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?

 

[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.

 

[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..

 

[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.

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

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.

 

[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

 

[FromTheSouth]

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.

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

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?