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There is one thing you can say about Chris Jericho: The guy sure knows how to make an entrance.
His WWE debut in 1999 as the man behind the mysterious Y2J millennium countdown was one of the most memorable moments in sports-entertainment history. But Jericho outdid himself in his “second coming” as the answer to a series of code-encrypted video eight years later. The man who will “Save_US” all is back after a two-year hiatus, and our fans couldn’t be happier.
Whether he's been beloved or hated by WWE fans, Jericho has never been at a loss for words. And “Y2J” has backed up every single word he said in his storied career, winning a laundry list of championships and going down in history as the first ever Undisputed WWE Champion.
The son of former National Hockey League player Ted Irvine, Jericho was born in Manhasset, N.Y. but was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. He trained in Stu Hart’s famed dungeon and made his pro wrestling debut at age 19 in 1990. Jericho wrestled around the world and infused different styles he learned in Canada, Mexico and Japan into his own repertoire. He slowly built a following what would become loyal “Jerichoholics” before appearing in ECW (where he briefly held the ECW TV Championship) and then landing in WCW in 1996.
Jericho’s trophy case was hardly empty during his tenure in WCW; he won the WCW Cruiserweight and TV Championships several times. However, despite his credentials and fan base, he never received an opportunity at the WCW World Championship or a chance to excel as a main event performer. Jericho would get that chance – and would rise to new heights of stardom – when he entered World Wrestling Entertainment in the summer of 1999.Jericho made his first impact on WWE fans with his Y2J millennium countdown and in his debut in a verbal sparring session with The Rock (which has become a classic moment on Raw). This set the stage for “Y2J’s” WWE career.
Jericho’s rivalries with Chyna, The Rock, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Rob Van Dam and Christian were legendary for both their in-ring intensity and comic vignettes outside the ring. Hardly any titles were safe when he was around. Besides holding the European and Hardcore Championships, the self-proclaimed “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” won the Intercontinental Championship seven times and held the World Tag Team Championship three times with three different partners. But Jericho cemented his place in WWE history on December 9, 2001 at Vengeance, when he beat both The Rock for the WCW Championship and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWE Championship to unify both titles and become the first Undisputed WWE Champion. Jericho’s WWE championship was brief – he lost the title to Triple H three months later at WrestleMania X8 – but no one could take away his accomplishment.
Besides the numerous championships, Jericho also showed the world that his “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” mantra was more than shtick. He released three albums with his rock band Fozzy. And in the tradition of WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Jericho hosted a weekly TV segment on WWE programming, The Highlight Reel, where he interviewed – and antagonized – his guests.
Y2J’s WWE career appeared to end in August 2005 when he lost a You’re Fired Match to then-WWE Champion John Cena on Raw. Jericho pursued an acting career, continued touring with Fozzy and appeared on VH1’s Best Week Ever and I Love The 80s. He has also hosted his own show on XM Satellite Radio called The Rock of Jericho and released his biography, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex.
Despite his numerous projects, the multitalented Jericho cannot get enough of the squared circle. Behold the second coming of Jericho. Who knows what the rebirth of his in-ring career will bring. One thing is certain, as Y2J would say, WWE fans are not likely to see anyone like him ever – evvvveerrrr – again!
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