The Rise of the Jerichoholics: 28-time champion Chris Jericho’s WWE dominance
1990s WWE superstar Chris Jericho has made a significant impact in various wrestling promotions, including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), as well as in Canadian, Mexican, German, and Japanese promotions.
Jericho amassed an impressive record of 30 championships across WWF/E, WCW, and ECW, which were prominent American promotions during the 1990s and early 2000s. Notably, he was the first Undisputed WWF Champion, successfully unifying the WWF Championship and the WCW Championship.
Chris Jericho’s WWE Champion reigns
Within WWE, Jericho achieved a total of six world championship reigns, winning the WWF Championship once, the WCW Championship twice, and the World Heavyweight Championship three times. He is also a record nine-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, a two-time WWE United States Champion, and the fourth WWE Grand Slam Champion.
In 1996, Jericho joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) upon the recommendation of Mick Foley to promoter Paul Heyman. He quickly made an impact, winning the ECW Television Championship in June 1996. Jericho faced top talents in ECW, including Tazz, Sabu, Rob Van Dam, Cactus Jack, Shane Douglas, and 2 Cold Scorpio. His performances caught the attention of World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Jericho made his first appearance with WCW on August 26, 1996, and participated in his first pay-per-view match against Chris Benoit at Fall Brawl on September 15. He won the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship on two occasions, and his notable feuds included battles against Rey Mysterio, Jr., Dean Malenko, and Juventud Guerrera. Jericho gained infamy for collecting and wearing trophy items from his defeated opponents to the ring.
Jericho’s time in WCW culminated in a feud with Goldberg, where he constantly taunted and mocked the undefeated champion. Despite never actually wrestling Goldberg, Jericho claimed to have defeated him multiple times. His tenure with WCW came to an end in 1999.
Jericho engaged in feuds with notable superstars such as Chyna, Triple H, and Kurt Angle. He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship multiple times and achieved his first world championship victory by defeating The Rock for the WCW Championship. At Vengeance in 2001, Jericho became the first-ever Undisputed Champion by defeating both The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a single night.
Jericho’s WWE career included various character shifts, from face (good guy) to heel (villain) and vice versa. He had memorable storylines and matches, including a rivalry with Shawn Michaels, a tag team partnership with Christian, and participation in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Outside of wrestling, Jericho is the lead vocalist for the band Fozzy, which he formed in 1999.
