WWE: 10 Most Show Stealing Chris Jericho Performances

7. Intercontinental Championship vs. Mask - Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (The Bash 2009)

SmackDown was easily the best wrestling show on television in the summer of 2009, thanks in large part to rivalries such as Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk and the Intercontinental title program between Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho. Jericho was enjoying the best year of his career, coming off a critically acclaimed feud with Shawn Michaels and two very good matches with Hall of Famer Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat. He was easily one of the two or three best wrestlers in the world and had set his sights on Mysterio and the title Y2J had held more times than any other Superstar ever. This led to a series of matches between the two that wowed audiences. At Extreme Rules in June, Jericho ripped Mysterio's mask off and pinned him to win the title. Their match at July's The Bash would play on the finish. With both the Intercontinental Championship and the storied mask of the greatest luchador of all-time on the line, the war between Y2J and the master of the 619 would be one of the evening's most eagerly awaited. The performers crafted a match built on counters, reversals, nearfalls and tremendous sequencing. Everything they did had a purpose, no energy or movement was wasted and the quality of the contest benefited as a result. In reference to the finish of their previous bout, Jericho tried to remove the mask of Mysterio once again. This time, the former champion was prepared. He wore a second mask underneath, foiling his rival's plans to unmask him and humiliate him. With Jericho stunned, Mysterio capitalized, scoring a pinfall victory and regaining the title he never should have lost in the first place. The match was a thing of beauty, the perfect example of what two veterans are capable of when on the same page and given a decent amount of time to ply their trade. Jericho continued to cement himself as, arguably, the best wrestler in the world while Mysterio filled the underdog role as perfectly as he ever did. It was the last time that the luchador was truly great.