WWE: 4 Reasons the Feud of Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk Deserves the Hype and More

I do have a rather uncanny obsession with hype (must have been seen in this article). To me, the best wrestlers on Earth can collide at WrestleMania 30, but it'll still pitifully fizzle out if not hyped well. (Case in point: Rock at Survivor Series.)

We now sit in the looming shadow of WrestleMania 28—a WrestleMania that guarantees some of the best matches we'll ever see.

We have a legend vs. legend match in form of Santino Marella vs. Hornswoggle (or was it John Cena vs. The Rock? I seem to have forgotten...don't blame me, it's not like we've known about this match for a year). 

We might bear witness to the Deadman's swan song. I don't think Triple H will break the streak, but hey...we get another Undertaker entrance, a Heart Break Kid presence and a few Sweet Chin Musics and Tombstone Piledrivers at WrestleMania. As much as you want to see a Undertaker vs. Kane, you also want to see a Sweet Chin Music. Don't deny it now.

This article, however, is about the match I'm looking forward to most on Wrestlemania...and considering the card involves the Great One, Phenom and even the best in the world Michael Cole—that's saying something.

Behold, an excited fan's two cents on the feud that will be the Best in the World at Everything It Does.

Best in the World at What He Does vs. Best in the World

Let's get the obvious slide out of the way first. I have a feeling that you, the reader, will develop an uninviting sense of hatred against the word "best" after this article, and for that I take no blame. It's hard to not contain yourself when you actually have the best in the world giving you the best feud you could hope for and the best WrestleMania match for the best WrestleMania.

I think now you must have had enough. I hope I think wrong.

We've had a barrage, seriously, a barrage for articles enshrining CM Punk as a modern-day wrestling god. I'm a huge CM Punk fan (been one, albeit smaller in magnitude, before his June shoot too) and I personally feel a lot of those articles are over the top.

Claiming that Punk is the best WWE has ever seen is wrong. Claiming he's the supernova of men with mic skills is also, and unfortunately, wrong.

Claiming that Punk is the best wrestler, in promo skills and wrestling ability, in the current WWE roster is spot on. Because he really is, and that's why we love him.

You could make a case for guys like Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler, but Punk wins out as the complete package.

Which is exactly what Chris Jericho used to be, and maybe still is. He had an exceptional in-ring talent and an exceptional promo ability. A feud with Jericho spelt entertainment in every segment. 

So the finest in-ring workers and mic workers clash for the first time in a dream match for determining the best in the world. Are you ready for the face-off promos and the match? If you aren't excited, then I don't see what can get you excited. 

Then of course, this is all personal opinion.

A New and Improved Chris Jericho: C'moonnn Baabbyyy!

You can assure yourself that it is indeed Chris Jericho—which means, no matter what happens (Brodus Clay losing 100 pounds included), it'll pan out into compelling television.

No, but really...it's been more than a month since the second day of 2012, and we still aren't completely sure of his gimmick. I'm not complaining really, it makes me look forward to every Jericho segment I would anyway, but the mystery helps no doubt.

But every fan must consider—what exactly is he now? Is he a mere shadow of the juxtaposition of both the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla and The Best in the World at What I Do? Or is he a troll-er who'll troll the crowd whenever he wants and keep speaking in vague phrases like "end of the world as you know it" and "she holds the key to my arrival"?

On that note, who and where is our she? For a long time I believed that "she" was a metaphor for something—Best in the World status, WWE Title, all those wannabe Jerichos. But we need actual closure on this issue.

Jericho's new gimmick was obviously well-planned and executed up to the script until Royal Rumble. It is now continuing as planned after the Royal Rumble too, but with less dire impact in the words "End of the World As You Know It." Sheamus winning the Rumble is another big debate, which won't be addressed here.

All in all, expect this feud to bring out an interesting and refreshing new gimmick. And also expect this feud to end with those jackets being sold as merchandise.

Didn't I say this feud would be awesome at everything it does? Yes, includes merchandise.

Undisputed Champion vs. Undisputed Champion: Two Potential Bestsellers

The first thing that comes in our minds when we think of this feud is those two "best" phrases. The second thing that comes in our minds is an unexplainable urge to get that Jericho jacket.

One thing that we've forgotten however, is the fact that both of them are Undisputed champions. If you've watched even one segment of Jericho, you'll know that he defeated the two faces of the company (Vladmir Kozlov and Evan Bourne) in the same night to become the first ever undisputed champion. 

(The Rock and Stone Cold actually, just in case I get 50 comments poking fun at my already-abysmal general knowledge.)

CM Punk became the undisputed champion at SummerSlam, though he didn't last long with the title. However, he has been one, which counts in the kayfabe arena. 

Both these heavily disputed runs sparked the evolution and emergence of the extraordinary wrestling superstars. Jericho has already achieved the pinnacle of success—in wrestling and even dancing more than music, but he's carved his niche. 

Punk has launched himself into becoming the next few years of the WWE. Apart from Randy Orton and John Cena, we now have a third star who has the right to claim a spot as the face of the company. All this began from MITB, and arguably, his victory as the undisputed champion.

If you've been around for a while, you'll know that defeating Cena on back-to-back PPVs is as good as going 19-0 at WrestleMania—legendary.

So what is this article proving? CM Punk looked better in long hair? Chris Jericho looked better in long hair? Both looked better in long hair?

No. But yeah, they did.

What we're able to draw out from here is that—CM Punk is just what Chris Jericho says he is—a reflection of Chris Jericho. Of course, we can't term every good wrestler with good mic skills as a Jericho rip-off, but in the case of this scripted feud Jericho makes a strong point.

When heels have a strong point, that's when your face is challenged. That's when a feud is balanced and that's when the feud is value for your hard-earned money. 

Wrestling and Promos: "You're a Parasite and a Hypocrite!" "You're Pathetic!"

The last slide focuses (thankfully, I hear you say?) on the main thing—wrestling. 

Chris Jericho is now old, at least old in wrestling terms I'd give you that, but he's also in better shape than he was during the later half of his infamous Flabbycho run. I have no idea how big a role Dancing With The Stars had on his fitness, but it's always good to have wrestlers who look good on television. (Unlike Fat Hardy, remember him?)

We'll only be able to, if at all, derive a conclusive opinion after Elimination Chamber or if he's put into an uninterrupted match on next week's RAW. For now, he gets a nod just for the little we saw of him in the Six-Pack Challenge and also for the fact he's a great wrestler as it is. 

CM Punk is currently on the hottest streak of his life, and he's doing his best to prove that his wrestling is indeed best in the world. He's had amazing matches with Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan and even Alberto Del Rio. Like I said in the beginning, you can raise a case for Bryan and Ziggler too, if you want. But for a Punkaholic, if you will, I see the best wrestler on the current roster in him.

Why I'm stressing on this is because unlike Jericho, I'm not convinced with the absence of The People's Ring Rust. And I've never been convinced with Cena's in-ring talent. (It's decent, but not worthy of such stature). So Cena vs. Rock won't be your best wrestling match of the night.

Triple H is old, and Undertaker is even older. They're showing signs of waning, so this match is crossed out too. 

Money in the Bank is in a sector of its own, and don't get me started on Shaq vs. Show. OK, get me started—it'll be entertaining, but you won't see quality wrestling from any side.

Thus, I proudly claim, that this will be the best wrestling match of the night. The only serious competition is from a Daniel Bryan/Randy Orton vs. Sheamus, but it'll remain just serious competition. Let these emphatic words ring in your minds till WM 28, after which you can revisit this thread and start paying me for predicting the future. 

If not that, at least leave a comment then. Both work. 

So...

The End of the Article as You Know It

All in all, this is the feud I'm watching out for. I've never been this hyped up about a feud since HBK vs. Undertaker. Nah, since Punk vs. Cena. The Road to WrestleMania 28 is being traveled on, and while it brings one of the best cards in WrestleMania history, it also brings with it one of the best feuds in years.

Best. Best. Best.

Thank you for reading.

Shalaj Lawania is pretty new to Bleacher Report, and that's about it. You can become a fan of his on B/R if you like his work or follow him on Twitter (@_Apex_Predator_) if you really can put up with his useless tweets. Annoying tweets or not, do leave a comment for this article!