guy at best, his merchandise cant sell as well as a top guy should be able too. Face it Jericho is completely overrated.

You really think Jericho's gimmick isnt stale? Wow Ok well if thats how you feel but I was bored after 2 weeks with it. He is so robotic when he talks and obviously memorizes a script. If you look at Cena, HBK, HHH, and even Santino they seem to be very fluid and very ad-lib when they talk. Guys like Edge and Orton are the same as Jericho very robotic and mundane. As far as the "getting heat" I know when I went to a raw I booed Jericho as much as possible because I cant stand him so is that "heat" or hatred? Again I dont boo jericho because of his character I boo him because he is an overrated waste of space. Honestly plenty of people can pull of Jericho's gimmick, If Shawn Micheals were to do it as he is slowly turning before wrestlemania again if you notice. He would get double the "heat" Jericho got. He has been buried with 60 year olds for a reason. "

This is one of the first times that I've been in a "debate" where...I just can't say he's not telling the truth. I continue to watch Raw, and enjoy when Jericho comes on screen, because I know a good promo is a'coming. I liked Jericho since his comeback more than a year ago. On his last run with the WWE I wasn't an avid wrestling fan yet. So What's your opinion on Jericho?

[thepoo62]

I would say that to us Internet marks, Jericho's stock is really inflated at the moment after a really hot return and a few good feuds. I really like the guy but I feel like he can really stink up the place at times too so he is definetly at the top of his game now and it remains to be seen if he can stay at this level for an extended period or if this is just a hot streak for a deserving vet.

[Rome]

No chance. No one draws heat like Jericho in the WWE sans Vicky Guerrero. When it comes to actual in-ring performers, Jericho is the best heel on a mic in the business right now. No one can make a crowd turn faster.

Anyone trained by Stu Hart cannot suck, I'm sorry. His abilities in the ring are good and he's got some of the best in-ring psychology in the WWE right now. Not everyone has to be able to carry a match to be a success or good.

[The Madrid Slam]

No chance. No one draws heat like Jericho in the WWE sans Vicky Guerrero. When it comes to actual in-ring performers, Jericho is the best heel on a mic in the business right now. No one can make a crowd turn faster.

Anyone trained by Stu Hart cannot suck, I'm sorry. His abilities in the ring are good and he's got some of the best in-ring psychology in the WWE right now. Not everyone has to be able to carry a match to be a success or good.

I said the exact same last line. While his most memorable matches may be with Angle, Benoit and HBK, it doesn't mean that they carried him around like a lost puppy. Also the Poster stated that one of the reasons that Jericho isn't as good a champ as others is because he doesn't take bumps which I find as a ridiculous reason as to why one should be considered a good champion

[jellmoo]

I agree that Jericho is very good. He has strong mic skills, is entertaining in the ring, and knows the game.

That being said, I do believe that he is slightly overrated in the IWC right now. He had a phenomenal feud with Shawn Michaels and played is role really well, which resulted in many smarks going gaga.

I also agree that he doesn't seem to draw. It's not really a criticism on Jericho per se, but the fact is that he isn't, and likely won't be the main draw for the company for the long term. It doesn't diminish his skill or ability, it's just the way things are. He just doesn't seem to wow the casual wrestling fans.

[Theo Mays]

I like Jericho's gimmick. It isn't stale one bit. He is the 2nd most interesting thing in the WWE right now behind Taker/HBK. No one generates heat, wrestler wise, as Jericho does. He is at the top of his game right now and I think he is the best heel in the WWE by far. He has been totally entertaining since his return.

[mautaker]

Plus, he already had headlined Wrestlemania X8 against Triple H. I have always liked Jericho, for me is one of the most complete wrestlers, not the most, but he is a complete wrestler. I'm always entretained when he is around, talking or wrestling, and that what is all about, eh?

[kenvin100]

Jericho is not over-rated, hes terribly wasted. This guy was making amazing promos on his first day with the WWE..doing it up with the Rock..now its true he's not Rocky material..then again who is right (or else they'd be in hollywood right now lol) but damn he had it..he's great as a heel and last week was an incredible example of that..I thought Taker squashing Flair at Mania was bad but MAN, this was incredible...the problem right now, his match sucks! Hes going to fight a bunch of old men, hurray...

The only thing I can say is over-rated is how he's said for years he's beaten Rock and Austin on the same night..talking about it on a promo or two is alright and it might have been similar to "a title" at the time, but keeping the gag running for years is unacceptable..

[Ryanhitman316]

No chance. No one draws heat like Jericho in the WWE sans Vicky Guerrero. When it comes to actual in-ring performers, Jericho is the best heel on a mic in the business right now. No one can make a crowd turn faster.

Anyone trained by Stu Hart cannot suck, I'm sorry. His abilities in the ring are good and he's got some of the best in-ring psychology in the WWE right now. Not everyone has to be able to carry a match to be a success or good.

I totally agree with your statement. Anyone who was trained by Stu Hart cannot suck. I am a big fans of Canadian wrestlers. Bret, Benoit, Jericho, Trish, Edge, etc. Because they are wrestlers.

Jericho is probably the Best wrestler today along with Kurt Angle if you are talking about wrestling skills. People need to watch his matches in Japan and from his past. People just jump to conclusion and judge the wrestlers based on what they see today but they have no knowledge of their history. If I had a chance to defend Jericho I will tell them to watch some matches of Jericho back in Japan and some of his classic matches in WCW and WWF.

[supersayian]

this guy is a idiot Y2J is the best heel in wrestling now. NO NO Vickie does not count i hope they fire this dumb bitch she made Edge look like a pussy now. Y2J has more skill on the mic and in ring then anyone there but maybe HBK. the rest are average are below.

[HellPaso]

Hi guys, first post. (Long time lurker, first time poster).
After reading that copy/paste job at the top from the other forum I just had to ask if we can really take him seriously. Few points:

1) Chris Jericho being remembered in the same breath as Skinner, Doink and the gobbledy gooker? Srsly? I'd reckon that Jericho is on the same level as Benoit. In a different way - he obviously isn't as good in the ring, but he makes up for that in charisma and mic work, something that didn't come to Benoit too naturally.

2) Edge - ROBOTIC PROMO WORK? This is a major grating point for me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but this is blatantly fraudulent. Edge is one of the most entertaining promo guys in the whole of the wrestling business at the moment. I can't remember seeing Edge cut a single promo in the last 10 years that didn't either grab me completely or make me bust a gut with laughter. Orton I can understand, but the guy is getting better. His promo on Raw last night was superb, even though he flubbed his lines a little.

3) Jericho's gimmick being stale? Okay, I can understand some of that angle what with him changing up his character to be more monotone but it's the little touches and flourishes that really bring this character to life. It's the small tilts of the head, the wavering of the voice, the malice that cuts into every word. You really feel that he MEANS what he says. Maybe this is just a gimmick that will pass this guy by - he seems to be a fan of fast moving promos with lots of growling and such.

Anyway, that's my 2c.
If you don't flame me too badly I might stick around =D

[fallensaviour]

The only thing I can say is over-rated is how he's said for years he's beaten Rock and Austin on the same night..talking about it on a promo or two is alright and it might have been similar to "a title" at the time, but keeping the gag running for years is unacceptable..

it was a title victory. wwf was having a tournament to unify the wcw and wwf titles into one belt. jericho beat rock and austin in seperate matches to unify the 2 titles and become the first undisputed champion.

[Lord Sidious]

A lot of internet fans aren't going to like this, but I am a firm believe that Jericho is vastly over-rated by his very own fanbase.

They glorify him to be a wrestling God, when in reality, he is simply an above-average worker. He is above average on the mic, as well. Although his Y2J character was far superior than this gimmick, which I find to be bland, stale, and boring. And yes, I know that is supposed to be the point of this gimmick, but it still doesn't work for me. If you are trying to act like you are as exciting as watching paint dry ... you still are as exciting as "watching paint dry", which is why I don't find the gimmick appealing at all.

But case and point to his fans who were begging the guy to come back originally, and saying how WWE is indispensible without him. Funny thing was even he was overheard telling fans coming up to him at an Indy show that he disagrees with them. WWE doesn't need Jericho. When they brought him aboard, ratings didn't go up at all. Buyrates didn't go up at all. So I can only attribute all this Internet talk to him being indispensible to the company as a bunch of vociferous fans, who were actually in the minority.

I hear so many of Jericho's fans go crazy about this current character he is. He is the "Greatest Heel of all time" ... blah, blah, blah. His current character is nothing. I could dress up Charlie Haas in a suit each week, come out and call the fans "parasites" and "hypocrites" every single week, talk in a monotone voice every single week ... and I guarantee you that Jericho's fans would then be complaining about what a boring, stale, flat gimmick Charlie Haas has.

Which is why I also had to chuckle when his fans started up rumors that the Legend Jericho was going to be facing was Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin at Mania. Please. Jericho is nowhere near the league of a Hulk Hogan or a Steve Austin, that it merits an appearance from either one of them. And now, they are all dejected because we have what we have today as far as the match at Mania goes.

Jericho will always be known as an above average worker, and an above average talker. He is to this day an Upper Midcarder, not a Main Eventer ... and that is what he will primarily always be known as.

[thisisatest]

He's gotten overrated/stale on the mic in my opinion....I can only take someone calling me a 'parasite' 3, maybe 4 dozen times in one interview before I'm thinking "please come up with something fresh". In the ring though he's as good if not better than ever, if he'd just cover those stumpy bow-legs up with long tights again.

[The Enigma Mr.651]

Jericho is NOT overrated. This guy was awesome back in his days of WCW. The bad thing was they didnt notice it. When he came back he was recharged and like it was already said this guy draws so much heat. EX. the video of him in the altercation with that couple in Canada. I am actually looking foward to Sunday

[Kaze Enigma]

Y2J is not overated, just being underutilised atm with his stupid WM match. The fact people even remember the match is beacuse of his ability to carry a promo.:twocents:

[bulldog76]

I find the quote in the original post to be an intersting quote. Espcially considering that someone who worked in the business felt that Jericho's delivery was one of the very few unscripted. But all of that is a matter of opinion.

As far as being "buried with 60 year olds," with Jericho lacking a title shot, what could be better than working with some of your all-time favorites. Some of us consider it an insult while others consider it Jericho being put in his place, but can you imagine what will be going through Jericho's mind before and after the match? This has to be like Triple H wrestling Flair or Rock wrestling Hogan. Can you imagine what must have been going through Michaels mind a year ago against Flair? Jericho probably considers this an honor to be in the ring with not 1, not 2, but 3 legends.

I agree with the guy who said he was a wasted talent. Too many times he has been undercutted. Not everyone is supposed to be Triple H, Cena or Edge. Orton has the same monotonous voice that Jericho has. As a heel in his first run, he was wasted. His match at WM18 was more about Triple H and Stephanie than Triple H and Jericho.

Is Jericho The Rock or Austin or Hogan? No. But he is a successful worker. He has been coveted by companies around the world. He has headlined PPVs, won numerous titles, participated in numerous types of matches, cuts attention grabbing promos (you may be bored) but I find it interesting that fans in the audience go silent the instant he starts talking and resort to their near unanimous jeers when he stops. Orton doesn't even get that. The "quit calling me a hypocrite" statement is interesting because wouldn't you call someone how you feel? If his character feels you're a hypocrite, then shouldn't he address you as such? And don't say that Benoit had more charisma. Let's face it. There was more charisma on Benoit's pants than in him. Anyways if Jericho didn't get "heat" and all he gets is hatred, then Im pretty sure more than one or two TV's would have the channel changed. But apparently, Vince has been pleased with Jericho's work and the results the WWE has gotten. In the end, that is what counts.

There should not be just one type of character or another. There needs to be a high-flying risk taker, the ulitmate opportunist, the show-stopper, the legend, the game, the champ, the monster, the arrogant, the self-absorbed..., I think I made my point. You need all different types of characters in the WWE. Jericho in my mind has never been a better heel. He fits his place perfectly.

[tman2019]

Well for the man hating on Jericho, and all others who agree...

Jericho did headline a Wrestlemania, which was WM18. He was in the main event vs. HHH. Granted, the most remembered match that night was Hogan vs. Rock, Jericho was in the main event.

If you hate Jericho's gimmick, then his plan is working great. He is the top heel in the business. Orton gets cheered and sells T-shirts, Edge gets random cheers and sells T-shirts. Jericho doesn't even promote his T-shirts. Everything you loved about Jericho when he was a face were his catch phrases, crazy outfits, long hair, beard. He has done away with all of that to be the best heel in the business today. He doesn't have the in-ring skills of the best, but he is good. And he is lights-out on the mic.

Props to Y2J

[FTS]

OK, I honestly think that this thread is being posted in by a bunch of bobbleheads, all shaking their heads yes without thinking. Jericho isn't good in the ring? Will someone please tell me about these terrible Jericho matches? To the guy who said Hogan/Rock was a classic----ummm, there were nothing but punches in that match. The Rock carried Hogan to a classic fake boxing match. Jericho matches involve proper psychology, reversals, and everything you would expect of a man of that size in that character. He doesn't waste time flipping like an idiot or using rest hold after rest hold. In his matches, he focuses on the torso and then uses a finisher that focuses on the torso. He looks like he is trying to end it as quickly as possible. That is his character.

I don't think he is overrated at all. I think that while everyone was injurd last year, he and HBK had the feud of the year. Every match and every promo was top notch. Jericho put on good matches with Batista. As much as the IWC like to bag on Batista, those matches with Jericho late in the year were very good. Jericho fits a role on the card where he is a threat to everyone at any time. He is amazing at everything he does.

Someone was bagging on Jericho's match at WM. They said that they were hiding him in the card against the legends. I think he is in the legends match because he can make three sixty year old men look good in a wrestling match, and that sir, is a great talent.

[HeartWong]

Jericho is one of the top few heels in WWE today.. Period
His promo and ring work is rather close to top notch.

[Lord Sidious]

Well for the man hating on Jericho, and all others who agree...

Jericho did headline a Wrestlemania, which was WM18. He was in the main event vs. HHH. Granted, the most remembered match that night was Hogan vs. Rock, Jericho was in the main event.

If you hate Jericho's gimmick, then his plan is working great. He is the top heel in the business. Orton gets cheered and sells T-shirts, Edge gets random cheers and sells T-shirts. Jericho doesn't even promote his T-shirts. Everything you loved about Jericho when he was a face were his catch phrases, crazy outfits, long hair, beard. He has done away with all of that to be the best heel in the business today. He doesn't have the in-ring skills of the best, but he is good. And he is lights-out on the mic.

Props to Y2J

I'd also like to point out that Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow also headlined a Mania, too. So what does that mean, exactly?

Also, that Jericho vs Triple H match is still regarded to this day as one of the more disappointing Mania Main Events in recent history. It was a decent match, but absolutely nothing special. How many times has Jericho been featured in a Main Event at Mania since? Here we are, 7 years after that Mania, and Jericho has not been in one Main Event at Wrestlemania since that time.

As far as his mic skills ... he has the potential to be excellent. They are just using him improperly in this current gimmick.

[Dave]

Jericho is a future hall of famer for sure. I like Jericho, like everyone has said already, no one draws heat like Jericho. His charisma is second to none and the WWE find it very easy to work angles with Jericho because his mic skills are believable. I mean, if they had tried this exact same angle with say Shelton Benjamin. It would not have worked. Bottom line is Jericho talks hard but wrestles hard too.

[jellmoo]

I think that people aren't realizing the disconnect between the IWC and the casual viewer. Smarks are dedicated to and analyze the business to a hyper degree that the casual fan does not. To that end, smarks come to appreciate things on a different level. Jericho is a case in point.

The IWC sees a great wrestler, who is pulling off what they like in promos, and has a great understanding of ring psych. All of this is true.

However, the casual fan doesn't see this. They see a small guy in a big guy's game, cutting monotone and what they deem as "boring" promos, and just in general not being as energetic and flamboyant as heels like Randy Orton. This is why Orton gets RKO chants and pops, and Jericho gets nothing but boos or silence.

Jericho is doing a great job as a heel, unfortunately, casual fans aren't seeing it. Casual fans want to see the faces as the big hero overcoming the odds. A monotone non-dominant wrestler that is considerably smaller than the main event faces does not pose a massive threat, and the fans don't get behind it.

[SquareSix]

I don't think it's fair to judge Jericho based on where he is at currently in WWE as this guy has done. It's pretty damn hard to make a feud w/ three (and I say this with all due respect because they deserve it; they are legends for a reason) old guys. Give Jericho the credit he deserves. Vince knew he had something when he first came in or he wouldn't have made him debut in a bit with The Rock. Vince also gave him the Undisputed title win over Rock & Austin for a reason.

I know that those things are in the past and are lifetimes ago in the wrestling world, but it happened. His fued with Shawn was hugely over and it's hard to keep momentum like that going into a new feud because people are wanting something on that same level. He may not be able to carry guys in matches, but can you really say that he isn't just as good in the ring as HHH? You can be good in the ring without being able to carry someone - that is a skill that is hard to attain and any wrestler will agree.

I will begrudgingly admit that after the second week of the promos with the legends I began to get bored. I wasn't dreading his third week's work by any means, but I wasn't excited for it. I thought it was getting stale, but then using the same formula, he delivered one of the best promos I've seen period with Steamboat.

His in ring work currently is still some of the best around. It isn't what he started off doing back in Japan, WCW, or even early WWF/E, but it is good. Sadly in wrestling today, (for marks at least) it isn't popular to have a wide range of moves. Shawn Michaels mat work isn't the same as it was early in his career for one because his age and back trouble limit him, but for two, he recognizes what moves people want to see. People are always going to want to see him do the flying forearm, the elbow drop, etc. Jericho is faced with the same situation, through no fault of his own might I add. In today's WWE, with the show being taken up by so much out of ring work (promos, movie commercials, video game commericials, and so on) the guys are limited with in ring time. It's even rare for main event matches to go over 15-20 minutes nowadays. They have to work with what they are given and that normally means a match full of popular spots instead of innovative spots.

To echo a point made by several other posters, he was trained by Stu Hart and that means he knows his mat work. Until I am proven wrong, I will continue to believe that Canadian wrestlers (especially ones trained by Stu) are the best technical wrestlers. Chris Jericho is no exception. For anyone who thinks that Chris Jericho is overrated I say view his earlier work, promo and mat work, and give his current feud a chance to finish up.

[WinstonDeckard]

I don't think it's fair to judge Jericho based on where he is at currently in WWE as this guy has done. It's pretty damn hard to make a feud w/ three (and I say this with all due respect because they deserve it; they are legends for a reason) old guys. Give Jericho the credit he deserves. Vince knew he had something when he first came in or he wouldn't have made him debut in a bit with The Rock. Vince also gave him the Undisputed title win over Rock & Austin for a reason.

I know that those things are in the past and are lifetimes ago in the wrestling world, but it happened. His fued with Shawn was hugely over and it's hard to keep momentum like that going into a new feud because people are wanting something on that same level. He may not be able to carry guys in matches, but can you really say that he isn't just as good in the ring as HHH? You can be good in the ring without being able to carry someone - that is a skill that is hard to attain and any wrestler will agree.

I will begrudgingly admit that after the second week of the promos with the legends I began to get bored. I wasn't dreading his third week's work by any means, but I wasn't excited for it. I thought it was getting stale, but then using the same formula, he delivered one of the best promos I've seen period with Steamboat.

His in ring work currently is still some of the best around. It isn't what he started off doing back in Japan, WCW, or even early WWF/E, but it is good. Sadly in wrestling today, (for marks at least) it isn't popular to have a wide range of moves. Shawn Michaels mat work isn't the same as it was early in his career for one because his age and back trouble limit him, but for two, he recognizes what moves people want to see. People are always going to want to see him do the flying forearm, the elbow drop, etc. Jericho is faced with the same situation, through no fault of his own might I add. In today's WWE, with the show being taken up by so much out of ring work (promos, movie commercials, video game commericials, and so on) the guys are limited with in ring time. It's even rare for main event matches to go over 15-20 minutes nowadays. They have to work with what they are given and that normally means a match full of popular spots instead of innovative spots.

To echo a point made by several other posters, he was trained by Stu Hart and that means he knows his mat work. Until I am proven wrong, I will continue to believe that Canadian wrestlers (especially ones trained by Stu) are the best technical wrestlers. Chris Jericho is no exception. For anyone who thinks that Chris Jericho is overrated I say view his earlier work, promo and mat work, and give his current feud a chance to finish up.

How doesn't Jericho carry people? Enlighten me. He carried Batista to a series of very good matches, exactly since when can't he carry a match?

[Angleslammer]

the general consensus is that the guy who argued with you that Jericho is overrated is an idiot, i fully agree,

he has every right to dislike Jericho personally but he is one of the very few, jericho is easily the best on tv right now, has been extremely succesful as a face or hell and can work with people above or below his place in the company and make the feud work

Jericho rules!

[NbR1Ch]

I'd also like to point out that Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow also headlined a Mania, too. So what does that mean, exactly?

Also, that Jericho vs Triple H match is still regarded to this day as one of the more disappointing Mania Main Events in recent history. It was a decent match, but absolutely nothing special. How many times has Jericho been featured in a Main Event at Mania since? Here we are, 7 years after that Mania, and Jericho has not been in one Main Event at Wrestlemania since that time.

As far as his mic skills ... he has the potential to be excellent. They are just using him improperly in this current gimmick


Actually......Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam did NOT headline a wrestlemania.....I'm assuming that by headline, we mean in the main event. Chris Jericho was in the main event of WMX8 while Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam just had a match at a wrestlemania....And as for his not being in the main event of Mania more than once; The Undertaker has only been in the Main Event 3 times while people like John Cena (I hate him) have been in the main event just as much if not more. Does that mean that the Undertaker cant draw as much as Cena? I dont think you know what you're talking about.........

[Lord Sidious]

Actually......Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam did NOT headline a wrestlemania.....I'm assuming that by headline, we mean in the main event. Chris Jericho was in the main event of WMX8 while Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam just had a match at a wrestlemania....And as for his not being in the main event of Mania more than once; The Undertaker has only been in the Main Event 3 times while people like John Cena (I hate him) have been in the main event just as much if not more. Does that mean that the Undertaker cant draw as much as Cena? I dont think you know what you're talking about.........

Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam did headline Wrestlemania 11. It was the Main Attraction, as well as the Main Event (final match) for the evening. It should have never went on last and made the show's Main Event, but it was.

Jericho vs Triple H was in a similar situation. Although a much, much, much better match than Bam Bam vs LT ... that is one case where Hogan vs Rock should have been the final match of the night, as that was a Dream Match between two Legends, that has never been done before. Hogan vs Rock received much more of a reaction than Jericho vs Triple H.

Also, if Jericho was so great, what is exactly the reason he hasn't been featured in any Main Events since? That was the only Main Event he was ever featured in. Maybe it's because he doesn't draw.

[NbR1Ch]

Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam did headline Wrestlemania 11. It was the Main Attraction, as well as the Main Event (final match) for the evening. It should have never went on last and made the show's Main Event, but it was.

Jericho vs Triple H was in a similar situation. Although a much, much, much better match than Bam Bam vs LT ... that is one case where Hogan vs Rock should have been the final match of the night, as that was a Dream Match between two Legends, that has never been done before. Hogan vs Rock received much more of a reaction than Jericho vs Triple H.

Also, if Jericho was so great, what is exactly the reason he hasn't been featured in any Main Events since? That was the only Main Event he was ever featured in. Maybe it's because he doesn't draw.

I stand corrected. I don't know why I thought that HBK/Nash were the main event. You're right......big mistake..........but putting Hogan/Rock as the main event would have been a mistake also. The final match at every Wrestlemania should be the WWE title match (or whichever title the winner of the Rumbe is challenging for in this day and age). Still, the way I see it, if the WWE didn't feel that Jericho could draw, would they have given him the title twice since his return? Would they trust him to make this Jericho vs. Legends feud work? Or would they have just put him in the MITB match (which he wouldn't win) just as a filler? Keep in mind that the only reason that the feud with the legends isn't a complete stinker is because of Jericho. It has been booked poorly and Jericho is the only reason people still have the little interest in it that they do.

Kevin Nash was only in one WM main event......are you going to tell me that he doesn't draw either?? I seem to remember a little group called the new World order that helped WCW reach the success that it did. And while you cant give anywhere near all the credit to Nash, it was in a day and age where promos were unscripted. Nowadays, people like Jericho are, I believe, being held back in this respect. Its not that Jericho isn't a draw, its just that while the booking has been getting better over the last few years, its no where near what it was back in the days.

[Dave]

The reason Chris Jericho hasn't been featured in any main events since is the exact same reason as The Undertaker or Shawn Michaels haven't been because they don't need to be. People like Micheals, Taker or Jericho have a great way of staying in the picture regardless of main event status or not. However, your point is silly as Jericho was in the main event of the last pay per view, No Way Out. Jericho is the kind of competitor that the WWE don't have to have a belt around to keep him in the picture.

[bulldog76]

I think that people aren't realizing the disconnect between the IWC and the casual viewer. Smarks are dedicated to and analyze the business to a hyper degree that the casual fan does not. To that end, smarks come to appreciate things on a different level. Jericho is a case in point.

The IWC sees a great wrestler, who is pulling off what they like in promos, and has a great understanding of ring psych. All of this is true.

However, the casual fan doesn't see this. They see a small guy in a big guy's game, cutting monotone and what they deem as "boring" promos, and just in general not being as energetic and flamboyant as heels like Randy Orton. This is why Orton gets RKO chants and pops, and Jericho gets nothing but boos or silence.

Jericho is doing a great job as a heel, unfortunately, casual fans aren't seeing it. Casual fans want to see the faces as the big hero overcoming the odds. A monotone non-dominant wrestler that is considerably smaller than the main event faces does not pose a massive threat, and the fans don't get behind it.

Casual wrestling fans tend to mark out. Casual wrestling fans don't see how Triple H ever got by Scott Steiner. Casual wrestling fans flip for Goldberg. They tend not to pop for heels or chant the name of their finishers. They get lost in the story rather than try figuring out how they would have done it or made it better. Casual fans are the ones that seemingly fill the arenas and erupt for Cena and pop for Batista. Casual wrestling fans generally cheer who Vince tells them to and jeer who Vince tells them to. That is how a story works. Most of the compliments for Orton seemingly come on an IWC site; like this one.

Jericho could come out screaming and yelling but then what does he get? "Ass-hole" like Triple H or Vince McMahon. "You suck" for Kurt Angle. "Slut" like Stephanie McMahon (although Im not sure if that is an insult for some guys). They have no genuine interest in what they are saying. There is a reason people shut up when Jericho speaks. If they didn't care what he said, they would drown him out with "boring" chants or something of that nature.

Jericho is diliberate, clear, and most fans seemingly pay attention to what he says. He may not be the best ring wrestler, but he is good and even better on the mic.

As for being "a small guy in a big man's game," fans both casual and IWC seem to really dig Jeff Hardy. Casual fans also seem to dig Mysterio so I really don't see the casual fan buying that. That seems to be more of a IWC comment.

Orton is a lot of things but he is NOT flambouyant nor energetic on the mic.

And Flair was an undersized heel for years compared to his counterparts. Angle was undersized in the WWE. I think he did okay.

[Lord Sidious]

Jericho is diliberate, clear, and most fans seemingly pay attention to what he says. He may not be the best ring wrestler, but he is good and even better on the mic.

I have to be honest, and I don't know how many others feel this way, but when Jericho talks in his monotone voice, I completely zone out. I feel like he is saying "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah" every single week. Sound familiar? That was Triple H back in 2000 and 2001. Instead of saying "I am the Gaaaaaamme!" and "I am that ... damn ... good!" ... we have Triple H Version 2.0 saying "I am the best wrestler in the world today" and calling fans "hypocrites and parasites" every single week, instead. Although, I am willing to bet that the Jericho fans who attacked Triple H for doing that back in 2000, is cheering on Jericho today.

I can only accept it that people are simply marks for Jericho, and will cheer the guy on no matter what he does. He could be the most exciting character on the roster, or the most boring character on the roster, and they are still going to cheer the guy on no matter what. Although why, I have no idea. You would expect with this breed of fan who is intelligent to the business, that they can separate "cool Chris Jericho", the real person, and critique his character without bias.

Like I said, I bet you any amount of money if Charlie Haas was coming out in a suit every single week, calling fans "hypocrites and parasites" every week, and talked in a monotone voice every week, that the same fans that are praising Jericho would be all over Haas for "what a boring character he's playing". I bet you any amount of money on that.

But because it's Jericho who's doing all that, let's make him out to be the "Greatest Heel we've ever seen" and give him a free pass. Isn't that right, Jericho fans?

[jellmoo]

Casual wrestling fans tend to mark out. Casual wrestling fans don't see how Triple H ever got by Scott Steiner. Casual wrestling fans flip for Goldberg. They tend not to pop for heels or chant the name of their finishers. They get lost in the story rather than try figuring out how they would have done it or made it better. Casual fans are the ones that seemingly fill the arenas and erupt for Cena and pop for Batista. Casual wrestling fans generally cheer who Vince tells them to and jeer who Vince tells them to. That is how a story works. Most of the compliments for Orton seemingly come on an IWC site; like this one.

I agree to an extent. I think that casual wrestling fans will and do chant for heels and their finishers. It is essentially how most heels become faces. It isn't really common, but it happens enough to be noticeable. It happened to Austin, The Rock, Cena and Batista. All were heels that the fans pretty much turned face.

I agree that the vast number of Orton lovin' comes from the IWC, but I do often hear some solid RKO chants going on.

Jericho could come out screaming and yelling but then what does he get? "Ass-hole" like Triple H or Vince McMahon. "You suck" for Kurt Angle. "Slut" like Stephanie McMahon (although Im not sure if that is an insult for some guys). They have no genuine interest in what they are saying. There is a reason people shut up when Jericho speaks. If they didn't care what he said, they would drown him out with "boring" chants or something of that nature.

I see it the opposite way. That "Asshole" chant is gold. The crowd is an active participant in the segment. They are vocalizing their dislike to the point that they can drown out the wrestler.

I don't know if the fans would chant "boring" during a promo unless it was outrageously bad or went on forever. Most would say that Jericho's current promos aren't boring, but the flip side is that they ARE monotone, and not low energy.

Jericho is diliberate, clear, and most fans seemingly pay attention to what he says. He may not be the best ring wrestler, but he is good and even better on the mic.

I agree completely. That being said, I don't think that most fans are excited by his mic work.

As for being "a small guy in a big man's game," fans both casual and IWC seem to really dig Jeff Hardy. Casual fans also seem to dig Mysterio so I really don't see the casual fan buying that. That seems to be more of a IWC comment.

The difference is night and day when comparing faces vs heels. The face generally overcomes the odds, faces the uphill battle, and manages to win. The flip side is that heels need to be a credible threat. The fans need to think that the heel has an advantage. Jericho is *considerably* smaller than the main WWE faces. There is no uphill battle for the face.

Orton is a lot of things but he is NOT flambouyant nor energetic on the mic.

I am very inclined to agree, but there is currently a lot more... emotion may be the word I looking for here... in his promos than Jericho's. Now I get that it is part of his current gimmick, but does the casual fan care?

And Flair was an undersized heel for years compared to his counterparts. Angle was undersized in the WWE. I think he did okay.

I would disagree to an extent regarding Flair being undersized. Most of his high profile feuds involved people near his size. Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, Sting and Randy Savage are all of comparable size to Flair. Dusty Rhodes was bigger in the waistline, but that's about it. The only real bigtime feuds that Flair had in his prime where the opponent was noticeably bigger that I can think of off the top of my head are Hogan and Barry Windham.

The next point I'd make is that people like Flair and Angle were given a certain something to compensate for a lack of size.

Flair had the moniker of being the dirtiest player in the game, and also had the Horsemen backing him up. Even if the opponent had the size advantage, he had to deal with Flair cheating to win, and the rest of the Horsemen.

Angle was and is booked as a dominant wrestler. It's part of his gimmick to be able to out wrestle his opponent.

Jericho is lacking in this area.

The perceived power heel trio right now is Jericho, Orton and Edge.

Orton is 6'5-6'6 of lean muscle. He has a stable backing him up giving him the numbers advantage. He also possesses what is viewed as a top notch out of nowhere hard hitting finisher in the RKO. All of this makes him an obvious credible threat to a face.

Edge is 6'3-6'4 of lean muscle. He has (or had as the story goes) his wife in a position of almost supreme power. He is also pushed as the "ultimate opportunist" that can and will do anything to win the match.

Jericho is a small wrestler. He has no stable at the moment. His finisher is not played out as a finisher to be feared. He has no significant other in a position of power. He isn't billed as being the dirtiest player in the game. HE isn't booked as a dominant wrestler that can take his opponent apart.

The problem is perception. From the casual fans point of view, Jericho does not offer a "gimmick" making him a credible threat to a top face.

[The Brain]

I'm going to try to make this quick because it should be obvious how valuable Jericho is. He excels in every situation. He can open the show or be in the main event. He is a great heel and a great face. He can do singles or tags. He is great in the ring and on the mic. He can do it all. One important thing that is overlooked is his durability. How many shows did he miss during his first run with WWE? I don't know the answer, but I wouldn't be surprised if the answer was zero. I can't remember a week going by between August 1999 and August 2005 without seeing Jericho. He hasn't missed many, if any, since returning either. I personally find Jericho's segments the most entertaining part of RAW each week. And by the way, appreciate him for who he is. No one ever said he was at icon status like Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin.

[Big Beck-ah Roethlisberger]

It depends on what you mean by overrated? I believe his heel work is very overrated. Actually most of the time when he cuts a promo as a heel I turn it off, he is too monotonous, and down right repetitive. Jericho is nothing more than an upper mid card talent, who I can appreciate and respect.

He doesnt stay in the Main Event all the time, but he can fill in if needed. Which is a good thing to have on the roster. I do feel the smarks overrate him though because most of them from what I read believe he is such a tremendous wrestler, but I strongly disagree. He is an above average worker, well at least he is nowadays. His Lionheart days owned though, and I find him interesting when he is a face. He is a very charismatic speaker, and when he speaks I want to listen. I can't say that though when he is a heel.

He is overpraised by the smarks though, so I think that would label him as being overrated.

[RawIsRamsey]

Chris Jericho is my hero. Matter of fact, he's the reason I got into the business. But that being said, he's a main event jobber to the stars...along the lines of Kane. Sure, he gets a bone thrown to him every once in a while in the form of a title reign, but fact is he is used to get other talents over (I mean, c'mon, he's jobbed clean to Kofi TWICE) because he's GOOD enough to do that...he can take several losses and not lose any heat. That's why he's so awesome...despite the fact that he does have a pretty terrible W/L record, he can still be taken seriously as a main event due to his mic and in-ring skills and past accolades.

[Dave]

I think you have it all wrong Sidius. The thing with Jericho is that he has the charisma to carry this sort of angle well. His mic skills are good and he is a good wrestler. Someone like Charlie Haas wouldn't be right for the sort o role that Jericho has took on and you know that. I'm not a Jericho fan but I can see that he is playing a good character at the moment. He is trying to make us hate him, talking in a monotonous voice, beating up legends, calling us parasites is just part of the plan.

[The Madrid Slam]

As a previous poster said, to the fan's casual, or not, Chris Jericho's match must not seem like a dream match. How we'd rather see Jericho face a current WWE superstar than a 3-on-1 handicap match with former WWE superstars that haven't been relevant for many years. However (again as someone else said before me), how must Jericho feel? He's going to Wrestlemania 25, to wrestle in front of millions of people against 3superstar's from his childhood. How many people here wish they could wrestle on the grandest stage of them all in 5-10 years against Shawn Michaels, HHH, Taker, Edge, Orton. etc. They might not be as huge as they were now to the new generation, but to us, it's a different story.

Also to the person, who generalized all Jericho fans, saying that we praise this new role, solely because Jericho is the one portraying it. If Charlie Hass did it the exact same way, would I consider him just as good a heel? Yes. I understand your point however.

[bulldog76]

I will admit. There have been both good points made for both his detractors and his defenders. I am glad someone finally decided to actually address some of the points made by his fans rather than just spew out the "he bores me" with no real elaboration.

(Jericho is not Rock or Austin or even Cena. Never has been at that caliber. Batista was going to become face because Evolution had ran its course and he was being exiled by the big heel.)

We can all expres how we feel. It doesn't change what is happening. Jericho is awarded whole segments and judging by his continued push, I can only guess the overall result is to Vince's liking. I don't like Hogan. Doesn't change his place in wrestling history. Some don't like Triple H. Doesn't change his. There have even been people who spoke out against Shawn Michaels but he has his place in history. You are not going to be a fan of everyone put out there. But the overall result will tell us who was truly overrated and who was underrated.

I think its funny with everyone talking about how boring Jericho is when I also hear how Morrison is the next big thing. Didn't the WWE use Jeff Hardy to make fun of Morrison's lack of promo ability when one of his segments absolutely flopped? I believe it led to Hardy watching paint dry insisting it was more interesting than listening to another Morrison promo.

See what I mean about how people what a few people feel doesn't change the overall product?

[Y 2 Jake]

Jericho is overrated. Other than his heel run in WCW, which wasn't that long really. His debut in WWE, 15 minutes. His heel run in 2005, 6 weeks. And his run now, Jericho has been poor. Jericho as a face just isn't intresting and most of heel runs in WWE were crap. He used to spout cringe-worthy catchphrases and his matches were lazy.

He's probably one of the most overrated wrestelers around, not currently, but formerly.

[TL]

Jericho can't carry a storyline. Exhibit A is this mess he has heading into Wrestlemania. The Superstar of the Year in 2008 is wrestling three guys 15-20 years past their prime. I mean, I know it's their way of having a tribute to the legends of Wrestlemania, but c'mon. Jericho has great wrestling skill, but he can't carry a main event storyline. He has a huge burst like he had when he first debuted as Y2J, then he fades away. He faded away even quicker when Orton dispatched of him in a month or less. Now, he has a great heel persona, but he needs to have something to fight for. This angle has nothing to benefit Jericho. What if he wins? He beat up three guys who were past their prime. What if he loses? Well, he lost to three guys he should have beaten.

Jericho would be a great heel chasing a world title shot. Playing mind games with someone like Cena or HHH is what he's suited for. He can't be the center of attention. He simply doesn't draw enough to do that.