That Time Chris Jericho Trolled Wrestling

On commentary, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler spoke of pandemonium, but the video tells a different story before his music has even stopped. It's the first test of this complex character arc that Jericho passes with flying colours - he spots the reaction dying before 'Break The Walls' has been cut, so bounces around the ring to extract a second wave of chants from the adoring public.

It's all high fives next - Jericho, beaming, does laps around the ring as the scene begins to drag. Beyond the few at the front getting to touch him, he's losing the audience yet again, but shrewdly wins them back by asking for a microphone. This bit in particular was inspired - this was assurance that this slightly indulgent introduction was just to fill time on Raw and the 'Sexy Beast' was finally ready to announce his intentions.

So he pulls back yet again.

With the microphone inches away from his miles-wide smile, he yet again hams it up - actively tiring himself and the Memphis Raw crowd. It works as well as it does because the audience have faith in him. They fill his silence just to try and end it. A "Welcome Back" is yet one more response to yet one more "COME ON BABY" mic-free wail from the beaming babyface.

And that's another thing - he wasn't actually a babyface when he left the last time.

2010 was a million years from 2012 because of a chaotic 2011, but Jericho was last seen getting punted in the head by Randy Orton for being a bit of a pr*ck to John Cena and WWE in general in their turf war with The Nexus.

Little details that didn't make a lot of sense began to add up, right as Jericho's return got even more confusing. We're 6:50 along since the kid in the vignette said "Now", and he's still not said a g*ddamn word into that microphone by the way.

CONT'D...