6. "You're A Stupid Son Of A B****! You're A Stupid Man!"
There was a point late in the match between Chris Jericho and AJ Styles that could have significant consequences going forward, especially for the Y2J character. After delivering a Codebreaker to Styles and finding that The Phenomenal One's arm was under the rope during a pinfall attempt, Jericho unleashed a tirade at his opponent. "You're a stupid son of a b****!" he exclaimed, frustration setting in. He would reiterate the insult, his arrogance seeping into the match. Later, after tapping out to the Calf Crusher, Jericho teased attacking Styles in yet another hint of a personality change for the usually fun-loving future Hall of Famer. It should be interesting to see if Jericho continues to show hints of growing frustration, if maybe he realizes if he is no longer the performer he used to be, forced to confront age and the fact that he may not be the best in the world at what he does any more. That could introduce a more dangerous, edgier and more calculated Jericho than any we have ever seen before. Monday night on Raw, he demonstrated much respect for Styles before teaming with him to battle The Social Outcasts in a squash tag match. What may have been sincere on the surface still felt like a grizzled veteran playing mind games with a newcomer to WWE who is eager to earn the acceptance of his peer.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
