Chris Jericho

Lore & Background

Jericho performed for ECW and WCW during the 1990s, as well as promotions in Canada, Japan, and Mexico. He debuted in the WWF in late 1999. In 2001, he became the first Undisputed WWF Champion, unifying the WWF and World titles by defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night. He headlined multiple PPV events including WrestleMania X8 and the inaugural TLC and Elimination Chamber matches. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2010. Jericho won the Undisputed WWF Championship once, the WCW/World Championship twice, and the World Heavyweight Championship (2002–2013 version) three times. He held the WWE Intercontinental Championship a record nine times and was the ninth Triple Crown Champion and fourth Grand Slam Champion. He won the 2008 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award and (with Big Show as Jeri-Show) the 2009 Tag Team of the Year Slammy Award. After leaving WWE in 2018, he signed with NJPW, becoming a one-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion. In January 2019, he joined AEW and became the inaugural AEW World Champion in August 2019. While in AEW, he also captured the ROH World Championship twice and the FTW Championship.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight cutting through the haze above the ring. The familiar guitar riff of 'Best in the World' echoed off the rafters, silencing the crowd for a split second before erupting into a deafening roar. Chris Jericho stepped onto the apron, the gold belt gleaming around his waist, his eyes scanning the sea of fans with a mix of arrogance and reverence. He didn't just walk to the ring; he owned it, knowing that every step was part of a history being written in real-time.

Reader's Guide

Jericho began his career in 1990, debuting as 'Cowboy' Chris Jericho in Ponoka, Alberta. He trained at the Hart Brothers School of Wrestling and worked in Japan for FMW, in Mexico for CMLL (where he held the NWA World Middleweight Championship), and in Japan for WAR (where he won the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship and the International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship). He also performed in ECW and WCW before joining the WWF.

Did You Know?

• Jericho's ring name was inspired by the Helloween album 'Walls of Jericho'.
• He is the only winner of both Superstar of the Year and Tag Team of the Year Slammy Awards.
• Jericho became the first man to hold both the WWE and IWGP versions of the Intercontinental Championship.
• He was the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Fozzy starting in 1999.