Chris Jericho Returns to WWE: 12 Wrestlers We'd Love to See Him Face

We all knew it was coming. A new revolution, a new beginning and a new year. It was all about Chris Jericho last night on Raw.

Forget the Kane/John Cena angle. Forget the issues John Laurinaitis and CM Punk have and that at some point Dolph Ziggler will be the WWE Champion. Forget that Daniel Bryan beat Cody Rhodes, and that it looks like the two could be headed for an epic feud where Rhodes will ultimately reach his destiny.

Jericho is what happened last night in Memphis, and the WWE is better for it. The fans are also better for it.

While CM Punk is Roddy Piper and Randy Savage rolled into one, Jericho is Roddy Piper and Shawn Michaels.

The WWE is in an interesting place right now with injuries (Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton, Christian) and there needs to be new blood even if he is in his 40s (he will be 42 this year) to help link the current situation of stale storylines and the need to arc past angles to present feuds.

And along the way, the man they call Y2J could be in for some interesting matches in 2012.

Here is a look at who we all would love to see Jericho tussle with.

12. Christian

They used to be tag team partners and are both popular Canadian wrestlers.

And as far a veterans go, there are few that are in better shape than these two.

It would be a classic confrontation that opens the door to giving Christian a real place in the company when he returns from injury.

It also gives Jericho a solid opponent who he can sell for and vice versa.

11. Brock Lesnar

While they are diametrically polar opposites in size and ability, the fact Jericho accused Lesnar of taking a dive in his recent UFC match makes this somewhat interesting.

Lesnar first needs to come back to the WWE and then we have to see if there would be some heat from this kind of a matchup.

While it would look like David and Goliath, it really could be a great feud.

10. John Cena

A lot would have to happen for this to come about, but nonetheless, it would be EPIC.

Two future Hall of Famers of this magnitude don't lock it up all too often.

It has future PPV events written all over it.

9. Zack Ryder

He needs competition to help him gain more heat and rise up the ladder.

Ryder got his start with some help from John Cena, and it looks like Kane will add to this list.

Could Jericho be part of the "Zack Attack?"

8. Alberto Del Rio

A groin injury like Del Rio's will take some time to heal. But when he returns to the ring, the Mexican Aristocrat will need a challenger.

If he wants Jericho, he won't have to look too far.

7. The Rock

Just putting it out there. If The Rock decides after WrestleMania 28 that he wants to get back into the ring, Jericho would be a great one to call out.

6. Dolph Ziggler

If he becomes the WWE Champion, you know Jericho would become one of the top contenders immediately for the title.

Ziggler is on the rise, much like Jericho was when he came to the WWE from WCW. Both have contrasting styles that make the match unique.

It would be a hell of a feud.

5. Wade Barrett

Randy Orton will be out of action for some time with herniated disks in his back. Barrett needs a new feud and well, Sheamus has already been to the woodshed with this guy.

Let's see how the brawler Barrett handles the speed of Jericho.

4. Cody Rhodes

Two contrasting styles, two big egos.

Jericho of the old school variety. Rhodes of the new. While Rhodes has been working a vignette with Booker T, it could be another legendary match with Jericho taking the newest Rhodes to school.

3. Daniel Bryan

Maybe the one guy who would be able to make someone like Jericho tap out.

Bryan needs a smaller opponent than Mark Henry and Big Show. While it may be Cody Rhodes, Bryan is a good fit for an angle with Jericho.

And if the World Title is on the line, it also shuffles the deck of contenders on Smackdown.

2. CM Punk

A classic battle of two faces for the WWE Title.

This one works because while Jericho and Punk are both loved by the fans, it takes on a Cena/Punk theatric.

Punk's holding the WWE Title and corporate thinks he is having trouble selling ratings. He would not have any trouble in a feud with Jericho.

1. The Miz

Oh, if these two ever get started in a pissing contest on a microphone, look out.

Jericho's acrobatics and rope assault against The Miz and his ever-growing mat work.

This could be as good as Shawn Michaels and Jericho a few years back.

It also would help give Miz the nod into superstardom that he seems to already be headed toward.