For those of you from the old board ...

[Guest Loss4Words]

Name a wrestler. I'll pick up where I left off. I have recapped the entire period for Ric Flair and Chris Jericho so far IIRC. I thought of some adjustments though, so I'm just going to start over. Ignore those if you remember them. After I finish this one, name a wrestler, any wrestler, and I'll give you the plans I had for that wrestler through the end of the year and for the next year. This is also quite a bit more long term than the other recap of the year. I'll go ahead and do Flair and Jericho revised first then I'll do the rest. Here they are:

 

Chris Jericho - When we left off, Jericho was the World champ, having just created the "Dark Horsemen" group with Benoit, Malenko and Kanyon, with Lenny Lane acting as a lackey/flunky/manager/occasional wrestler/Stevie Richards. Anyway, Jericho and Sting were set to do battle in a 2 of 3 falls match at Bash at the Beach. A stipulation gets added into the match ahead of time per Jericho's request. He went to Arn Anderson, concerned that he was defending the title in a 2/3 falls match. He stated that he thought it would be unfair to do so, especially if he beat Sting in the first fall. Anyway, he whined to a point where Arn finally agreed to allow Jericho to pick a stipulation in the match just so he'd shut up and they could be "even". Jericho's stipulation was that if he retained the title and won the match, Sting would be forced to drop the face paint and "be real". Jericho did several interviews going into the PPV declaring Sting a fraud who's afraid to show his own face and talks about how he is a disgrace to his family. He says the entire Sting persona is nothing but a total fraud, that his real name is Steve Borden and he's a nobody that grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. This enrages Sting to a point where he finally, the week before the PPV, does a rebuttal interview talking about how he started out in the wrestling business without face paint and was just known as a "freedom fighter" in Memphis, TN. He knew that he had the talent to make it big, but he was doing anything he could to get noticed. This brings Jericho out. Jericho does a SCATHING anti-Sting interview, talking about how he's losing his desire and that his children are probably not even his, but the milkman's. This prompts Sting to just let loose on Jericho before he finally gets pulled off of him and with this, we head into the PPV.

 

Bash at the Beach: 2/3 falls - Chris Jericho v Sting

 

Sting actually wins the first fall in about 8 minutes after Sting reverses a Northern lights suplex attempt into a scorpion deathdrop. Lenny Lane is at ringside and sits Jericho up in the corner, massages his shoulders and gives him water between falls. Jericho ends up winning the second fall when Jericho gets him with a reverse rollup, holding the tights. This is at about the 22-minute mark. Finally, Jericho wins the third and deciding fall in 32 minutes after Sting goes for a Stinger splash and Jericho holds up a chair. Sting splashes the chair, allowing Jericho to cover him for the pin. Jericho celebrates and leaves after the match as Sting stands in the ring disappointed. He's looking down when Raven, who has been noticably absent for the previous month, appears out of nowhere and DDTs Sting on to the chair. He puts the boots to him and does it again, screaming "What about me? What about Raven?" the entire time. Raven then takes the face paint off of Sting himself and screams at the camera man to get a close up. Sting moves into a program with Raven while Jericho moves on.

 

Jericho is talking the next night on Nitro about how he now has pinned Bill Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page and Sting and he wonders if there is anyone left. He said that Ric Flair is terrified of him and has his hands full anyway. Jericho, backed by the Dark Horsemen, says that to commemorate the tremendous victories he has had as of late, he has decided to read off a list of every single wrestler he has ever defeated in his entire career. He gets out a long sheet of paper and gets to the H's, when he says that's funny, because he thought he had defeated at least one wrestler whose last name started with H. He then said nevermind, since he couldn't think of anyone worthwhile whose last name started with "H" anyway. He moves on, prompting Hollywood Hogan to come out after his three-month absence. He talks about how Jericho is trying to be bad, but Hollywood INVENTED bad. He suggests that they wrestle that night for the World title and Jericho says no, because he knows it's in the rulebook that he doesn't have to wrestle Hogan until he's had at least 48 hours to prepare for the challenge. This brings out DDP, who claims that he's the one who put Hogan out of action anyway. We end up getting a Hogan v DDP main event and Jericho tries to interfere, which brings out Bill Goldberg, who stands right in front of Jericho, watching him making sure he doesn't interfere. At one point in the match, as Hogan is about to defeat DDP, a woman in a dress in the audience feigns a heart attack. Goldberg looks away and tries to help the woman and Jericho throws powder in his eyes and knocks him out with a chair. The woman then jumps the railing and starts beating up Goldberg before being revealed as Chris Kanyon! The Dark Horsemen had outsmarted Hogan and Goldberg. So Jericho, Kanyon and Page are all working over Hogan and Goldberg when Billy Kidman makes the save with a chair. He connects on all three and tells Kanyon he'll see him at Road Wild. This sets up a six-man tag for the following week, where Bill Goldberg, Hulk Hogan and Billy Kidman take on Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Jericho and Chris Kanyon. Hogan gets the pin on DDP for the win at the 9 minute mark. They are celebrating when Jericho comes in with a black glove on his hand and knocks Hogan out. He grabs the house mic and declares that Jerichoholism is running wild and asks Hogan what he's gonna do at Road Wild before spitting on him and walking out. Hogan gets a measure of revenge the next week when Jericho is scheduled to defend his title against El Diablo, a supposed lucha libre superstar who even Mike Tenay knows nothing about. Diablo ends up taking Jericho to the limit to a point where Jericho grabs his title and bails! Diablo eventually takes off the mask to reveal Hulk Hogan. Finally, th enext week, we get promos from both Hogan and Jericho about the PPV coming forth the following Sunday and they have a staredown to end the show.

 

Road Wild: Chris Jericho v Hulk Hogan

 

Jericho rides a HONDA to the ring, just to really get under the crowd's skin. Before the match, he does a long speech about how Japanese products are actually better and that he wouldn't be caught dead on a Harley, just to explain to the non-wrestling crowd who the face and heel is. Jericho and Hogan go at it in quite the brutal brawl, with Jericho even blading pretty heavily. Match ends with Hogan doing a belly-to-back suplex and the ref counts to three, but Jericho gets his shoulder up at the last minute. Hogan's shoulders were never officially off of the ground, which means Jericho was actually covering Hogan there, which means Jericho wins the match and retains the title. He then, covered in blood, tells the Sturgis crowd how much he loves them all and that he hopes they all find REAL methods of transportation home.

 

The following night on Nitro, we see a somber Chris Jericho, bandaged up, dressed in all black while Kanyon is in the ring holding up a cardboard cutout of Hulk Hogan in the middle of a pool and swaying it from side-to-side. Benoit and Malenko are standing in the background, also in all black as Jericho reads a prepared speech. He talks about how Hogan was a true legend and that it's a shame that he no longer means anything at all and that Chris Jericho has stolen his legacy. Just to really egg this on, Lenny Lane is softly singing "Sailing Away" by Styx in the background as the Maestro is at ringside playing the song on the piano. Finally, Hogan comes out of the crowd with a baseball bat and takes out Benoit, Malenko and Kanyon. Jericho bails and everyone else gets out of the ring, except Lenny Lane, who Hogan destroys.

 

Jericho is apparently now on cloud nine since he has defeated Hulk Hogan and throughout the night, Billy Kidman is attacked, Ric Flair is attacked, Bill Goldberg is attacked and disparaging comments are made about Bret Hart by Jericho. This eventually sets up War Games, where at Fall Brawl, the Dark Horsemen & Lenny Lane will take on Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bill Goldberg, Bret Hart & Billy Kidman. Bret is actually a mystery partner for a couple of weeks until he returns to the Nitro the week before the PPV, saying he will be filling that role and that with his comeback, there's no better way to make a huge splash than to teach the World champ a thing or two. Hype will be both heavy and crucial for this PPV, since Nitro ran unopposed three shows in a row while Raw was pre-empted for US Open tennis. This hopefully would be a great time to win back disgruntled viewers.

 

Fall Brawl: War Games - Chris Jericho, Chris Kanyon, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko & Lenny Lane v Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Bill Goldberg & Billy Kidman

 

Benoit and Kidman are first in for their teams. Heels win the coin toss, bringing in Malenko for their team. Next we get Ric Flair, who has decided he doesn't want to wait and is on a path of rage here. Third to come in for the heels is Chris Kanyon. Third to come in for the faces is Hulk Hogan. Fourth to come in for the heels is Chris Jericho and he doesn't want to enter the cage, so Hogan actually drags him by the hair into the cage. You see ripped out parts of Jericho's hair on the mat. Bill Goldberg comes in and evens the sides. Lenny Lane is last in for the heels and has powder, a chain, brass knux, a spike and all kinds of other weapons that he's carrying in a black bag into the ring. Last in for the faces is Bret Hart and the "Match Beyond" is officially underway. Match ends when Lane goes for his bag of goodies and gets chased away by Bret Hart. The other Dark Horsemen, meanwhile, seem to be doing really well. Lane gets handcuffed to the ropes without their knowledge. Then, Malenko gets handcuffed to the ropes without their knowledge. Then, Kanyon gets handcuffed to the ropes. Jericho is still unaware as he's working over Goldberg with that spike Lane brought in the ring. Benoit then gets handcuffed to the ropes. Kidman is about to handcuff Jericho when Flair stops him and says he'd rather have some fun. Jericho turns around to celebrate after he's been stomping on Goldberg for a minute or so and is shocked to see Hogan, Flair, Bret and Kidman all staring him down. He tries to climb out of the cage, which obviously doesn't work with the top there. He gets pulled down and they all take turns putting the beating on him. Everyone hits their finisher on Jericho. Goldberg does the jackhammer then looks at Flair and says "finish him off!" when Flair applies the figure four. Jericho won't quit and actually flips the bird to all of them! So, while Jericho is in the figure four, Kidman hits him with the shooting star press, Hogan gets a legdrop, Bret Hart does his middle rope elbow and Goldberg starts gouging at Jericho's face with the spike being used on him just minutes ago. Finally, Jericho submits for his team and the Dark Horsemen have lost at War Games.

 

Now, we segue into Halloween Havoc, where Ric Flair has now earned the right to challenge Jericho for the World title.

 

Jericho comes out on crutches the following night with a bandaged head and a sling and talks about the injuries he suffered in War Games. He basically explains what happened to pop the crowd. He says that because of this, he doesn't know if he can make it to the PPV, but he promises that he will either make it or die trying.

 

This brings Ric Flair out. Flair mocks Jericho's state of helplessness and says that with everything he has in store for Jericho, the pain he endured the night before is just the tip of the iceberg. He says he can be a sportsman though and he offers a handshake to Jericho. Jericho says that is awfully nice of him and sticks out his hand, when Flair takes his hand away and slicks back his hair, does the Whoo!, and walks out.

 

The following week, Jericho is STILL on crutches. Scott Hudson says that to his knowledge, Jericho's knee was not severely injured at the PPV and that he in fact had an MRI done last week and no severe damage was discovered. He accuses Jericho of milking the injury for sympathy. Later in the show, Jericho comes out and does a rage-filled interview, screaming at Scott Hudson talking about how he doesn't know him, doesn't know what he's thinking and how he's trying to misrepresent him in front of the people. He even slaps Hudson and is about to do more when Arn Anderson runs out and tries to calm down Jericho. Jericho actually spits in his face! Arn does everything he can to stay calm, but before he can react, Ric Flair comes out and lays a few punches in on Jericho.

 

The next week, Jericho, STILL on crutches, talks about how his injuries were made even worse the previous week by Flair's cheapshot, interjecting himself into a situation that had nothing to do with him. He says later in the night, Flair gets Kanyon in the ring and he's going to sit at ringside to make sure that no one interferes in the match and that Flair doesn't try anything cheap like he did the week before. Of course, Flair has the figure four on Kanyon when Jericho runs in and nails him with his crutch. He then starts walking normally. His knee is fine. He then beats Flair over and over with the crutch and steals Flair's robe from ringside.

 

We then come back from the break and Flair is still laid out in the ring. Jericho is now in Flair's locker room taking his wallet, his jewelry, his cash, his clothing and anything else he can find. He throws a bucket of paint all over the suits hanging in Flair's closet, then leaves the area in quick fashion.

 

The next week, Flair does a great interview about how you can take the riches out of Ric Flair, but you can't take the Ric Flair out of the riches. He says the suits were no big deal because he has 20 more in his closet in Charlotte. The Rolex? Pocket change. The cash? He makes $5 million a year! He then tells Jericho he'll see him at Halloween Havoc and leaves it at that.

 

Main event is Ric Flair versus Chris Benoit with Jericho interfering as much as he can. Benoit ends up getting the pin on Flair and Jericho enters the ring, along with the other Dark Horsemen. They are all taking out their frustrations on Flair when Arn Anderson runs down. He gets taken out too. Finally, the Wolfpac music starts and Scott Hall and Kevin Nash come out, making their official return after a long absence. They clear the ring and tend to Flair. Arn ends up setting up the Outsiders against Benoit & Malenko at Halloween Havoc.

 

Next week's main event is an eight-man tag with Flair, Eddy Guerrero and the Outsiders against Jericho, Benoit, Malenko and Kanyon. Guerrero ends up pinning Jericho in a HUGE upset when Flair has Jericho distracted. Jericho is enraged and that's how the show ends. Before they go off the air, Arn says that on next week's show, the title shot Jericho has been dodging giving to Guerrero for months can't be dodged anymore. And just to make things fair, Jericho will defend his title in a steel cage, and not just any cage, a Caged Heat match (similar to Hell in the Cell).

 

The following week, video packages and such are shown throughout the show, focusing on Guerrero and really hyping this as his chance to prove himself. He has a sit-down interview with Mike Tenay earlier in the night, telling him he feels like he's 100% and that he can feel -- in the air -- that this is his night. All of the sudden, the Dark Horsemen appear and clip Guerrero's knee and work it over with a chair. Guerrero is left laying. Scott Hudson then, throughout the next few matches, really chastises the DH for ruining Guerrero's opportunity. Arn Anderson enters the dressing room and tells Eddy they can always reschedule for when he's 100%, but Eddy says if he's going to do this, he's going to do this now. He knows it can work and he's prepared! Announcers put over Guerrero's bravery but question his sanity. Mark Madden talks about how Guerrero is stupid for risking his knee.

 

Jericho comes out first for this match. Guerrero comes out second and once AGAIN gets blindsided by the DH. The ref finally manages to chase them away and Jericho grabs Eddy and pulls him to the ring. He works him over for the first five minutes or so before Guerrero finally makes a comeback, and a strong one at that. He's going to town on Jericho and goes for the frog splash and connects, but lands on his knee and can't cover. Jericho then works on the knee for the next few minutes or so and Guerrero makes another comeback. He's about to finish off Jericho when all the sudden the cage raises. Lenny Lane sneaks in with a pipe and puts the beating on Guerrero. Chris Kanyon has camadered the cage controls! Benoit and Malenko are headed to the ring when the Outsiders get them from behind. They end up brawling through the crowd. Then Flair comes out with a pipe of his own and chases off Lane, who takes off through the crowd. And Kidman gets control of the cage back from Kanyon, who also takes off. Kidman is now sitting over at the cage control desk and Flair is staying at ringside. The ref orders the match to continue until one man wins and one man loses! Flair is cheering on Guerrero madly (they've befriended the previous few weeks anyway) and Jericho takes control. He taunts Flair the entire time he's in the ring. He then hits his finisher and goes for the pin and Guerrero kicks out at 2 3/4!!! Jericho is stunned! Flair is still cheering Guerrero on. After a reverse chinlock comeback spot, Guerrero is back in control and now gets another frog splash and this time, his knee is protected. He goes for the pin ... 1 ... 2 ... and JERICHO KICKS OUT! Guerrero really hangs his head low as Flair tells him from ringside not to worry about it and to just stay on him. Eddy then goes for a superplex, which he hits, but lands awkwardly on his knee. Jericho starts to do the Liontamer, then stops, holds up four fingers, flips off Ric Flair and screams "Now we go to school!" He puts the figure four on Guerrero! The crowd is going batshit by this point I would think. Eddy holds on for quite a while before finally passing out, as Jericho is also holding the ropes for leverage. Jericho retains the title. Flair and his valet Torrie Wilson are screaming for the cage to be raised and they immediately go in to check on Guerrero. Jericho grabs Torrie's wrist and KISSES HER, which makes Flair pounce on Jericho until Jericho finally retreats, then stands at the aisle way holding his championship high! Flair gets the mic and swears that if he gets his hands on Jericho before the PPV, he will kill him! End of show.

 

Halloween Havoc: Chris Jericho v Ric Flair

 

Jericho uses a lot of Flair's old heel tactics and actually gets the win at the 30-minute mark with his feet on the ropes. Flair snaps after the match and actually takes out the referee, the ring announcer and the timekeeper as the show goes off the air.

 

We start Nitro the following night and Flair is on a rampage looking for Jericho -- DEMANDING a rematch that evening! Arn says he can't grant him that because Jericho hasn't had ample time to prepare for the match and Guerrero finally convinces Flair to calm down, telling him they can team against Jericho and maybe Kanyon that evening. Flair is STILL going insane and Guerrero tells him he really needs to calm down. Flair says, "listen here, you little PUNK, I've been doing this for 27 years and you don't need to boss me around!" He then pushes Guerrero, which prompts Guerrero to push him back and security keeps the two separate. Right before the main event, Flair goes to Guerrero's dressing room and apologizes for overreacting earlier in the evening. Guerrero said he understands that he's angry and they'll just put it in the past.

 

The main event comes and Guerrero plays face-in-peril. Flair doesn't tag in. He keeps screaming "do it yourself, you little know-it-all" and other similar insults before finally just leaving the match altogether. Torrie Wilson stops him and asks him what he's doing and he yells at her to get out of his way, even calling her a bitch! Guerrero ends up losing the match due to Flair walking out on him and Kanyon pins Guerrero.

 

Flair and Guerrero move into a program together and Jericho is doing an interview talking about how he's now beaten everyone there is to beat when Bret Hart interrupts, saying he's been waiting patiently all this time for a title shot and he's tired of waiting. Jericho says Bret hasn't earned a title shot and that if he really thinks he deserves it, he can face Chris Benoit later in the evening and he'll take on the winner of that match!

 

We come back from commercial and Jericho runs back to Arn Anderson and says he didn't mean to say that. He meant to say Bret would have to beat Benoit to earn a title shot, but not the part about Benoit getting one if he won. Benoit steps in and asks Jericho if he's saying he's not good enough to get a title shot. Jericho smiles and says "of course you are", before telling Arn to change the stip. Arn says he's already called legal to draw up the contract terms, so he can't back out now. Jericho storms out of the room and Benoit and Arn Anderson have a brief staredown.

 

Bret Hart v Chris Benoit actually ends up expiring at TV time. We leave Nitro unsure who Jericho's opponent will be at the PPV in Canada on November 21. Arn's ruling on the next Nitro is that since the match went to a draw, Jericho will have two opponents at Mayhem and it will be a triple threat match between he, Bret Hart and Chris Benoit.

 

Tensions slowly build between Jericho and Benoit over the next few weeks as Jericho stares Benoit down and tells him he is not good enough to be the World champion, prompting Benoit to slap Jericho! They have to be pulled apart.

 

Meanwhile, Bret sits back, watching the two self-destruct and even says he may have easy pickings at the PPV.

 

Finally, the week before the PPV, Benoit goes to Bret and tells him he's sick of the Dark Horsemen, sick of being Jericho's backup, sick of catering to someone else's agenda and that he wanted Bret to know that it would be every man for himself out there in that match. Bret said that's admirable and that he would still come out on top, when Jericho blindsides him and he and Benoit embrace. Announcers say they seem to be on good terms with each other going into the PPV.

 

Mayhem: Chris Jericho v Chris Benoit v Bret Hart

 

Match goes to a 60-minute draw! Benoit has Jericho for a two-count when the bell rings.

 

Meanwhile, Bill Goldberg has earned a Starrcade title shot against Jericho and the match that has been anticipated all year is finally about to take place. It is announced by Arn Anderson that Jericho will NOT defend his title until the PPV and that both will be able to keep a relatively low profile and be allowed more time to train going into the PPV.

 

The buildup at this point is a lot more low-key, with lots of video packages and interviews airing. One of Bill Goldberg airs talking about how this match will be one for the ages and that he'll finally win back the World title after losing it exactly one year ago. A Jericho video airs the next week with him saying in a pretty serious, direct tone that like him or not, he gets results and that he's not ready to lose the title yet and that Goldberg will be just like everyone else has been all year. It is still apparent that tension exists between Benoit and Jericho over the previous PPV. Goldberg and Jericho do the contract signing angle when Jericho goes to attack Goldberg and Benoit stops him. Benoit takes the house mic and tells Jericho to be a professional for once and walks out. Jericho looks very angry. Goldberg is a man focused, however and he will only be focused on Jericho.

 

Starrcade: Chris Jericho v Bill Goldberg

 

Match goes about 20 minutes with Goldberg making a huge comeback and kicking out of lots of great near falls. To make things interesting, Jericho even kicks out of a spear-jackhammer combo, which sends Goldberg the message that he's going to have to reach a little deeper to win this match. Lenny Lane comes out to distract the ref and Benoit is wearing a loaded glove. Jericho is holding Goldberg and Benoit goes to hit Goldberg but stops in mid-hit when Goldberg ducks. Jericho smiles like that was a close one and Benoit decides to hit him anyway and takes off! Jericho is knocked out, comes to and gets a spear. Then he gets the jackhammer. 1-2-3!!! We finally have a new World champion. The locker room clears and Goldberg celebrates in mid-ring with fireworks and everything. Benoit even shakes his hand and tells him good work.

 

The next night, Benoit is doing an interview in mid-ring about the previous night when Jericho blindsides him, along with the other Dark Horsemen guys and they are really brutal. Jericho actually does the Ricky Steamboat-Randy Savage throat angle here with the ring bell and Benoit is wheeled out in an ambulance.

 

Jericho gets a rematch with Goldberg at Souled Out and has been showing a MAJOR mean streak since losing the World title, including one interview where he completely told Goldberg off.

 

Souled Out - Bill Goldberg v Chris Jericho - Jericho is about to hit Goldberg with a chair after a ref bump when Chris Benoit comes through the crowd and takes it away from him! Goldberg ends up successfully defending the title in the rematch and Benoit does a number on Jericho after the match, attacking his arm over and over. Jericho is SCREAMING as Benoit continues to stomp on his arm and attack his arm with a chair and all.

 

We're told the next night that Jericho has suffered a broken arm and will be out for the next 4-6 weeks.

 

There's more, but this takes a long time, so I'll do the rest later. This is a start though.

[Guest HBK4LIFE]

Hey man,

great stuff. I really enjoyed that WCW booking and I think you've got a great talent. I'd love to see what you did with your Disco Inferno character as well as DDP and Goldberg.

[Guest X-Factor Corperation]

Cool. It would be nice to know more of David Flair.

[Guest Choken One]

You're god, you know that right?

[Guest Loss4Words]

Thanks everyone. Continuing on ...

 

Chris Jericho is absent until SuperBrawl when he interferes in Chris Benoit's match with Chris Kanyon. They have a pull-apart brawl and have to be separated by security.

 

The following night on Nitro, Chris Benoit does an interview talking about how Jericho has always had to hide behind others and use other people to achieve his success. This brings out Chris Jericho, who says it's not his fault that someone like Chris Benoit is stupid enough to fall for it. He then tells him he needs to toughen up, that this is a man's sport, and that Chris Jericho is a real man and that Chris Benoit isn't. He also says Benoit lacks intensity, isn't much of a wrestler and spends too much time talking, just to really make this the exact opposite of what's true. Benoit says if Jericho doesn't see him as much of a wrestler, then he'll have no problem taking him on at Uncensored. Jericho agrees to this. They have a pretty intense staredown and it ends with Jericho trying to sneak in a punch on Benoit. Benoit blocks it and gets him with one of his own. He then does the swandive headbutt. Kanyon, Malenko and Lane run out but Benoit bails through the crowd just in time as they help up Jericho.

 

The following week, Chris Jericho and Chris Kanyon take on Chris Benoit and Eddy Guerrero. Match goes long and is intended to be a free TV classic. Guerrero gets the pin on Kanyon after a frog splash when The Establishment (you'll see in later summaries) runs in and lays out all four! Jericho, Kanyon, Benoit and Guerrero are all left laying in pretty dramatic fashion and it gets pretty ugly as Hulk Hogan is in all their faces saying "you never sold out the Silverdome" and Flair is saying "you never wrestled 400 times a year". Goldberg runs in and takes Hogan out, prompting the others to bail. He then looks around the ring and tries to help Jericho up. Jericho then realizes it's Goldberg and they get in a shoving match before Guerrero finally separates them.

 

The following week, Benoit is talking about the problems the younger guys seem to be having with the older guys when Jericho interrupts him. He goes on a tangent about how Benoit needs to be completely, 100% focused on Chris Jericho at Uncensored and that he needs to stop worrying about this other crap. Jericho then gets in Benoit's face and says he's totally focused on him and that after Uncensored, the way things are going lately, he doesn't know who his allies and enemies will be, but right now, Benoit is a clear-cut enemy. With this, Kanyon, Malenko and Lane lay Benoit out from behind. Jericho grabs the mic and gets in Benoit's face while the others hold his arms. Jericho says he has always been better than Benoit, always had more fans, always been more successful and that their match at Uncensored will be no different. He then leaves him laying.

 

Finally, match time arrives.

 

Uncensored: Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho

 

Match is totally clean. Benoit wins at the 28-minute mark after the swandive. As soon as the match ends, Goldberg's music starts. He walks down and asks both to just stand there for a second and take everything in. He explains to both of them that this should be the focus of WCW, this should be what the company is about -- two guys hate each other and have a match to settle things. He compliments both guys on a great match and says they obviously have a larger problem on their hands with The Establishment. He explains how they're trying to run all of the younger guys out of WCW to protect their own spots. He says this can't happen. He says he and Eddy are doing everything they can, but that they need help. He finally looks at Jericho and asks him to put the past behind them, at least for a little while. Jericho looks at Goldberg's hand, then his eyes back and forth for a second before taking the mic out of Goldberg's hands. He tells Goldberg that he should make something clear. He hates Goldberg. He always has hated Goldberg. He always will hate Goldberg. He then says that there's no way he could ever help Goldberg with anything and walks out. Benoit, still in the ring, looks at Goldberg and says they've had their issues in the past, but that he is right in that there is a larger issue at hand here and he will gladly help out however he can.

 

 

Earlier in the evening before the scheduled Nitro main event of Bill Goldberg v Lex Luger, a video is shown of the history of the WCW World title that's pretty touching. The video ends and the camera cuts to Goldberg and Luger walking to the ring in alternate camera angles. Jericho, watching on the monitor, all of the sudden gets up and storms out of his locker room. Throughout the night, he approaches Billy Kidman, Booker T, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, Scott Steiner, Rey Misterio Jr , Chris Kanyon and Konnan.

 

The following night on Nitro, Goldberg has just had a match against Lex Luger and is being surrounded by the members of The Establishment (Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Bret Hart, Lex Luger, Randy Savage, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sid, Diamond Dallas Page and WCW Pres. Arn Anderson) when all of the sudden Jericho, Kidman, Booker, Benoit, Guerrero, Steiner, Misterio and Konnan all come through the curtain. They enter the ring and we have a standoff now. All the younger guys are backing Goldberg and The Establishment bails. They are all in the ring. Jericho then looks at Goldberg for a second and sticks out his hand. Goldberg looks at him for a second before finally shaking his hand. The battle lines are drawn!

 

It is announced now that WCW World champion Bret Hart will defend the title against Chris Jericho at Spring Stampede in the show's main event.

 

The following week, an edict comes in from TBS higher-up about the proverbial line of sand in the company. It says that obviously, tensions are high to the point where the company simply isn't big enough for all of them. So ... the remainder of 2000 will be fought on a points system. Effective at Spring Stampede, The Establishment will get 1 point for every victory they hold in a match over a member of the Anti-Establishment and vice versa. At Starrcade, the two highest points-getters for their respective teams will face off in a one-on-one match and the winner of that match and his team will remain in the company while the losers will not. So, 2000 will be a major struggle and major, landscape-changing year in WCW. Everyone is wished well.

 

Chris Jericho and Bill Goldberg take on Bret Hart and Sting in the following week's main event. Bret ends up getting a pinfall over Jericho after Sting hits him with the bat.

 

The next week Jericho is doing a promo about how even though Bret's means were nefarious, he can't fault him. This is a fight for survival. He then says this will be the most challenging year of his life and that all of the other Anti-Establishment guys aren't necessarily his best friends, but he knows that he can count of them. This brings out Lenny Lane. Lane wants to know why Jericho didn't go to HIM for help and wants to know why he kept both he and Dean Malenko in the dark. Jericho apologizes and says that it was not intended as a slam. It's just that they are all fighting for their position in the company and had to ensure survival. Lane talks about how they've "survived" just fine over the past year. He then says he's really hurt that Jericho would abandon them like that and that he guesses they'll have to be on their own now. Jericho says he hates that, but sometimes, things just have to come to an end. He then walks out, but they all put a beating on him and leave him laying. Benoit and Kanyon come out with a chair and they all bail.

 

The next week is the last week before the PPV of Jericho v Bret. Bret gets some major heat on Jericho by attacking him from behind as he's on his way to the ring for a match. He does the ringpost figure four on him and finally has to be pulled off. He then gets the mic and talks about how even through all of last year, Bret Hart was the one guy that Jericho was never able to beat and that Spring Stampede would be no different.

 

Spring Stampede: Bret Hart v Chris Jericho

 

Match goes about 25 minutes or so. Jericho gets several close counts but can't quite dispose of Bret. Finally, Ric Flair heads toward ringside. He gets on the apron and Jericho hits him but is distracted and Bret rolls up Jericho from behind for the quick 1-2-3! Bret then immediately leaves the ring, prompting Jericho to get the mic and tell Flair to get his ass in the ring. Flair does and Flair looks at him and simply says "be careful what you dispose of because it's not always disposable." With that, the remaining Dark Horsemen members attack Jericho and leave him laying. Flair holds up four fingers to all of them while WCW Pres. Arn Anderson looks on approvingly. We apparently have a new Four Horsemen group.

 

The Establishment is doing an in-ring interview the next night on Nitro when Jericho comes out alone and just stands at the aisle way. He looks them all on by himself and then just takes off running to the ring with a baseball bat, going to town. He ends up getting blindsided by Scott Hall and held by the arms of everyone while Flair screams in his face. He says Jericho is beneath him and that he'll never wrestle him.

 

Arn Anderson says the next week that Jericho hasn't proven himself worthy of a match with Ric Flair, but he does know someone Jericho can face -- Scott Hall, one-on-one at Slamboree. Hall comes down and gets in Jericho's face. Hall throws the toothpick at Jericho and Jericho punches him. Kevin Nash ends up attacking Jericho from behind and the two leave him laying again.

 

Slamboree: Chris Jericho v Scott Hall

 

Match goes about 18 minutes and sees Jericho get the victory when Hall and Nash have heel miscommunication. He then leaves the ring and that's that.

 

The following night on Nitro, Jericho is saying now he wants Flair, but Kevin Nash interrupts. He gets in Jericho's face, telling him that had he caught Jericho last night that Jericho  would have lost that match. Jericho said he may or may not be right before reminding Nash that he once defeated him. Nash stands up really close to Jericho to make fun of Jericho's height compared to his own and Jericho ends up kicking him in the nuts. He then leaves the ring as Nash lays in the ring from the low blow before getting up with a furious look on his face.

 

We then get Jericho v Hall the next week on Nitro and this time, Nash manages to cost Jericho the match. Benoit then comes down and tries to take both out, but both get left laying.

 

The next week on Nitro, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit team up against the Outsiders in a match that Scott Hudson says "has more backstory than just about anyone even knows." In this match, Hall gets the pin on Benoit, setting up their little match at the Great American Bash.

 

Great American Bash: Chris Jericho v Kevin Nash

 

Jericho gets the victory here in about a 12-minute match.

 

The next night, Jericho comes out and AGAIN wants Flair in the ring. He says he thinks if he hadn't before, he's definitely proven himself worthy to face Ric Flair now. This brings out Diamond Dallas Page.

 

Page mentions how Jericho completely screwed him over a year ago this time and that he hasn't forgotten. He never forgot. He simply had to focus elsewhere for a little while. He said he sees this as his chance to finally get revenge on Jericho. He calls him a worthless bastard and says that he will not screw him over again. He challenges Jericho to another Last Man Standing Match, this time for Bash at the Beach.

 

Will post the final installment of Jericho soon and then do Flair, then I'll just go in whatever order you guys want me to.

[Guest Choken One]

Are they are going to tie together or be completly different?

[Guest Loss4Words]

Tie together.

[Guest Sykotic2002]

I love reading these.  After Flair/Jericho, I'd like to see how Rey Mysterio ends up next.  Great job Loss4Words

[Guest HellSpawn]

This is just plain Great !

 

Im waiting for the next chapter.