10 Wrestlers Having An Incredible 2022
5. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho was worth his weight in gold Fozzy records to a fledgling AEW. Not only did he bring much needed name recognition and star power as the promotion’s inaugural champion but he was a convincing, brawny brawler who got the Judas Effect over as a legitimate kill shot. On top of all that, his Le Champion persona was p*ss funny.
By 2021 the landscape had changed. Home grown stars were on the rise and some of the industry’s biggest names had declared themselves All Elite. Meanwhile Jericho was palpably less exciting as a babyface.
Fans were beginning to wonder GF-why they should still care about his increasingly tired patter, particularly when he resorted to outdated homophobic barbs opposite Dan Lambert. Some were even suggesting it was time “The Demo God” stepped away for awhile.
2022 has seen Jericho once again prove you can never count him out, founding the JAS and reinventing himself as a sports entertainment Wizard, complete with a so-bad-its-brilliant new catchphrase. He’s also got his formerly bloated body back into impressive shape and had a great in-ring year in defiance of his advancing age.
Highlights include his first match with Eddie Kingston, the six man at Forbidden Door and the insanity of Anarchy In The Arena. Meanwhile his title fight with Jon Moxley is a match of the year candidate, drawing “Fight Forever” chants for Mox and his 51 year old challenger. Jericho continues to solidify his position as one of the greatest ever to do it.