Chris Jericho is also known as “Y2J,” and is the sport’s top wrestlers in the ring and out.  
Fans have always spoke of Jericho’s quick wit and intelligence behind the microphone.  
Jericho began the year 2001 having captured four WWF Intercontinental Titles and four
WCW Cruiserweight Titles.  He ended 2001 as a former WCW World Champion, World
Champion and WWF World Champion.  His December 8th victory over Steve Austin gave
Jericho the initial WWF Undisputed World Heavyweight Title.  During the evening of
Vengeance ’01, Jericho beat both The Rock and Austin in successive matches.  2001 also
saw him win both his fifth I-C Title and co-held the tag title twice.  Jericho’s self-proclaimed bid
to be the “Living Legend” was becoming more and more true.  The “Jericholics” agreed.

Jericho made his wrestling debut in 1990 and ventured through the American and Canadian
independents.  He even homed his skills in Mexico and Canada.  As the son of longtime NHL
Superstar Ted Irvin, Jericho lived among pro-sports from a very young age.  His father had
achieved a great level of success in the hockey field and Chris was going to do the same in
wrestling.  In Canadian Wrestling, there have been many World Champion athletes.  Chris
Jericho was a man who was going to put his name among the top few.  After his pay-per-view
victory over “Stone Cold” in December 2001, Jericho was there.  He would be recognized
alongside the greats of Canada…Billy Watson, Yvon Robert, Gene Kiniski and Bret Hart.

In 1996, Jericho joined Extreme Championship Wrestling out of Philadelphia.  He beat Taz by
disqualification at the ECW Arena on March 9, 1996.  Jericho beat former ECW Champion
Mikey Whipwreck on May 11th in Philadelphia.  On June 22, he beat Pitbull II to capture the
ECW World TV Title at Hardcore Heaven.  Jericho took his title into the ECW Arena on July
13, 1996 in Philly and three others were waiting on the opportunity.  Shane Douglas beat
Jericho, Pitbull II and 2 Cold Scorpio in a four-corners match to win the championship.  During
the summer, Douglas signed on with World Championship Wrestling.  Before leaving ECW,
Jericho fulfilled his commitments.  He dropped a match to Scorpio on August 3rd in
Philadelphia.

WCW was going to get a wake up call.  Early in his stint, Jericho made it publically known
that he was fighting fair in the wrestling ring.  It was very apparent on August 26th during a
Nitro Broadcast from Palmetto, Florida.  The event marked his first appearance on the WCW
Monday Night Program.  Jericho beat Alex Wright by countout, and would have left with the
win in his column.  He instead told the referee that he wanted the match to continue and that
he wanted a clean victory.  The move was an impressive to start his career in the
organization.  Pure babyface.

Jericho got a big win over Dean Malenko on September 2nd.  Nick Patrick spoke to Tony
Schiavone on October 28th in Phoenix with his attorney, Alan Sharpe, in a neckbrace.  He
blamed Jericho for his injuries and Jericho was quick to meet him face-to-face.  The Jericho-
Patrick war had some memorable moments on Nitro and Chris was establishing himself as a
tough speaker behind the mic.  Not many compared and among the biggest names in
wrestling, Jericho was proving he belonged in the big time.

On June 28, 1997, during a Saturday Nitro from the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles,
Jericho won his first World Crusierweight Title.  His win came over NWO Member Syxx.  A
month later, Alex Wright won the title in Charleston during Nitro, but Jericho was not out of
contention.  Two weeks later, he regained the title in Colorado Springs.  More then 10,000
fans saw Jericho defend his championship against Eddie Guerrero on September 14, 1997 in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Guerrero won the match and took the belt.

Jericho lost to Dallas Page by pinfall in Atlanta on January 5, 1998 at the Georgia Dome.  
During Souled Out on January 24th in Dayton, he forced made Rey Misterio Jr. submit to his
Lion Tamer.  Showing his new change in attitude, Jericho continued to pound him after the
mat, focusing on Misterio’s injured knee.  Rey Jr. was carried off.  Where many complained of
the heel turn, many still reference this period as some of his best work ever.  A man known as
Ralphus would often join Jericho to the ring.  No one was quite sure where Ralphus’
managerial skills had been learned.  Fans enjoyed the comic relief.

A feud would also commence with “Shooter” Dean Malenko.  On May 17th, a masked
wrestler won a 14-man special cruiserweight battle royal.  Afterwards, it was revealed that
“Cyclope” was none other then Malenko.  Later in the night, Malenko beat Jericho for the
Cruiserweight Title.

During an interview with Tony Schiavone and James J. Dillon on June 11, 1998 in Buffalo,
Malenko gave up the Cruiserweight Title.  Jericho claimed he never lost the title and wanted it
back.  Dillon was seemingly pondering a new plan when Jericho’s father, Ted Irvin walked out
and faced his son.  Irvin told him to earn the Cruiserweight Title like a man instead of wanting
it to be handed to him.  Instead of passing the title directly to Jericho, Dillon scheduled a
match for the pay-per-view on June 14th.  The winner would claim the Cruiserweight Title.

On June 14th in Baltimore, Jericho beat Malenko by disqualification.  The next day in
Uniondale, Jericho was awarded his fourth WCW World Crusierweight Title.  Ten days later,
he beat Ultimo Dragon by disqualification to retain his title after Malenko interfered.  Malenko
chased Jericho all over the Orlando Arena.  Malenko attacked Dragon and Jericho during the
June 29th edition of Nitro.

Chris was pinned by a bogus Rey Misterio Jr., with his own willingness, on July 2, 1998.  The
reason was to give Misterio the number one contender spot so he wouldn’t have to battle
Malenko on the next pay-per-view.  Jericho won over Ultimo Dragon on July 6th in Atlanta by
disqualification.  Malenko was announced as the special referee for Jericho’s match against
Juventud Guerrera at Road Wild on August 3, 1998 in Denver.  Jericho dropped the belt to
Guerrera.  The Jericho-Malenko feud went on for months.  He beat Perry Saturn by
submission on January 4, 1999 in Atlanta.  Jericho beat Saturn by countout in Oakland on
February 21st at SuperBrawl.  If Jericho would have lost, he would have been forced to wear
the dress.

He signed a deal with the World Wrestling Federation on July 1, 1999.  Jericho made his
debut on August 9th and was immediately known as “Y2J.” The WWF fans immediately took
to him.  He won the Intercontinental Title from the “Ninth Wonder of the World,” Chyna in
Sunrise, Florida at the National Car Rental Center on December 12th.  An estimated 15,000
fans watched the title change hands.  On December 28th in Richmond, the belt was held-up
after a controversial match between Jericho and the former champ.

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley offered a decision on the Intercontinental Title situation at the
American Airlines Arena in Miami on January 3, 2000.  She stated that both Jericho and
Chyna held the I-C Title and that it did not matter who lost the belt, but if either did, both
would lose the strap.  Chyna faced Hardcore Holly in defense of the crown.  Jericho assisted
her in the victory and both retained the title.

At the Royal Rumble, Jericho won his third I-C Championship with a defeat of both Holly and
Chyna in New York City.  The next night in Philadelphia, Jericho saved Chyna from an attack
by Holly.  He lost the title to former Olympian and European Champion, Kurt Angle on
February 27, 2000 in Hartford.  On April 2nd in Anaheim, Jericho wrestled Chris Benoit and
Angle for both of the latter’s championships, the I-C and European.  Benoit pinned Jericho for
Angle’s Intercontinental Title and then Jericho pinned Benoit for Angle’s European Title.  
Jericho lost the Euro Title the next day.

On April 17th in State College, Pennsylvania, Jericho made history.  He beat Triple H and
captured the WWF World Heavyweight Title.  The event occurred on a live edition of Raw.  It
was an impromptu match and ended when Jericho received some outside help from the
Acolytes and after the original referee was knocked out.  Earl Hebner counted the pin and
the title changed hands.  Jericho was the champion of the world.  Afterwards, Stephanie
McMahon-Helmsley and Triple H forced Hebner to reverse his decision and he did.  Hebner
was fired for his actions.  Jericho was stripped of all recognition and his name was not etched
into the record books for the achievement.

On May 2nd, during a television taping in Richmond, Jericho beat Benoit for his fourth
Intercontinental Title.  The following Monday, Benoit regained the title in Uniondale as Triple
H served as special referee.  The match with Benoit was Jericho’s third match that night.  
Jericho continued to feud with Helmsley and his wife, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
throughout the summer.  He got a win over Jesse James Armstrong during the July 11th
edition of Raw.  Jericho beat X-Pac in a cage match during No Mercy on October 22nd in
Albany.  He won over William Regal the next night by disqualification.  His fifth I-C Title win
was scored on January 21, 2001 in the Big Easy, New Orleans.  Jericho’s contest with
champion, Chris Benoit was a legendary ladder match.  At No Way Out in February, he
wrestled Benoit, Eddy Guerrero and X-Pac in a four-way I-C Title Match.  Jericho retained his
belt.

On April 1, 2001 at WrestleMania in Houston, Jericho pinned Regal before more than 67,000
fans.  Triple H beat Jericho for the I-C Title on April 3rd during a Smackdown Taping in
Oklahoma City.  Both Regal and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley were involved in the bout.  
The Jericho-Regal feud continued into the next pay-per-view in late April.  Regal beat Jericho
in a match held under Dutchess of Queensbury rules.

During the summer, Jericho became a leading contender to Steve Austin’s World Title and
many times it appeared as if he were going to capture the title.  Benoit was also a top
contender.  Jericho and Benoit formed a tag team.  They won the Tag Team Turmoil
Tournament at Judgment Day in May.  On May 21st in San Jose, they beat Austin and Triple
H to capture the WWF World Tag Team Title.  Austin played a part in a tag team title defense
against the Dudley Boys on June 19th in Orlando.  His actions caused Jericho and Benoit to
lose the World Tag Team Title.

Five days later in East Rutherford, both “Y2J” and the “Canadian Crippler” challenged Austin
for the World Title during the main event of the 2001 King of the Ring.  Austin pinned Benoit
to retain his belt.  A rumor had been going on that if either Jericho or Benoit won the WWF
World Title, they would defect to the invading WCW.  No, it wasn’t either of those men.

On July 22nd in Cleveland, Austin helped the Alliance beat the WWF in a ten-man tag team
match.  Jericho entered a feud with Rhyno leading into August’s SummerSlam in San Jose.  
He had several memorable moments with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley as they shared
some banter.

On August 19th, Jericho forced Rhyno to submit in a grueling encounter.  He suffered a
concussion during the pay-per-view match and was medically cleared to wrestle the next
morning.  Jericho appeared in Sacramento and accepted the challenge of Test, who was
wrestling on behalf of Stephanie.  Prior to their match, Jericho went to the ring and spoke to
the crowd.  He talked about Test and his reunion with his ex-fiancee, Stephanie.  Test was
accompanied by McMahon-Helmsley for the match.  During the bout, Jericho got his hands
on Stephanie before Rhyno ran out.  She ran into the ring after Jericho disposed of the
newcomer.  Jericho followed, but was blindsided by Test.  Test pinned him and the trio
celebrated on the way out.

Jericho challenged Rob Van Dam for the WWF World Hardcore Title on Sunday, September
23, 2001 in Pittsburgh,  Stephanie, once again, orchastrated his downfall.  Vam Dam landed
his five-star frog splash and pinned him.

Those wrestling fans who ever doubted Chris Jericho were about to be amazed by a several
month run of accomplishments.  It all began with his feud with The Rock.  Jericho was walking
a line between being a fan-favorite and a rulebreaker during this time, but his original base of
fans were right there behind him.  Officials scheduled the Rock to defend his WCW World
Title against Jericho on October 21, 2001 in St. Louis, Missouri.  Jericho had spent years in
World Championship Wrestling.  Finally, while in the WWF, he was able to capture the WCW
World Heavyweight Title.  Jericho pinned the Rock and won the coveted belt.  Once again,
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley played a part in the match.

The next night in Kansas City, Jericho teamed with the Rock to beat the Dudleys for the
WWF World Tag Team Title.  He was holding one WCW Belt and one WWF Belt,
simultaneously.  Ken Patera had accomplished a similuar feat in 1980 when he won the WWF
Intercontinental Title and then the NWA Missouri State Title.  The legendary Tiger Mask
carried both the WWF and NWA World Junior Heavyweight Titles at the same time.  But Chris
Jericho was wearing a major singles World Title and a major tag team title.  Some may say
that the WWF was promoting both championships, and it is true, but his accomplishment
stands out before either of the afore named.

Booker T and Test won the WWF Tag Title on October 30, 2001 in Cincinnati, during a
Smackdown Taping.  In Manchester, England, Jericho successfully defended his title against
Kurt Angle.  On November 5th in Uniondale, the Rock regained the WCW World Title at Raw.  
Confirming his heel turn, Jericho attacked Rocky with a steel chair and the WCW Belt after
the match.

Jericho remained a member of the WWF Team at the Survivor Series in Greensboro.  Early
in the match, he pinned and eliminated Alliance leader Shane McMahon.  He also pinned Rob
Van Dam before being eliminated by Steve Austin after a two-on-one advantage against
“Stone Cold.” Before leaving the ring, Jericho once again made his intensions known by
attacking the Rock.  Luckily for the WWF, Rocky was able to regain his composure and win
the match.  The World Wrestling Federation triumphed and the Alliance was dead.

A month later, Vengeance was held in San Diego.  Four wrestlers would compete in a series
of elimination matches to determine a single “undisputed” World Heavyweight Champion.  
Steve Austin beat Kurt Angle in the opener and then Jericho beat the Rock for his second
World Heavyweight Title.  In the finals, Jericho accomplished the unthinkable when he pinned
Austin and became the first ever WWF Undisputed World Champion.  Both Vince McMahon
and Booker T were instrumental in his title victories.

In October, he held the WCW World and WWF Tag Titles at the same time.  In December,
Chris Jericho unified the WCW World Heavyweight Title with the WWF World Heavyweight
Title, with wins over Steve Austin and The Rock, and became the most powerful man in
wrestling.  Buddy Rogers, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage were several of those
athletes who held those belts at different points in their career.  The lineage of the WCW
World Title alone stretched back in parts to Frank Gotch, the greatest American Wrestler of
all-time.  Chris Jericho had not done the feat in different points in his career, but in one
night.  Jericho had unified the belts and if it had been done twenty-years earlier, he would
have immediately been pegged as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time.  His “Living
Legend” persona was becoming more and more real.


Biography was written in 2001 and needs to be further updated.


Championships and accomplishments from Wikipedia

* Canadian Rocky Mountain Wrestling
    o CRMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    o CRMW North American Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Lance Storm
* Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
    o NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time)
* Extreme Championship Wrestling
    o ECW World Television Championship (1 time)
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    o PWI Comeback of the Year (2008)
    o PWI Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Shawn Michaels
    o PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2002, 2008)
    o PWI ranked him #2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2009
    o PWI ranked him #109 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
* World Championship Wrestling
    o WCW Cruiserweight Championship (4 times)
    o WCW World Television Championship (1 time)
* World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
    o Undisputed WWF Championship (1 times)
    o World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
    o WCW/World Championship (2 times)
    o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (9 times)
    o WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Chris Benoit (1), The Rock
          (1), Christian (1), Edge (1), and The Big Show (1)
    o WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Edge (1) and The Big Show (1)
    o WWF European Championship (1 time)
    o WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)
    o Ninth Triple Crown Champion
    o Fourth Grand Slam Champion
    o Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year (2008)
    o Slammy Award for Tag Team of the Year (2009) – with The Big Show
* Wrestle Association "R"
    o WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    o WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gedo
          [4]
* World Wrestling Association
    o WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Dandy
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
    o Best on Interviews (2003, 2008, 2009)
    o Best on Interviews of the Decade (2000–2009)
    o Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Shawn Michaels
    o Match of the Year (2008) vs. Shawn Michaels in a Ladder match at No Mercy
    o Most Underrated Wrestler (1999, 2000)
    o Readers' Favorite Wrestler (1999)
    o Wrestler of the Year (2008, 2009)
    o Best Pro Wrestling Book (2011) for Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion
          in 1,372 Easy Steps
    o Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2010) for Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris
          Jericho
    o Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)




Research by Tim Hornbaker
Chris Jericho Wrestling History
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