IrishCanadian25
Going on 10 years with WrestleZone
The Wrestlezone tournament brings up a lot of interesting questions and debates each year, often the result of just how many variables there are each year. Kayfabe. Gimmicks. Fatigue. Match-ups.
But one variable always comes into play, and in many cases, there is a different answer for different posters. That is the question of primes. In the Wrestlezone Tournament, we are asked to base our decisions on each wrestlers' "prime." When discussion Jericho, Shocky recently called it a "loaded statement."
So maybe it's time to ask that question - when was Chris Jericho's prime?
1. WCW, 1996-1999
Jericho was a 4-time Cruiserweight and 1-time Television Champion in WCW, both in his uber-face "Lionheart" gimmick, as well as his whiney crybaby heel gimmick. During this three year stretch, Jericho defeated Syxx, Alex Wright, and Rey Mysterio for his first three Cruiserweight Titles. Bear in mind, Jericho accomplished this at a time when the WCW Cruiserweight division was extremely deep and a central part of their show.
Jericho also gained heel heat by bringing "trophies" to the ring from fallen opponents, such as the mask he won by defeating Juventud Guerrera in a mask vs title match, Prince Iaukea's Hawaiian dress, and an armband from WZ Mainstay Disco Inferno.
Following this, Jericho began feuding with Dean Malenko, including the classic "Man of 1004 Holds" skit. When Jericho finally faces Dean Malenko, well, Jericho beat him too. The two traded the belt back and forth over the ensuing months.
After moving on from the C-Weight belt, Jericho beat Stevie Ray for the TV Title. It was following this win that Jericho started calling out Goldberg, and coming to the ring re-enacting Spinal Tap, with Ralphus (greatest valet ever) and The Ninja.
When Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, and Bill Goldberg all refused to book Jericho to lose a squash against Goldberg at a PPV, Chris lost faith in the WCW booking and jumped ship.
WWE, 1999 - 2005
The hot topic in the Summer of 1999 was the mysterious "Millenium Clock" on WWE programming, which didn't actually count down to the year 2000, rather to August 9th, 2009 - the site of Monday Night RAW in Chicago. With The Rock in the ring cutting a promo against The Big Show, the clock ran out, and the action began. Jericho stepped out, debuting in WWF, against the biggest face in the world. Jericho would eventually feud with Ken Shamrock and win the Intercontinental Title from Chyna.
Over the next few years, "Y2J" feuded over the IC and European Belts with the likes of Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Hardcore Holly, and Chyna. After he'd finally dropped the IC belt to Guerrero, Jericho began a spat with the McMahon family and Triple H, claiming Stephanie McMahon to be a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash-bag ho. A pinfall victory at State College over Triple H gave Jericho his first WWF title (and my first broken dorm room furniture in college I was so damn excited), only to see the decision reversed 15 minutes later.
Jericho would win a few more IC Titles before teaming with Chris Benoit to be the protagonists to the "Two Man Power Trip" of Steve Austin and Triple H. Jericho and Benoit won the tag belts, and this saw Triple H go down with his first quad tear. Then, the invasion started.
With WCW and ECW invading WWE, Chris stayed with his current company. However, with the Rock's popularity and leadership in the WWE at an all time high, sparks flew, and eventually, Chris was called out by The Rock for not being able to win "the big one." Jericho beat The Rock for the WCW Championship, and the next night, teamed with The Rock to win the Tag Titles, which was Chris's first double title-reign. Jericho went full heel by attacking The Rock, and at Vengeance in 2001, Chris won both the WCW Title from The Rock and the WWF Title from Steve Austin, becoming the only man to beat both Rock and Austin in one night and becoming the first Undisputed Champion.
Despite losing at Wrestlemania X8 to a returning Triple H, the heel Jericho kept on truckin', losing to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 19 in an all time classic. After that, Jericho was handed a kayfabe feud with Goldberg, but real-life drama ensued and the two fought backstage, ending in Jericho making Goldberg his bitch in real life. Jericho still did the job to Bill, though, at Bad Blood.
Jericho became a face again, feuding with a heel Christian over the IC Title Jericho had now won for a 7th time. He would also participate in the first ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match, before again turning heel against John Cena. Despite strong matches, Jericho lost a "You're Fired Match" and lost his job.
WWE, 2007 - Present
Fans were confused when some strange binary language started coming over the TV screen on programming. In the ensuing weeks, fans were asked to Break the Code. It didn't take too long for overanxious fans (IC25 raises his hand) to find out that the code loosely referenced a bible text depicitng the falling of the Walls of Jericho. On November 19th, 2007, Jericho made his return to WWE by challening Randy Orton, at the time the WWE Champion.
Jericho would not win the title from Orton due to JBL's interference, setting up a bloody feud between the two. Afterwards, Jericho won his record 8th Intercontinental Title from Jeff Hardy. Then, on June 9th of 2008, everything changed.
Chris attacked a prone Shawn Michaels on his talk show, "The Highlight Reel." It had been teased for weeks, but now it finally happened in a big way. To become a full heel, Jericho took EVERY aspect of himself and turned it upside down, becoming a dry business-like athlete in a suit, and tossing Michaels through a TV screen, injuring his eye.
The Jericho / Michaels feud was among the greatest ever, with Jericho even punching Shawn's wife in the face. Teasing retirement, Shawn instead defeated Jericho in a brutal Unsanctioned Match. Despite losing in harsh fashion to HBK, Chris went on to later replace CM Punk in the first ever WWE Championship Scramble, winning the belt just an hour after being put through the proverbial shredder. Jericho defended against Michaels in a ladder match and against Punk in a cage match, eventually dropping the belt to Batista. Jericho defeated Batista a week later in a cage match to become a 5-time World Champion, eventually losing the belt to John Cena.
The 2008 Superstar of the Year then verbally sparred with Mickey Rourke, worked classics with an aged Ricky Steamboat, and now feuds with Rey Mysterio on Smackdown, holding his 9th Intercontinental Title.
Phew.
So I ask all of you - which of these three Jericho-eras would you describe as Chris Irvine's "PRIME?"
But one variable always comes into play, and in many cases, there is a different answer for different posters. That is the question of primes. In the Wrestlezone Tournament, we are asked to base our decisions on each wrestlers' "prime." When discussion Jericho, Shocky recently called it a "loaded statement."
So maybe it's time to ask that question - when was Chris Jericho's prime?
1. WCW, 1996-1999
Jericho was a 4-time Cruiserweight and 1-time Television Champion in WCW, both in his uber-face "Lionheart" gimmick, as well as his whiney crybaby heel gimmick. During this three year stretch, Jericho defeated Syxx, Alex Wright, and Rey Mysterio for his first three Cruiserweight Titles. Bear in mind, Jericho accomplished this at a time when the WCW Cruiserweight division was extremely deep and a central part of their show.
Jericho also gained heel heat by bringing "trophies" to the ring from fallen opponents, such as the mask he won by defeating Juventud Guerrera in a mask vs title match, Prince Iaukea's Hawaiian dress, and an armband from WZ Mainstay Disco Inferno.
Following this, Jericho began feuding with Dean Malenko, including the classic "Man of 1004 Holds" skit. When Jericho finally faces Dean Malenko, well, Jericho beat him too. The two traded the belt back and forth over the ensuing months.
After moving on from the C-Weight belt, Jericho beat Stevie Ray for the TV Title. It was following this win that Jericho started calling out Goldberg, and coming to the ring re-enacting Spinal Tap, with Ralphus (greatest valet ever) and The Ninja.
When Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, and Bill Goldberg all refused to book Jericho to lose a squash against Goldberg at a PPV, Chris lost faith in the WCW booking and jumped ship.
WWE, 1999 - 2005
The hot topic in the Summer of 1999 was the mysterious "Millenium Clock" on WWE programming, which didn't actually count down to the year 2000, rather to August 9th, 2009 - the site of Monday Night RAW in Chicago. With The Rock in the ring cutting a promo against The Big Show, the clock ran out, and the action began. Jericho stepped out, debuting in WWF, against the biggest face in the world. Jericho would eventually feud with Ken Shamrock and win the Intercontinental Title from Chyna.
Over the next few years, "Y2J" feuded over the IC and European Belts with the likes of Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Hardcore Holly, and Chyna. After he'd finally dropped the IC belt to Guerrero, Jericho began a spat with the McMahon family and Triple H, claiming Stephanie McMahon to be a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash-bag ho. A pinfall victory at State College over Triple H gave Jericho his first WWF title (and my first broken dorm room furniture in college I was so damn excited), only to see the decision reversed 15 minutes later.
Jericho would win a few more IC Titles before teaming with Chris Benoit to be the protagonists to the "Two Man Power Trip" of Steve Austin and Triple H. Jericho and Benoit won the tag belts, and this saw Triple H go down with his first quad tear. Then, the invasion started.
With WCW and ECW invading WWE, Chris stayed with his current company. However, with the Rock's popularity and leadership in the WWE at an all time high, sparks flew, and eventually, Chris was called out by The Rock for not being able to win "the big one." Jericho beat The Rock for the WCW Championship, and the next night, teamed with The Rock to win the Tag Titles, which was Chris's first double title-reign. Jericho went full heel by attacking The Rock, and at Vengeance in 2001, Chris won both the WCW Title from The Rock and the WWF Title from Steve Austin, becoming the only man to beat both Rock and Austin in one night and becoming the first Undisputed Champion.
Despite losing at Wrestlemania X8 to a returning Triple H, the heel Jericho kept on truckin', losing to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 19 in an all time classic. After that, Jericho was handed a kayfabe feud with Goldberg, but real-life drama ensued and the two fought backstage, ending in Jericho making Goldberg his bitch in real life. Jericho still did the job to Bill, though, at Bad Blood.
Jericho became a face again, feuding with a heel Christian over the IC Title Jericho had now won for a 7th time. He would also participate in the first ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match, before again turning heel against John Cena. Despite strong matches, Jericho lost a "You're Fired Match" and lost his job.
WWE, 2007 - Present
Fans were confused when some strange binary language started coming over the TV screen on programming. In the ensuing weeks, fans were asked to Break the Code. It didn't take too long for overanxious fans (IC25 raises his hand) to find out that the code loosely referenced a bible text depicitng the falling of the Walls of Jericho. On November 19th, 2007, Jericho made his return to WWE by challening Randy Orton, at the time the WWE Champion.
Jericho would not win the title from Orton due to JBL's interference, setting up a bloody feud between the two. Afterwards, Jericho won his record 8th Intercontinental Title from Jeff Hardy. Then, on June 9th of 2008, everything changed.
Chris attacked a prone Shawn Michaels on his talk show, "The Highlight Reel." It had been teased for weeks, but now it finally happened in a big way. To become a full heel, Jericho took EVERY aspect of himself and turned it upside down, becoming a dry business-like athlete in a suit, and tossing Michaels through a TV screen, injuring his eye.
The Jericho / Michaels feud was among the greatest ever, with Jericho even punching Shawn's wife in the face. Teasing retirement, Shawn instead defeated Jericho in a brutal Unsanctioned Match. Despite losing in harsh fashion to HBK, Chris went on to later replace CM Punk in the first ever WWE Championship Scramble, winning the belt just an hour after being put through the proverbial shredder. Jericho defended against Michaels in a ladder match and against Punk in a cage match, eventually dropping the belt to Batista. Jericho defeated Batista a week later in a cage match to become a 5-time World Champion, eventually losing the belt to John Cena.
The 2008 Superstar of the Year then verbally sparred with Mickey Rourke, worked classics with an aged Ricky Steamboat, and now feuds with Rey Mysterio on Smackdown, holding his 9th Intercontinental Title.
Phew.
So I ask all of you - which of these three Jericho-eras would you describe as Chris Irvine's "PRIME?"