How Chris Jericho Is Secretly Building Wrestling's Next Megastar

by Michael Sidgwick
Sammy Guevara Jake Hager press up
AEW

Chris Jericho went Michael Jordan in his approach, and it worked. Guevara, once more, got his character over. The dumb heel lackey was too dumb to realise he was right the first time in what was a tremendous gag. It even popped Jim Ross on commentary which, as the man's fiercest critics are very keen to point out, is exceptionally difficult to do in 2020.

You might consider "megastar" hyperbole - and sadly, it's difficult to project megastardom onto any performer, irrespective of how great they are, in an industry that even pre-crisis didn't explode as was forecast in 2018.

But Guevara has proved himself the most entertaining fixture on U.S. wrestling television. His uncanny ability to steal shows on which he barely appears is already a touchstone of quality. To put Guevara's ascent into proper focus, AEW is inviting you to draw comparisons between him and his mentor, in that e's meant to be the next Chris Jericho, but already, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D is the next Sammy Guevara, what with her fabulous ringside reaction cameos. Chris Jericho is shorthand for reinvention. Bret Hart was shorthand for how to best work safely.

Sammy Guevara is now shorthand for getting over in record time, and in this atomised era of entertainment - where the attention span is extinct and the GIF is the prize - there is no more valuable skill.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!