Chris Jericho Reveals Defining Rivals: Michaels, Moxley, Rock, and Omega

Chris Jericho, the veteran professional wrestler known for his adaptability and longevity, has named the four opponents he considers the most significant of his career. In a recent interview with Spencer Matthews, Jericho unveiled his “Mount Rushmore” of rivals: Shawn Michaels, Jon Moxley, The Rock, and Kenny Omega.

A Career Spanning Eras

Jericho’s selections represent a diverse range of eras and promotions, highlighting his ability to forge memorable rivalries across WWE, AEW, and Modern Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He first highlighted his classic encounters with Shawn Michaels, acknowledging the impact of their feuds.

Jon Moxley: A Rival in Multiple Arenas

Jericho also emphasized the importance of his relationship with Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose in WWE), citing their compelling work together in both WWE, and AEW. “I think Moxley would be in there from our work that we did in AEW and in WWE when he was Dean Ambrose. I loved working with him. Great intensity,” Jericho stated.

The Rock and Early 2000s Chemistry

The Rock earned a spot on Jericho’s list due to their strong chemistry during a period in the early 2000s. Jericho recalled that despite a relatively short run together, their collaborations were consistently successful. “We never had a bad match, bad angle, or bad promo segment. We were perfect foils for each other,” he explained.

Kenny Omega and a Business-Changing Match

Rounding out his Mount Rushmore was Kenny Omega, with Jericho specifically crediting their Wrestle Kingdom 12 match in 2018 as a pivotal moment. “We changed the business when we had our match at the Tokyo Dome,” Jericho said. He noted the historic nature of the event, with both wrestlers hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, and the match significantly boosting digital streaming numbers for NJPW.

The Impact of Omega-Jericho on AEW’s Formation

Jericho believes the success of their match at Wrestle Kingdom 12 directly contributed to the creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He explained that the high demand generated by the event led Tony Khan to believe there was a viable market for a wrestling promotion outside of WWE. F4WOnline reports Jericho stated, “Digital streaming was through the roof for New Japan Pro Wrestling, which then led to Tony Khan seeing and deciding that he could form AEW because there was so much demand for wrestling that was not WWE.”

Jericho’s Nemesis’ Throughout His Career

In a separate interview with Radio X, Jericho also identified Shawn Michaels, Kenny Omega, and Jon Moxley as wrestlers he considers to be nemeses throughout his career. He also included Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley’s WWE persona) in this list, emphasizing that compelling storylines are key to creating strong rivalries. Fightful reports Jericho said, “So there’s so many of them. But like I said, I’m just thinking storylines, which equals who your nemesis and rival is. Because if the storyline is going long, that means the ratings are good. It means you’re selling a lot of tickets.”

Jericho’s list provides a fascinating insight into the wrestlers who have shaped his illustrious career and highlights the importance of compelling storytelling in professional wrestling.