10 Things You Totally Forgot About Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho hasn't always been 'Le Champion' fans know him as today.
At 49-years-old, Chris Jericho is as popular of a performer now as he's ever been. That's a testament to his innate ability to reinvent himself, remain relevant and change the culture wherever he goes.
Watching him work his magic over the last year in AEW has been a real treat for fans, and in 2019 alone, he had one of his best all-around years in wrestling to date. With the AEW World Championship still draped over his shoulder and a win over Japanese legend Hiroshi Tanahashi from Wrestle Kingdom 14 in his back pocket, his 2020 is off to a strong start as well.
Jericho is also known as one of the most selfless wrestlers in the history of the business, sometimes to a fault. His 2013 run with WWE is probably the most prominent example, specifically when he lost to Fandango at WrestleMania 29.
Thankfully, Y2J has done a better job in recent years of picking his spots and putting people over when it's most necessary. In fact, he's gone undefeated in singles competition since signing with AEW, and as a result, he has felt more special than almost anyone else on the entire roster.
Le Champion has accomplished so much throughout his illustrious 30-year career that it's easy to forget some things he's experienced along the way, with these 10 tidbits of trivia taking the bubbly.
10. He Was Removed From The WrestleMania 2000 Main Event
Chris Jericho's WrestleMania debut was set to come in the main event of the 2000 installment... until it wasn't.
Early promotional material for WrestleMania 2000 pictured Jericho (who was mere months into his WWE run by that point) alongside Triple H, The Rock and Big Show. Although Y2J was smack-dab in the middle of the Intercontinental Championship picture on the road to WrestleMania, it wouldn't have been a stretch to see him contending for the top title at the event, especially since he had history with Rock and ended up competing for the championship afterwards anyway.
Jericho's placement on the poster was no coincidence. Rock, Triple H and Big Show all wound up in the Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Championship at 'Mania, but between the end of 1999 and April, he was replaced by Mick Foley. The Hardcore Legend was originally expected to retire from the ring following his instant classic with Triple H at No Way Out in February but was eventually convinced to return for the WrestleMania main event, booting Jericho from the bout in the process.
Even if Jericho did take part in the match as initially planned, he likely would have been eliminated as early as Foley was, so it hardly would have mattered.