Ranking Wrestling's Most Shocking Surprise Every Year 1990-2020

4. 2017 - Chris Jericho Assaults Kenny Omega

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New Japan World

In keeping with the parameters outline in the introduction (just), this was still a case of a WWE talent attempting to take out the best wrestler in the world, even if said WWE talent was the always-evolving Chris Jericho and said best wrestler in the world didn't ply the bulk of his trade in North America.

Though he'd been gone for months after another televised loss to former friend Kevin Owens, Jericho had long said he'd never work for another promoter other than Vince McMahon. Geography was his caveat here, but he'd quickly learn to love the taste of the creative freedom afforded by his time with NJPW, Omega and The Young Bucks.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett