10 Reasons Why Chris Jericho’s Last Run Was His Best Ever
The List of Jericho.
With a career and legacy as vast as his, it was almost becoming detrimental for Chris Jericho to persist in returning to WWE with seemingly so little left to offer.
Since switching to a part-timers role in 2012, Jericho has always nobly worked to help the company and potential future stars progress, utilising credit invested into his beloved persona by WWE devotees.
However, a slightly reduced overall quality in his act resulted in his stories ending up buried in the midcard. Programmes with the famous 'Y2J' were suddenly doing little for the opponents they were designed to be helping.
Angles with CM Punk, The Miz, Fandango and Dolph Ziggler and others highlighted how diminished the returns were becoming, to the point where his heavily promoted returns no longer drew the anticipation and excitement they'd once generated.
Though appearing stuck on the same treadmill during his January 2016 comeback promo on The New Day, Jericho had mapped out a series of minor alterations to his act that would ultimately trigger a wildly successful 18 month run that stretched beyond the expectations of even the most ardent Jerichoholic.
From spending nearly an hour in the ring in his first match back, to absorbing a brutal beating upon his departure, here are 10 reasons why Chris Jericho's last run was his best ever.
10. Going Out The Right Way
Bidding temporary farewell to the company in the only way he knows how, Chris Jericho again lost on his way out of the door, definitively putting over Kevin Owens one last time as the two made their final trade of the United States title to close out 'Y2J's first and last night on the blue brand.
History dictated that Jericho wouldn't disappoint in doing as much as possible to send his colleague out on a high, and he over-delivered as usual with a stirring performance in the eventual defeat.
Though their SmackDown Live! rematch couldn't top the excellent Payback pay-per-view contest just days earlier, the finish re-established Kevin Owens as a dominant United States Champion (and 'Face of America') and the post-match beatdown enhanced 'KO's well-worn wicked side ahead of his next feud with AJ Styles.
Wrapping a chair around Jericho's head and smashing it into the post was a superlative farewell to Jericho and their rivalry, and presumably caused 'Y2J' less real-life agony than the apron powerbomb he gamely took at the conclusion of their WrestleMania clash.
Crumbling to his knees ahead of a third pop-up powerbomb shortly before the chair assault, Jericho was a decisively beaten man, like every exiting performer should be. It was a robustly professional display.