Kevin Owens Needs Chris Jericho Feud to Maximize WWE Universal Title Reign

The key to harnessing Kevin Owens' time as WWE universal champ often stands at his side, offering encouragement and stroking his ego—Chris Jericho.

A split between the best friends is inevitable. And the dissolution will produce a fierce, emotional rivalry that will catapult the champion.

So often in wrestling, inseparable allies make for the best enemies.

It looks as if fans won't have to wait long to see if that holds true for Owens and Jericho. Monday's Raw featured the latest and most obvious foreshadowing of their alliance crumbling.

Even before Owens captured the WWE Universal Championship in August, he and Jericho praised and protected each other. Jericho has been quick to leap into danger to save his buddy. They have promised to have each other's backs and have shared a rare level of chemistry.

But that will not last.

On Monday's Raw, Jericho asked that Owens stay away during his match with Seth Rollins, as he wanted to prove he could beat him alone. KO didn't listen.

That led to a tense moment backstage where Jericho barked at Owens. He got into the champ's face and nearly called him a stupid idiot.

It looked as if Jeri-KO was set to implode right then and there, but they cooled off just in time to avoid that.

There will be little time to enjoy that peace, though. The best friends are now set to meet in the same ring.

Raw general manager Mick Foley announced that Jericho vs. Owens vs. Rollins will headline next week's show.

This all points to the cracks in their relationship widening, with Jericho and Owens going from comrades to enemies in a hurry. That will be a major boost for the universal titleholder.

For one, Jericho is on a roll. This latest incarnation of his character—a scarf-wearing irritant who puts anyone and anything he doesn't like on The List of Jericho—is the most compelling thing he's done in years.

In a way, the success of that shtick has overshadowed Owens. Even though Owens is the one with the gold, he often feels like the second banana of this duo.

That will change when they are locking horns and looking to destroy each other.

Owens can garner significant heat by flattening the popular Jericho. Should he be the one to end the their bromance and stomp Y2J's list into pieces, Owens will benefit in a big way.  

Indy wrestler Gran Akuma is among those who sees great potential with this duo:

That statement is as true for their alliance as it will be for their eventual personal war. Their chemistry will transfer as the relationship transforms, electricity buzzing around them both.

That's something Owens' rivalry with Rollins has lacked.

The champion and challenger are good in the ring together. They are both top-notch performers and strong mic workers. But their feud has been pedestrian for the most part.

Sometimes, two elements just don't click together.

Should Owens move on to tangling with Jericho instead, their issues will be easier to invest in. They are complementary puzzle pieces, a special pairing that WWE stumbled onto.

In an interview with 120 Sports, Jericho compared his chemistry with Owens to what he had with Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio. He said he felt the story was just beginning.

He said of the narrative: "A lot of intrigue and mystery. And a lot of interest from the people watching from the WWE Universe. I am really looking forward to seeing what's going to happen at Survivor Series, Hell in a Cell and continuing forward."

What is likely to happen at those pay-per-views and beyond is Owens feeling threatened by his best bud. And when he demolishes his charming sidekick, he will look more like the monster he needs to be.

Jericho will provide him with some excellent matches, which the veteran did for AJ Styles and Sami Zayn earlier this year.

And once Owens outlasts his old friend, he will have quite the trophy to hang on his wall. Jericho is a former world champion and future Hall of Famer. Owens may get to brag about putting a star of that caliber on the shelf.

Jericho is bound to be headed out of WWE again to tour with his band, Fozzy. He has left one world for another regularly over the last few years.

Before he bows out this time, he is bound to leave Owens stocked with momentum, making the champ the star of a powerful story and giving KO the signature moments his reign needs.