The Evolution of Chris Jericho

According to some people in WWE , word got around on the net that Stephanie was pissed that Jericho returning was leaked onto the internet and she and the creative writing team were pissed and pushed his return date back to show the bloggers and internet sites that they don’t know everything.
Others sites claim Jericho himself kept postponing it, because he wanted his return to be "Just Perfect and just so." Sounds like the high school girlfriend doesn't it?

 

So here we are in August of 2008 nearly 7 months since Chris Jericho made his return to WWE. Proclaimed he was here to say us, interrupted a befuddled Randy Orton and went on to loose his first world title match when JBl returned.

Then slowly but surely it started to happen. Jericho started gaining momentum.

At first by winning the Intercontinental Title. But something happened during the winter months. Maybe it was the fans warming up to him. Fans who weren't watching wrestling the last time Jericho was in WWE. Or maybe it was the beginning of the evolution of Chris Jericho.

Slowly but surely more fans were cheering for Jericho. But while this was happening something else was starting to happen. Just when it looked like the fans were starting to embrace Jericho as a fan favorite and he was over with the fans, Chris Jericho began his evolution. Chris Jericho as a fan favorite, began to unravel before our very eyes.

It was subtle, and was all built around the fact that the fans had always embraced Shawn Michaels. And for some reason or another Chris Jericho noticed this.

Chris Jericho realized that he was trying twice as hard to be embraced by the fans, while Shawn Michaels was admitting he was lying and faked an injury to defeat Batista and the fans still loved HBK.

Then Jericho realized something. That the fans didn't want to be saved.

It all made sense. Chris Jericho becoming a heel was cemented and a done deal the second the fans refused to embrace him at first.

Every injury Shawn Michaels receives and every accidental injury his wife receives isn't Chris Jericho's doing. It's the fans doing.

Why?

Because Chris Jericho was forced to take the role of heel.

He was forced to take the role of most hated man alive.

Why?

Because  no matter what Shawn Michaels has done, no matter what wrong doing he admits, the fans will always side with HBK.

Shawn Michaels is the righteous man. But that doesnt necessarily mean he's the better man.

Just ask Bret Hart.

Doing wrong but admitting it doesn't make you great.

So this feud between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels is one of a moral story.

Hands down Shawn Michaels is the most accomplished wrestler alive today. Probably the most talented active wrestler. He's a lock for the WWE Hall Of Fame. He's accomplished more then Chris Jericho.

Shawn Michaels is great.

A great if not one of the greatest wrestlers ever.

But for Chris Jericho this eats away at his very being.

And the fact of the matter is it eats away at Jericho because HBK is right, He will never be Shawn Michaels. But Jericho is consumed by the fact HBK has accomplished greatness and yet no matter what wrong doings he has done or admitted the fans still love him.

Chris Jericho however has to jump through flaming circles just to get the fans to love him uncondtionally as a fan favorite

Chris Jericho doesn't have the luxury to be great but also lie, and fake injury and retire the greatest wrestler of our generation (Flair) and still come out to a full house of cheers.

So Jericho has realized if he cannot be, and the fans will not let him be on the pedestal that HBK sits atop, then Jericho will take HBK off that pedestal.

The Evolution of Chris Jericho is anything but subtle.

Jericho's evolution is flamed by the fact that he cannot and will never be Shawn Michaels.

Jericho's evolution is a product of Chris' jealousy and hatred of the stature Shawn Michaels has.

Jericho's new ring attire, Jericho talking with a calm almost monotone voice. ( One that he so often mocked over the years) Jericho coming out to suits and ties. Jericho effectively ending "The Highlight Reel"

Every single action is not only his evolution, but it's his tactical strategy that if you wont love him and love him as much as you love HBK he will get you to hate him more then anyone else EVER.

Or as Jericho used to say: "EEEEEVVVVERRRR"

How far will this all go you ask?

This feud will continue and when it is said and done Jericho will be humbled.

Jericho will realize he can not be Shawn Michaels.

This feud will only end when Jericho let's go of this and accepts it.

Jericho will never get the fans respect though by destroying and ending Shawn Michaels career.

How long will Jericho's evolution into the most hated man in wrestling go?

He can change his wrestling attire. Stop joking around. Even change his ring music. He can change his hair again even. But after 6-12 months as this character he will have to evolve into something else yet again.

Jericho said it himself. He see's himself as the Madonna of wrestling. He believes if he sees a picture of himself from three years ago and he looks the same then he is doing something wrong. The natural evolution is to distance himself so much from the Jericho that we all loved and remembered before he left in 2005 that we'll long for that Jericho to return.

Shawn Michaels had to go and find his smile.

When rule breaker and heel Jericho runs it's course Jericho is going to have to do the same. and by then we will be so sick and disgusted by this Jericho that we will welcome back the silver disco jacketed, long haired, quick witted , sharp tongued Ayatollah Of Rock N Rolla

 

By the time this happens, a lot of blood is going to be lost, a lot of feelings are going to be hurt, Shawn Michaels vision might never be the same and most of all Ralphus will still be missing.

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