Why Chris Jericho Is The Most Important Wrestler In The World Today

Chris Jericho's ability to reinvent himself is unrivalled. From 'Lionheart' to the WCW conspiracy theorist, 'Y2J' to 'The Ayatollah Of Rock 'N' Rolla,' "rootie, tootie, bootie," to "you just made the list," the man has undergone countless reinventions throughout his 27-year career, and while some of these personas flopped, when Jericho clicks, he really clicks.

His latest reinvention came in Osaka, Japan. Having just defended his IWGP United States Championship at NJPW Power Struggle 2017, Kenny Omega was accosted by Jericho, whose visage appeared on the screen. Gone was the affable, bantering babyface that had left WWE's full-time roster seven months prior. There were no lists, no stupid idiots, and definitely no drinking it in, maaaannn: no, this was a colder, more self-righteous Jericho, far more in-tune with his "best in the world at what I do" phase than the unrepentant crowd-pleaser that left WWE seven months prior.

'The Alpha' was born, and bedlam followed with him. Jericho ambushed 'The Cleaner' on 11 December, bloodying him with his own belt, then left him laying after a press conference brawl the next day. Dangerous, unhinged, and out of control, the new, messianic Jericho had created so much buzz that 4 January's clash with Kenny was made Wrestle Kingdom 12's co-main event, and it more than lived up to its billing.

It was a gritty, attritional war laced with animosity, and the two Canadians outdid themselves. Jericho was phenomenal. Kenny carried the physicality, but Chris' western-style heel work and unrelenting viciousness were on a level not seen in years, and though he lost, Jericho, 47, notched his first five-star match inside the Tokyo Dome.

But the significance of 'Alpha vs. Omega' stretches far beyond Dave Meltzer's controversial metric. It was a great match, but more significantly, an important one, and now, not for the first time in his career, Jericho stands among wrestling's biggest trailblazers. CONT'D...