Real Name: Christopher Keith Irvine
Height: 6'
Weight: 231 pounds
Birthdate: November 9th, 1970
Birthplace: Long Island, New York
Hometown: Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada
Current Promotion: WWF
Finishing Move: Walls of Jericho (Liontamer)
Other signature moves: Lionsault and Break Down

Career Analysis and Commentary

There are a select few performers in wrestling that possesses excellent in-ring and out-of-the-ring skills, and Chris Jericho is one of them. Trained in the Infamous Hart Family Dungeon, Jericho is one of the world's finest technical wrestlers. However, he is more known as one of wrestling's best interviews. Using a unique brand of comedy, including mocking his opponent's name and persona, Jericho has risen to the top of the wrestling world.

Jericho spent most of the early 90s working US Independent shows and in Mexico. He made a name for himself in Japan, and signed to work in ECW on February 2, 1996. He spent the first half of 1996 working in ECW, and had some classic matches with Sabu and others. After a month long TV Title reign, he soon signed with WCW.

He finally made his major US debut on August 20, 1996 where he defeated Mr. JL (now Jerry Lynn). A month later, Jericho made his PPV debut in a match against fellow Canadian Chris Benoit. Over the next couple years in WCW, Jericho worked as a clean cut good guy, with a "rock star" like persona. He didn't make much of an impact, but did score an upset victory over Syxx (Xpac) of the NWO in June 1997 which was the first major title loss for the original NWO.

It wasn't until he turned into a heel that his true talents on the mic were seen. Jericho, after losing some matches, began to cry and complain, and starting attacking ring announcer David Penzer. Thus began Jericho as a lying, cheating bad guy. This thrust him into the forefront of the Cruiserweight division, a title he would dominate until moving to the TV Title.

Jericho had several memorable feuds over the cruiserweight title, most notably with Dean Malenko and Juventud Guerrera. In early 1998, Jericho and Juvi had a great series of matches, which culminated in a "mask vs. title" match where Jericho won, and had the honor of unmasking Guerrera. In his feud with Malenko, Jericho was at his funniest, first causing Dean to "retire," then mocking Malenko. Jericho once claimed he was the man of 1004 holds (Dean had only 1000) and read them one by one on Monday Nitro. Also, Jericho held a memorial in the ring for Dean's career, speaking to a photo of Dean on a tripod.

Known for finding loopholes around losing his title, Jericho once journeyed to Washington DC to find legal clauses that would uphold his title reigns. After moving from the Cruiserweight Division to the TV Title (which he won from Stevie Ray in the summer of 1998 right after losing the Cruiserweight Title), Jericho began working with the heavyweights, including the beginning of a feud with Goldberg. However, due to politics, Jericho never did get to wrestle Goldberg, but still claims "Jericho 4, Goldberg 0." It was during this "feud" that Jericho debuted his "Jericho Personal Security Guard" and "Jerichoholic Ninja," a team designed to mock Goldberg's elaborate entrance. The Security Guard, Ralphus, became Jericho's manager.

The first part of 1999 was tough for Jericho in WCW, because he was put on the back burner due to a contract dispute. It turns out WCW was correct not to push Jericho, because he signed with the WWF and made is Raw debut on August 9, 1999 in what many call the most memorable debut in WWF history. There had been a "Millenium Countdown" on WWF programming for weeks before. Finally, the countdown was set to end, and out came Chris Jericho, claiming to "save" the WWF from boring mic work by the Rock. It was a brilliant way to introduce Jericho, and a clever inside jab at WCW.

In his WWF career, Jericho has already won three fourths of the vaulted Grand Slam of WWF Titles. In a feud with the first woman to hold a major WWF Title, Chyna, over the Intercontinental title, Jericho was the man to end that reign. In the first half of 2000, Jericho has been elevated to the top of the WWF, teaming with the Rock and battling against the McMahon family. In some classic promos, Jericho has run down Stephanie McMahon Helmsley, inducing the ire of HHH. Jericho also went on to have feuds with X-Pac and Kane among others in 2000.

In 2001, Jericho acheived one of his life goals, when he beat both The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, in the same night (straight after each other) for the WWF Undisputed World Title. (Which is both the WCW World Title and the WWF World Title). Another life goal for Jericho was to be apart of the WrestleMania main event, and on March 17th 2002.

Jericho is the FIRST and ONLY wrestler in WWF history to acquire the WWF Hardcore, WWF European, WWF Tag Team (with Chris Beniot and The Rock), WWF Intercontinental and the WWF World Heavyweight Title. This makes Chris Jericho's claim as being the larger than life, living legend undisputeable. Jericho was also the third wrestler to get the "Grand Slam", which is winning the Tag Team, European, Intercontinental and World Titles in the WWF. (The other two wrestlers who have acomplished this feat are - Triple H and Shawn Micheals.

It is Jericho's charm and wit that attracts fans from all over the world, and his excellent work in the ring that keeps fans wanting more. After being held in the lower card in WCW, Jericho is finally realizing his full potential in the WWF and will be a top star for years to come.

As the year 2002 rolls on...one has to wonder what is in store for the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla?

Title History

Page Index

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1