It’s Chris Jericho’s 30th anniversary, the 49-year-old veteran has accumulated quite the resume of moments and experiences. His accolades and accomplishments are undoubtedly hall of fame worthy yet “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla,” is still finding ways to reinvent himself as he is currently in AEW and still creating historical moments for wrestling fans to enjoy for years to come. Since his debut in 1999, Y2J has gone on to win the WWE Championship, Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship, and so much more as the number of achievements could go on and on. In this list, we’ll be taking a look at the five best moments of Chris Jericho on Monday Night Raw.
5.) Chris Jericho vs CM Punk (RAW, February 4th, 2013)
On the February 4th, 2013 edition of Monday Night Raw, Chris Jericho and CM Punk reignited their feud and created an instant classic on Monday Night Raw. Both CM Punk and Chris Jericho were somewhat lost in the shuffle heading into WrestleMania 29, as Punk came off of a historic 434 day title reign and Jericho would go on to take on Fandango at the Show of Shows that year, but that didn’t stop the chemistry between these two from creating magic in the ring that night. In a time where not many TV matches were stealing the show, the two former champions went out that night and showed that they belonged high up on the card and dared anyone to follow them.
4.) Chris Jericho Turns on Shawn Michaels (RAW, June 8th, 2008)
In a classic moment from Monday Night Raw over 10 years ago, Chris Jericho began what many consider to be one of his best runs of all time, as Chris Jericho did the unexpected during this edition of The Highlight Reel. Since returning back to the WWE in 2007, Chris Jericho didn’t have much going on, that is until a feud ignited between Y2J and Shawn Michaels. On this particular night during what seemed like an average edition of The Highlight Reel, Y2J did the unthinkable and threw The Heartbreak Kid into the Jeritron. Chris Jericho would go on to become the biggest heel in the business, straying away from his usual catchphrases, not wearing any new merchandise and instead opting to wear suits, and began speaking to the WWE Universe as if they were peons to him. The bad blood between these two continued, but it was this moment that put more eyes on Jericho, proving that it’s still possible to be the most hated man in the business.
3.) The List of Jericho is Born (RAW, September 19th, 2016)
It only made sense that the List of Jericho would make this list! Who would’ve thought that a clipboard and a pen would become such a staple on Monday night’s, as Chris Jericho managed to get said props over, and in a great deal as well. It wasn’t much longer after that that fans clamored to be put on the list via Twitter or at conventions, but it grew a life of its own and go on to provide the WWE Universe with some literal laugh out loud moments.
2.) The Festival of Friendship (RAW, February 13th, 2017)
What ended up concluding in heartbreak instantly became a classic moment, as Chris Jericho looked to go all out for Kevin Owens in celebration of their friendship. Showgirls, a glorious painting mocking the ‘Creation of Adam’, and so much more, Y2J brought everything and the kitchen sink to show Kevin Owens how appreciative he was of his best friend. Kevin Owens had a gift of his own, giving Jericho a list of his own, but with only his name on it. Kevin Owens channeled his inner Y2J and threw his “friend’ face first into a tv screen, providing a truly polarizing moment that the WWE Universe rarely sees too often, and a WrestleMania match that crowned Kevin Owens as the new United States Champion.
1.) Chris Jericho Debuts on Raw (RAW, August 9th, 1999)
The ‘Countdown to the New Millennium’ finally struck zero as The Rock was in the ring running down The Big Show in front of a raucous Chicago crowd. As ‘The Brahma Bull’ went on, the countdown started down from 15, and as it finally hit zero, “Jericho” came up on the titantron and the always loud Chicago crowd erupted as they were in awe at Chris Jericho’s debut on Monday Night Raw, and went toe-to-toe on the mic against The Rock. Not many can go on record and claim that they’ve debuted against a huge name in the WWE and would go on to have an illustrious career that’s spanned 30 years in the business, and the reaction today remains one of wrestling’s best.