Commentary
Living, By God, Legend!
It must have been like looking in the mirror for Ric Flair. The night after Vengeance on Raw, Flair stood next to Chris Jericho, the cocky, brazen, brash World Champion, a description that was synonymous with the Nature Boy ever since Flair first captured the title from Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 17, 1981.
When Flair was champion, it was a different time. He would travel from territory to territory and he would make the top guy in each area look like they were good enough to beat the best. Just when Flair was on the way out, he would find a way to win and escape with his title. Jericho did the same thing last Monday on Raw. Austin had Jericho beaten and Y2J found a way to win. In the words of the Nature Boy himself, "you may not like it but you will have to learn to love it because Chris Jericho is the best thing going today!" (Throw in your own "Whoo"!)
The comparisons between Flair and Jericho are matched only by their differences. For Jericho to call himself a "living legend" in front of a true living legend in Flair has to slap Ric right in the face. Jericho did everything in his post-Vengeance acceptance speech but castigate Flair for originally wanting to omit Jericho from the Vengeance scenario.
I couldn't help but think of the similarities between Chris Jericho becoming the Undisputed World Champion and the need for a playoff in college football. Let's face it, the BCS is a joke.
The idea of some formulated ranking determining the best teams goes against the basics of competition. Let the teams play each other and when you are done, the winner gets the crystal trophy. The numerologists who created college football's ranking system would have never invited Chris Jericho to the dance in San Diego.
After all, Stone Cold Steve Austin smoked Jericho the Monday prior to Vengeance and he has only won a big match once in his career. Jericho's critics said that Y2J always had style but never the substance to be a main eventer in the World Wrestling Federation. Hell, BYU was more deserving of a shot at Vengeance than Y2J. But Chris Jericho took all that negativity and made it work for him. Now he no longer looks like "Euro-trash" wannabe but instead, Chris Jericho looks like a winner, a champion.
Is Chris Jericho beginning to assemble a winning team around him as well? When you get help from Vince McMahon and Booker T on consecutive nights, the answer is yes. Just like Don King in boxing, Vince McMahon always wants a piece of the champion. If you are anti-authority like Stone Cold, then you become a McMahon target. Kurt Angle may be Vince's "Boy" but Jericho could very well be Vince's "Champion".
The next few weeks are critical for Jericho as champion. For his own credibility, he must hang onto the title for as long as he can. Flair's first title reign lasted until June of 1983-nearly two full years.
Now Jericho won't need a 22-month reign to make believers out of the non but if Y2J can hold the gold for a decent period of time then he can get on the road to "legendary" status.
But ... until you have walked the aisle working up to 385 times a year going at least 30 minutes a match and being known as a 16-time champion, don't even think of calling yourself a "living legend", Chris Jericho.
Whoo!
Disclaimer: This site is just a tribute site. It is in no way affiliated with
WWFE, Shane McMahon, or Bob Howard. I do not intend any infringement nor do I make any sort of profit from this site.
