Criticizing my Personal Favorites: Chris Jericho

[#hamler]

PART FOUR of my "Criticizing my Personal Favorites" series. In the past three threads, I gave you my top three favorite Superstars currently in the WWE. Rules- No matter how perfect the said Superstar is, criticize him Now's your chance. Feel free to rip posts apart piece by piece. I want a dicussion here. In this thread, you have a chance to criticize one of the greatest in ring performers of our time...

Chris Jericho​

Chris Jericho is no doubt one of the greats of our time. He's held numerous championship during his wrestling career including the WWE Championship, World Championship, WCW Championship, Cruiserweight Championship and other prestigous championships. Chris Jericho is the 9th Triple Crown winner and the 4th Grand Slam Champion. There is no doubt Jericho's accomplishments speak for themselves. Chris has the ability to play either the role of a face or heel whenever he is needed to change. He has the mic ability to be over no matter the role he is playing. Jericho has had several memorable matches during his career. From stealing the show at Wrestlemania 19, to his matches with Shawn Michaels. Jericho is one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots. Jericho, like many others, has had his flaws during his career. That's where you come in...


What is one flaw you see in Chris Jericho?

Would fixing this flaw make Chris Jericho any better than he already is?


If you see no flaw in Chris Jericho, state why. And please don't fuck up my thread with spam. Explain. Feel free to rip posts apart piece by piece, I want a discussion here.

Discuss this shit

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Y2J's weakness is very straightforward - he can't decide who he really is, despite the fact that everyone else knows straight off. Chris is mediocre (at best) as a rocker with Fozzy, he is no Rock (or even Austin or Cena) at acting, he isn't Hogan/ Austin so his crossover recognition ain't that high and while he does appear to be a gifted author - you can only pen so many autobiographys. Chris, my friend, you are a BRILLIANT wrestler who has it all! Once you give up all these outside interests, then fans will truly commit to you because at the moment we have trouble fully backing you because it comes across that we are just a stopgap to your next vanity project.

 

[HellbossMilitia]

When it comes to pro-wrestling, rather it's his in-ring work, or mic skills; he of course is one of the top 5 wrestlers to ever grace the ring.

My only two criticisms about Jericho is him not using the Walls of Jericho as if it was the old school version you seen in his Lion Tamer days. Not sure if it was his personal choice or another reason behind it, however I think it looked more of a painful submission compared to the version he uses now.

The other (and remember this is personal opinion) is his music. I know his music might have an underground-like following, but I just don't like it. However I do wish him the best with it.

I have yet to see his acting so I cannot give my own opinion. Other than that Jericho was made for Pro-Wrestling.

 

[raterdr4life2012]

To be honest I'm sitting here trying to think of a flaw and I really can't find anything wrong with him that was his own fault. Even when he was booked to look terrible he ran with it and turned it to gold. There are probably less then ten people that i can think of that truly captivate both on the mic and in the ring and he is one of them.

 

[Rampage Bentley]

Y2J's weakness is very straightforward - he can't decide who he really is, despite the fact that everyone else knows straight off. Chris is mediocre (at best) as a rocker with Fozzy, he is no Rock (or even Austin or Cena) at acting

I think you're vastly overestimating the acting abilities of Rock, Austin, and Cena. Although, Rock's work on the toothfairy was quite impressive (sarcasm, for those who are inept at it.) I would very much consider the character a wrestler portrays as acting, and he's better than the three of them put together.

I will give you mediocre as a rocker, but I have no idea what you mean when you say he can't decide who he really is, he know his character better than 99% of any wrestler ever. Unless you mean having his hand in four or five different projects at once, in which case is completely off topic as we're supposed to be criticizing his wrestling career.

and while he does appear to be a gifted author - you can only pen so many autobiographys.

Tell that to Mick Foley, who by my count is on number four or five.

But enough defending, on to criticizing Jericho...

The one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way (and I'm nitpicking) is his extreme willingness to put people over. While it's a good quality to have, it needs to be used in moderation. It's one thing to put over a future star or even to a solid midcarder in the middle of a decent push, Jericho has willingly jobbed to the likes of JTG just weeks before/after holding the World Championship. He's willing to lose to anybody (he is good at it) and that trait has definitely been taken advantage of at times.

 

[bogey87]

I am a big Y2J fan and if I have to find a weakness....it has to be his selling power. I dun see him headlining Wrestlemania on a regular basis or help the WWE increase its PPV buyrates.

 

[Y2JChrisJericho]

I am a big Y2J fan and if I have to find a weakness....it has to be his selling power. I dun see him headlining Wrestlemania on a regular basis or help the WWE increase its PPV buyrates.

Well he's headlines a couple of Wrestlemania's and stole the show in others.


HUGE JERICHO MARK here, and I really did try my best to find one flaw in Jericho but I truly can't. He's the best wrestler on the mic right now in the WWE or in wrestling in general (great promo skills), and is arguably the best wrestler on the roster. I truly believe RIGHT NOW Jericho is the best wrestler in the industry when you take in account wrestling skills and mic skills. In my opinion, he'll go down as one of the most underrated wrestlers to ever grace the ring as well. He's been given awful storylines to work with in his early career, had some awful feuds, but he made everyhting great in the ring and on the mic. He could make a feud between him and Chyna interesting, come on.

 

[Long Island Iced WXYZ]

I am a big Y2J fan and if I have to find a weakness....it has to be his selling power. I dun see him headlining Wrestlemania on a regular basis or help the WWE increase its PPV buyrates.

That's probably the only one. I mean Jericho is so talented it's hard to come up with anything.

Well he's headlines a couple of Wrestlemania's and stole the show in others.

He's never headlined a Wrestlemania because he's never been that guy that could sell a lot of tickets.

Shame really.

 

[Brahma Bull]

i guess like the person above me said, its his inability to really draw. i think jericho is the most talented guy in the business now when one combines mic skills with wrestling skills. he is one of the best, but cant draw as much as cena, or austin or rock. but neither can most people. so its not so much a flaw as it is he isnt perfect.

and about him always jobbing. i agree and disagree. i wish he would win more, because he is my favorite wrestler atm, and second of all time. (look at my name and ill give you 3 guesses who my favorite of all time is, lol). but i disagree, because he wants to. he can loose to jtg, then win a belt, and you would think nothing of it because that is his character. the guy that shouldnt be champ, but sneaks it in. look how he won 2 of his last 3 titles. snuck into the scramble match, and got an assist on taker by hbk. he plays a better heal than almost anyone, and i like that he wants people to be put over, because he really does care about the business.

 

[KoC417]

He's never headlined a Wrestlemania because he's never been that guy that could sell a lot of tickets.

Shame really.

So his main event/Headlining match with HHH at WM18 I believe it was wasn't the "headline" of the show?
His incredible match with HBK at WM 19 wasn't one of the headlining matches even though Mr. Wrestlemania was involved? I sincerely hope you just started watching WWE because Jericho has headlined WM...

As far as finding any flaws. I don't think so. Some say his willingness to job to almost anyone. Well it's about time a WWE Veteran thought about the biz instead of his own personal gain. If WWE had more guys like Jericho the new generation would already be fully established. Jericho is a 1 in a million find. In WCW he was underpaid and still maintained the workhorse mentality and worked his matches very well up until his WWE debut. Jericho maintains himself very well. You very rarely hear of him causing an incident outside of the ring (except when that one woman accused him of striking her and blah blah blah). Anyone that can really find something to gripe about on Jericho has to nit pick beyond even the likes of a Mark Madden!

 

[Teddy Irving]

Firstly I am a huge jericho fan, he has been in my top 3 since i was old enough to realise the whole thing was just a work and not true.

His only "flaw" if it can even be called that is the fact that he does seem to lose alot of matchs that he souldn't. While I am all for him putting the younger stars over so that the business can continue when he is gone(something a few other veterans could and should learn to do) he doesn't need to do it so frequently or to everyone that steps in the ring with him. He also doesn't HAVE to lose to get them over he could beat them the majority of the time and still make them look like an absolute star(something alot of wrestlers can't and could never do). Daniel Bryan anyone? And before anyone rips into me about the fact that Bryan is a fantastic wrestler himself(which I agree with), him doing so well against jericho made alot of people(wwe fans) see that he was capable of hanging with the best of them. It caused people to love him because even though he was losing he was always just so close to winning people seen him as a real threat.

Jericho is arguable the best in the business today and it is a shame that he isn't used better, I hope on return that he is booked strong

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

I'd say that Chris is probably a bit overrated by the IWC mostly due to the fact that he is so good in the ring and the fact that he puts people over so readily.

I never liked Jericho much as a face. He was funny, at times, but mostly someone who I did not care much for. His work as a heel is top notch but as a face he seemed forced and boring to me. As a face he has always been an upper midcarder at best but always a main eventer as a heel. So I guess this kinda goes with what I wanted to say.

The other thing about Jericho is that his finishers do not seem to matter a lot. I think there was a time back in 2001 when he was using about four finishers at the same time. I honestly cannot remember the last time he defeated someone with his Walls of Jericho finisher. Finishers have never been a part of Jericho's identity as they have been in the case of other wrestlers.

Also I could say that Chris has never been the top guy of the company. But that again is not not much of a criticism. Undertaker has never been a top guy but has had a fairly successful career. So has Kurt Angle. Chris falls in the same category as these two and so he cannot be criticized on that basis.

 

[Avrusha92]

Im trying my hardest to find a flaw in Jericho.
Hes just so damn perfect, I have to THINK HARD to figure out a flaw about him.

The only flaw about him is that he isnt so committed in being a superstar,
He seems to care more about his band & books, Well Chris buddy, I understand.

Chris has been wrestling for years, and he just wants to slow down on that, because he has other interests as well.

Chris never had ONE gimmick, he always switched back and forth heel & face, heel & face. He is probably the only superstar that has the quickest turns back and forth.

Other than that, he is THE BEST.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

I think you're vastly overestimating the acting abilities of Rock, Austin, and Cena. Although, Rock's work on the toothfairy was quite impressive (sarcasm, for those who are inept at it.) I would very much consider the character a wrestler portrays as acting, and he's better than the three of them put together.

Didn't mention acting ability - all three guys listed have had movies released on the strength of their names. Chris hasn't and I am not aware of this changing anytime soon.

I will give you mediocre as a rocker, but I have no idea what you mean when you say he can't decide who he really is, he know his character better than 99% of any wrestler ever. Unless you mean having his hand in four or five different projects at once, in which case is completely off topic as we're supposed to be criticizing his wrestling career.

This IS a criticism of his wrestling career - it comes across that wrestling is his fall back, whenever his flavour of the month hobby comes to nothing again. You want a comparison, think the Rock - wrestling was great, then he got into films and wrestling became part-time then he became a name that a film would open on and wrestling became less and less and less important to him. Nowadays - you get the feeling that Dwayne Johnson is almost embarassed about where he came from. I also think that it more than a coincidence that the Cena boo boys first appeared about the time he had his own solo music CD - the fear was there that he was going to follow in the Rock's footsteps.

Tell that to Mick Foley, who by my count is on number four or five.

Foley also write childrens' books and fictional novels - he's proven he can diversify. But this is a criticise Jericho NOT Foley thread so that's by the by.

But enough defending, on to criticizing Jericho...

The one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way (and I'm nitpicking) is his extreme willingness to put people over. While it's a good quality to have, it needs to be used in moderation. It's one thing to put over a future star or even to a solid midcarder in the middle of a decent push, Jericho has willingly jobbed to the likes of JTG just weeks before/after holding the World Championship. He's willing to lose to anybody (he is good at it) and that trait has definitely been taken advantage of at times.

Towards the end of his recent run he has been jobbed out so much because he was about to walk out on wrestling again and Vince wanted to give the rub to up and comers like Bourne - you never have someone leave looking strong, in case they should turn up somewhere else.

 

[El Rev sXe]

Chris Jericho is absolutely one the greatest of all time, at least for me he is my top 20. Anyway onto the thread I see a flaw on him, I'm not sure if it's a combination or else but the fact that Y2J have many interests outside wrestling and the fact he is willing to put anyone over. He seems very comfortable in his position of mid carder/main eventer. Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing but this from a personal point of view, I would like to see him more as permanent maineventer. Not in the way Cena is, but more like HHH or HBK etc...

 

[Ferbian]

I guess the only criticism I could direct towards Chris Jericho is something that really isn't his fault. The fact that he hardly gets any long title reigns. His Unified WWE tag team championship reign is his longest reign in his entire WWE career, and that's hardly something to brag about considering it was 140 days, and the amount of titles he has held.

Chris is what many would consider a transitional champion. He holds the belt to make it look good for a little while, or to carry it from a face champion to another face champion (In a rare case he holds it and carries it onto a heel champion like Jack Swagger). He's not the type of guy that gets months long reigns, with exception of an occasional one like one of his Intercontinental championship reigns, and his first (and only) WWE championship reign.

Chris is a talented guy, and I could definitely see why WWE would want to make Chris a transitional champion. Considering the wonders he did for the Intercontinental championship back in 2009, and the wonders he did for the tag team championships in 2009 as well. He's just overall a talented guy that makes a belt look prestigious by putting on great matches with it, and who wouldn't want a transitional champion like that, who isn't something permanent, because it makes him more versatile to jump between the divisions when it is needed.

But yes, that's the only flaw I could possibly think of with Chris.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

For me, I think there's two 'flaws' with Jericho: He can come across a redundant and if he isn't giving a damn that night, it really shows.

Jericho's promos for most of his career in the WWF/WWE felt like a interchangeable string puzzle. For the divas he is insulting, they are ****es. For the men he is insulting, it is about how Jericho is great. Then he came back with a more 'serious' demeanor and uses the same lengthy, intelligent words to describe every situation.

In 2005, it was noticeable that he didn't care. Blown spots, always sounding bored and/or disinterested. Luckily we didn't get that Jericho this year.

 

[Flint]

While Chris Jericho may never be the household name like a Hulk Hogan, what he has done over the course of his career lands him easily in the top 10 of all time, if not the top 5.

does he put people over, yes. It's good business and Jericho is a team player. Faults, well anyone can nitpick any worker, but I have nothing but praise for the former Y2J. I hope he comes back soon, because I miss watching him.

 

[Long Island Iced WXYZ]

So his main event/Headlining match with HHH at WM18 I believe it was wasn't the "headline" of the show?
His incredible match with HBK at WM 19 wasn't one of the headlining matches even though Mr. Wrestlemania was involved? I sincerely hope you just started watching WWE because Jericho has headlined WM...

No. The headlining match at Wresltlemania 18 was Hogan vs Rock. That was the headlining match. The only thing that people remember from that Wrestlemania.

Jericho and Triple H were the main event, they weren't the headlining match.

As for WM 19, there is no such thing as multiple headlining matches. There's only one match that headlines a PPV.

There is obviously multiple title matches, but the match that the show is built around is the headlining match. Not necessarily the main event. Look at WM 26 this year. What was the headlining match?

Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker. Career vs Streak.

Jericho's match with Edge wasn't the main event, that was John Cena vs Batista for the WWE Championship.

It was a title match, sure, but it wasn't the headliner or the main event.

 

[Mantis]

In the ring, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Jericho. His mic work is top-notch most of the time as well, from 1998 in WCW to now. However, I say most of the time because I absolutely hated Jericho's mic work from 2000-2002. I found his constant verbal harassment of Stephanie McMahon to be unfunny and redundant. I don't even think he plays a face that well. When he hosted his supposed "Last Highlight Reel" in 2008, he said he was embarrassed when he watched the footage of the old Y2J, and I couldn't agree with him more. But he may just have what I call the "HHH effect", where he's so good as a heel that I don't want to see him do anything else. Lastly, I don't get why so many are calling for him to go back to the old Y2J gimmick. Do people really want to see a 40-year-old man do sophomoric pranks again?

 

[Kidd]

Y2J is TRULY "The Best in the World at What He Does!"

He 's awesome in the ring whether he is dominating or putting a guy over. His mic skills are among the best ever (definitely top 10 if not top five).

My only problem with him is, as others have pointed out, he seems to get bored with wrestling and leaves to pursue other projects like music. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean it's his life and he can afford to do what he wants. It's just as a fan of his ring work, I hate to see him blow me off to pursue something else. I guess you can say i suffer from the kilted lover syndrome when it comes to Y2J.

 

[Chris Jericho Markaholic]

This is my first time posting here on wrestlezone I am new soooo ......

Jericho Mark Here And I Can Tell You My Biggest Problem With Jericho Is Sometimes I Think He Is Too Much Of A Company Man ,How Are U The Undisputed Champion In 2002 And Then Suddenly Pushed Back To The Mid-Card -___- that same year

He's very unselfish but this is how other top stars need to be ,and that's what puts jericho miles ahead of the rest

 

[Coco]

He's very unselfish

We're talking about the same Chris Jericho who went out of his way to destroy Rob Van Dam in the eyes of management back in 2001 when his spot was being threatened, right? Unselfish? I think not.

Jericho's biggest flaw is that he will never live up with the hype his fans give him. He was never and will never be the top star his fans see him as, he'll always be sloppier in the ring than any of his hardcore fans will let themselves acknowledge, and he'll always end up back in the midcard because it's where he belongs. That's not to say that I don't enjoy Jericho. One of my top ten favorites with ease. But he's not the guy he's cracked up to be and that disparity between his actual ability and people's expectations of him, through little fault of his own, reflects poorly on him. That's the biggest criticism I can make of Chris Jericho, which is really not all that bad.

 

[Chris Jericho Markaholic]

Who Hasn't Tried To Hold Their Spot In The Business (Hogan,HHH for example) And Its Not Something he does often , his willingness to lose to others to build others up proves that and jericho has even said he's not worried about his spot in the biz he's proved himself enough too much

 

[Kesteral]

His only flaw really is not having the star power and not being able to draw the mega bucks. But there's only a few guys who've done that well so you can't really blame him. I don't think he'll ever be considered as a true main eventer, upper mid carder definately. I don't know if that's because of his size or how the WWE has booked him over the years but he never seems to me like he fits in with the likes of Cena/Rock/Austin.