10 Times Wrestlers Abandoned Their Comfort Zone
2. Save Me
Born out of bizarre circumstances, Chris Jericho's 2007 return from a self-imposted hiatus stalled almost immediately, unexpectedly highlighting how fans had tired of the once-revered persona he'd honed since the turn of the century.
However, his self-made reinvention in 2008 was a calculated risk that massively shifted perception of the Canadian and ramped up one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history.
Buried in a simmering feud with Shawn Michaels, Jericho had become progressively more outraged with the behaviour of 'HBK', particularly after Shawn feigned a knee injury to beat Batista in match 'Y2J' himself refereed.
Despite Michaels admitting the misgiving, fans still supported him, leading to an enraged Jericho viciously turning on him by slamming his face into the 'Jeritron 5000' screen that made for part of his 'Highlight Reel' talkshow set.
Following Jericho's stoppage victory in the pair's 'Great American Bash' match weeks later, he emerged a changed man.
Losing the flashy entrance and sporting a suit to match his stern expression, a scaled-back Chris Jericho emerged, referring to himself as an 'honest man' with an expanded vocabulary and brand new disdain for the audience.
He even ditched his long tights, switching to trunks to complete the brave aesthetic overhaul.