Whether I was beloved or hated by WWE fans, I was never at a loss for words. And I backed up every single word I said in my storied career, winning a laundry list of championships and going down in history as the first ever Undisputed WWE Champion.
The son of former National Hockey League player Ted Irvine, I, Christopher Keith Irvine(My real name) was born in Manhasset, N.Y. but I was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. I trained in Stu Hart’s famed dungeon and made my pro wrestling debut at age 19 in 1990. I wrestled around the world and infused different styles I learned in Canada, Mexico and Japan into my own repertoire. I slowly built a following what would become loyal “Jerichoholics” before appearing in ECW (where I briefly held the ECW TV Championship) and then landing in WCW in 1996.
My trophy case was hardly empty during my tenure in WCW; I won the WCW Cruiserweight and TV Championships several times. However, despite my credentials and fan base, I never received an opportunity at the WCW World Championship or a chance to excel as a main event performer. I would get that chance – and would rise to new heights of stardom – when I entered World Wrestling Entertainment in the summer of 1999.
My WWE debut was one of the most memorable of all time. In homage to the countdown to the millennium and the vaunted Y2K bug, a mysterious Y2J countdown clock appeared on WWE programming. Eventually, I was revealed as the man behind the countdown, and I made my first impact on WWE fans in verbal sparring session with The Rock in what has become a classic moment on Raw. This set the stage for my WWE career.
My rivalries with Chyna, The Rock, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Rob Van Dam and Christian were legendary for both their in-ring intensity and comic vignettes outside the ring. Hardly any titles were safe when I was around. Besides holding the European and Hardcore Championships, I, the self-proclaimed “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” won the Intercontinental Championship seven times and held the World Tag Team Championship three times with three different partners (Chris Benoit, Christian, and The Rock). But I cemented my place in WWE history on December 9, 2001 at Vengeance, when I beat both The Rock for the WCW Championship and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWE Championship to unify both titles and become the first Undisputed WWE Champion. My WWE Championship was brief – I lost the title to Triple H three months later at WrestleMania X8 – but no one could take away my accomplishment.
Besides the numerous championships, I also showed the world that my “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” mantra was more than shtick. I released three albums with my rock band Fozzy. And in the tradition of WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, I hosted a weekly TV segment on WWE programming, The Highlight Reel, where I interviewed – and antagonized – my guests.
My WWE career ended in August 2005 when I lost a You’re Fired Match to WWE Champion John Cena on Raw. I have since pursued an acting career, continued touring with Fozzy and have appeared on VH1’s Best Week Ever and I Love The 80s. I have also hosted my own show on XM Satellite Radio called The Rock of Jericho and I’m currently on tour promoting my biography, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex.
Despite my numerous projects, the multitalented Jericho(ME) cannot get enough of the squared circle. Behold the second coming of Jericho. Who knows what the rebirth of my in-ring career will bring. One thing is certain, WWE fans are not likely to see anyone like me ever – evvvveerrrr – again!
MY RETURN TO WWE RAW
WWE Holiday 2007 Magazine-
This special Holiday issue of WWE Magazine features the shocking return of Y2J, Chris Jericho! Get a John Cena update, find out why Rey Mysterio and Batista were detained by authorities and even get some Diva tips in the special How-To section. This issue also includes the definitive WWE gift guide with 318 "Superstar-Approved" gadgets, games & gifts for the best holiday ever! Get your WWE Holiday 2007 Magazine today!
BEHIND THE SCENES: Y2J IN WWE MAGAZINE
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