10 Wrestlers Who Could Have Been Franchise Players For WWE
4. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho is the closest thing to a “franchise player” on our list. A six-time World Champion, Jericho has held all of the company’s major (and minor) championships, and is all but guaranteed a Hall of Fame induction when he retires. He’s widely considered among the most charismatic wrestlers of all-time, and even today, in the twilight of his career, Y2J is one of WWE’s most consistently enjoyable performers.
Despite all this, Jericho has never been WWE’s true franchise player. Whether it was John Cena, The Rock, or Stone Cold, there has always been somebody slightly ahead of him in the pecking order, and he has never been presented as the company’s most important wrestler. Yes, he’s had a legendary career, and yes, he’s rightfully considered among the greatest wrestlers in history, but he has never been the face of the company.
Jericho’s regular departures to tour and record with Fozzy had undoubtedly contributed to this, but it’s still a shame. He often disappears from WWE for months (and sometimes years) at a time, but nobody was better than Jericho in his prime. Y2J was the total package as a performer, and as a babyface, few could rival his popularity.