7. King Of The Ring 2002 - Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam
Another great Jericho curtain-jerker, this time from King of the Ring 2002. Y2J took on Rob Van Dam in the semi-final of the titular tournament, and lost to the ECW legend in a thrilling 14 minute match. It perfectly showcased the abilities of both men - although some went overboard with praise, including Jericho himself...
This furious post from Y2J's own website (which may be a
slight work) is an absolutely amazing read, in which Jericho claims 'It was everything I could've asked for in a match and it was in my opinion, an off the charts performance from RVD and myself, match of the year caliber. I was so excited about the contest and I can humbly state that we stole the show. The crowd was so into it that they were burned out after we went on, quiet for the next 3-4 matches.' Although Y2J's review may be exaggerated to a comical degree, there's no denying the fact that the match is the high point of an otherwise lacklustre show. The main event between Undertaker and Triple H is an excruciatingly slow, overbooked mess, while previous year's King of the Ring Kurt Angle is forced to carry a rapidly declining Hulk Hogan - although, in fairness, the Hulkster actually puts over the Olympic Hero!