10 Reasons Why Chris Jericho’s Post-WWE Run Is His Best Ever
7. Intercontinental History
![Chris Jericho AEW](https://d2thvodm3xyo6j.cloudfront.net/media/2018/11/e0979e26d51b6c13-600x338.png)
Defeating Tetsuya Naito with such dominance didn't just solidify Chris Jericho as a key player in New Japan Pro Wrestling - it allowed him to make global wrestling history in the process.
Claiming the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader's Intercontinental Championship, he became the first man to proudly hold the IWGP and WWE versions of the secondary strap.
Of course, the two titles have no linked lineage to speak of, but the 'Alpha' effectively created one by virtue of the win. A record-setting Intercontinental Champion in WWE, Jericho was the performer most associated with the ugliest version of the belt thanks to his multiple reigns with the oval gold.
The white-strapped beauty he clung to for several months in NJPW has no link to its North American namesake, but it was a slice of wrestling trivia only a jet-setter like Jericho could stumble upon until Shinsuke Nakamura found himself in possession of the WWE prize.