Chris Jericho's Next WWE Run Should Be in a Non-Wrestling Role

Chris Jericho recently lost to Randy Orton at WWE Night of Champions.  The match itself was not the result of any sort of recent heat between the two as much it was a meeting of two veterans in a straight-up pro wrestling match.

Now that Jericho has left the company once again, many are likely taking the time to look back over this most recent run and evaluate just how well he did.  While fans admire his ring work and likely believe he still has what it takes to perform at a very high level, the fact is that he would be better in a non-wrestling role when he returns again.

It seems like a crazy proposition to pull Jericho out of the ring when he comes back.  After all, he is a six-time world champion and has worked in main event matches all over the world.  He has been a favorite among fans who have appreciated his work through the years despite which side of the fence he's been on.

Indeed, when WWE has an opportunity to induct Jericho into the Hall of Fame, it surely will.  His contributions to the company and to the business itself cannot be denied.  He is certainly one of the most highly regarded and respected talents that the industry has ever known.

And at age 43, he does not appear to have lost a step.

credit: wwe.com

The fact that the man known as Y2J can still go in the ring is a testament not only to his physical conditioning but also to his commitment to his craft.  He has not been a full-time Superstar in several years, but that has little to do with the way he works now.  When fans pay to see Jericho in the ring, they surely get their money's worth every time.

That fact alone means that he should continue to be utilized as an active performer whenever possible.

However, some fans may not have been very thrilled with the way that Jericho has been booked over the past couple of years.  This is through no fault of his own, of course, but the truth is that it has been an issue for some of the WWE faithful who perhaps were hoping for their favorite to be presented in a better light.

From his return in January 2013 at the Royal Rumble to his departure in July of that same year, Jericho went 18-18 in televised matches.  That includes a record of 1-5 in pay-per-view matches, with perhaps the most infamous loss coming to Fandango at WrestleMania 29.

His record in 2014 for only three months of recorded work was much better at 14-6, while his pay-per-view record was 1-2.  WWE had perhaps chosen to use him a little better than the year before, with a feud against Bray Wyatt that Jericho ultimately lost.

As fans obviously know, wins and losses do not necessarily determine a Superstar's success in the company.  The most important part is a guy's ability to entertain the crowd, which Jericho can still do with the best of them.  

But perhaps it is that fact that has disillusioned some of those fans who would like to see more from him. This is an era that has seen both The Rock and Brock Lesnar return and win the WWE Championship only to then appear sporadically on TV.  

With that being the case, many fans are quite possibly asking why Jericho is not being considered for a top spot because he does typically tend to be featured on WWE programming very regularly when he does return.

So while he does entertain when he wrestles and fans appreciate what he brings to the table, there is some real doubt as to why he is not being used on a championship level.  Maybe the best move for him when he comes back is to be used in a different way.

The fact is that Jericho's mic work is perhaps as legendary and respected as his in-ring career.  It is that trait that would serve him very well in a non-wrestling role.

The General Manager positions on both Raw and SmackDown have been vacant for quite some time now, and neither role appears to be all that important anymore.  But if someone like Jericho were to be given one of those spots, the entire tone of either program would undoubtedly change dramatically.

Y2J is so good at what he does and such a natural on the mic that he immediately livens up any spot he appears in.  He has the ability to turn on that side of his character at any moment, and once he starts speaking, fans are typically very focused on him.

He is one of the best talkers of his generation, and to use him in a role that demands his ability to entertain would certainly be a plus for the company.

credit: wwe.com

Of course, Jericho would not need to fully be pulled from active competition.  Fans have seen Kane utilized in a corporate role over the past year, and he has been able to balance his character accordingly.  This would surely also work for Jericho, who could be seen as the one high-level authority figure who would be able to counter anything that Triple H or Stephanie McMahon were to use against any babyfaces on the roster.

The fact is that Jericho is one of those talents who is so versatile he is capable of doing anything and making it work.  While he is still very entertaining in the ring, he is also one of the best at cutting promos, and when he starts talking, fans cannot help but listen.

He would be very effective in a non-wrestling role, which would be a great way for WWE to bring him back in when the time is right.  Jericho can do it all, and such a role would only be further proof.