Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins Feud Is Being Overshadowed by Chris Jericho

Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins are going to hell; Hell in a Cell, that is.

The WWE Universal Championship will be on the line when these two top Superstars step into Satan's Structure on Oct. 30. For KO, this is about fighting off the toughest challenge of his title reign thus far. For Rollins, it's about regaining his top spot in the company. 

But is it really about Chris Jericho?

The fact that Jericho is over should come as no surprise to longtime fans, who know how entertaining he can be. With each new run he's had, Y2J has added another layer to his personality. Whether he's heel or babyface, Jericho has always been willing to reinvent himself. 

This is especially true now, as Jericho has perhaps not been this entertaining in years.

He's cocky, he's overconfident and he's arrogant. The "friendship" between Jericho and Owens is overly obnoxious; it's so obnoxious that a split between the two seems to be in the works. Heels just do not get along this well, and it's only a matter of time before the title comes between them.

Until it does, their comedy routine rules Monday nights.

This is why KO's Hell in a Cell showdown is being overshadowed. Fans likely have a hard time buying into Owens' title defense because so much attention is being given to Jericho's antics. The focus has been split, and at times, the championship seems to be an afterthought. The biggest issue becomes the eventual separation of KO and Y2J, with little discussion of the Oct. 30 match.

But is this being done by design?

Is this yet another example of the company attempting to throw a curveball at the fans? While everyone is so busy looking at Jericho, is the door being opened for Rollins to slide in and win the belt, as he may do at Hell in a Cell? Could it be that easy?

Or are fans expecting Jericho to somehow get involved during the match to help Owens win? Of course, he could interfere and cost Owens the title, setting up the inevitable match that many are now predicting. Either way, the focus continues to be on Jericho instead of Owens vs. Rollins.

The question is if it matters.

Maybe Jericho's presence in this feud is not the big deal that some fans perhaps believe it is. Maybe it's time to lighten up a bit and just let the fans have fun with this one. After all, Jericho has never been more entertaining, and he is a lock to get the next title shot. Perhaps it's best to allow this to run its course and just let fans enjoy it.

Epic feuds and championship showdowns are great, but there's nothing wrong with having a few laughs.

The problem is that building a new title is no laughing matter. Fans mocked the Universal Championship when it was first introduced. The lack of pedigree and overall value defined the title and caused the WWE faithful to reject it immediately. The belt meant nothing, and fans wanted nothing to do with it.

So the answer is to surround the championship with goofball comedy?

The Universal Championship is too new; it has no foundation. The best way to establish its importance is through intense feuds and exciting matches, all at the hands of talented workers. There must be a level of drama involved because fans have to take it seriously.

Lack of seriousness often plagues WWE. 

Stars such as Santino Marella and The Boogeyman are only two examples of this, but there have been many more over the years. Too much emphasis on lighthearted storylines hasn't done the company any favors, either; revealing Hornswoggle as Vince McMahon's son will, unfortunately, never be forgotten.

But despite how often WWE goes to the comedy playbook, the primary championships should be spared. This includes the Universal Championship, which deserves a fair chance of getting serious growth. 

However, can fans honestly recall a time when Y2J was hindering a storyline because he was "too entertaining"?

Therein lies the problem. Jericho is doing what he does best, but it's at the expense of Owens vs. Rollins. That feud will never get the opportunity it needs to get over as long as Jericho is killing it on TV. All of this is leading to Jericho vs. Owens, but it's not helping Rollins' situation at all right now.

The fact is that fans love Jericho, and they should. He's a legend who always delivers, and he's doing exactly that right now. He and Owens are perfect together, and that combination should continue as long as possible. Whether Rollins will indeed become lost in this remains to be seen. The same can sadly also be said of the Universal Championship.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here