Chris jericho still isn't ready...

[Guest mathbrat]

I'd just like to start out by saying that I have liked Chris Jericho from practically the day he has stepped into the WWF. However, I think there are some significant flaws in his wrestling that, despite a passage of two years, have not improved. In fact, I would have to say that in certain ways he has gotten worse as a wrestler. The fact of the matter is that the moves Jericho uses to wrestle are pretty bad. Most noticably, they lack any impact and/or markout value.

     Mind you, this isn't a problem exclusive to Mr. Irvine. Booker T suffers from it as well, as his vast array of kicks rarely look convincing, especially when compared to RVD or Tajiri. The Rock is also a slight offender with his version of the Sharpshooter. But in the case of Jericho, I'd have to say all but one of his moves (missile dropkick) tend to lack the crispness found in other upper-card workers. I'll go down the list.

 

Walls of Jericho- This is partly the fault of the bookers, but the last wrestler I can recall tapping to the Walls is Rhyno back in September. This is simply inexcusable- even cowardly heels need something to make them appear threatening, and there was a time where this could have been it. Not anymore.

 

Lionsault- Again, it's partly not Jericho's fault that his opponents are booked to kick out from it, but having repeatedly seen the way he executes it, I can't find fault in that decision. An Asai moonsault can be effective, but the way he rolls across the other wrestler on impact makes it looke like the move positively doesn't hurt. Perhaps he is only trying to protect himself, but it certainly hurts the potency of the move.

 

Breakdown- Where do I even start? I haven't seen this move done right EVER. It should be a ripoff of Jeff Jarrett's finisher (which is pretty good), but instead it amounts to falling forward with the other person. The only upshot is it can be done on anyone, but that is negated if no one is able to sell the move.

 

Flying Forearm- I saved this one for last because I find it very humorous to watch. Jericho leaps through the air, and as he passes by the other guy he taps them on the forehead with his arm. This spontaneously causes the victim to fall over, causing me mental anguish in how weak it looks. It's right up there with Tajiri's back handspring elbow and Kane's top rope lariat in the wussy move departement. I feel for anyone who had to act hurt by that attack.

 

    The worst part of all this is that Jericho used to have some good high impact moves, namely the butterfly backbreaker and the repeated powerbomb. I don't know why he ditched those, but he needs to bring them back, fast. Not to mention ditching most of his current offense for moves with more impact. You'll notice that the big three (HHH, Rock, Austin) all have finishers that look painful, and have a satisfying point of impact. I wait eagerly for Jericho to have one of these good moves for himself.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

Agreed.  Jericho's 'finishers' all come off looking like medium strength moves that people are intended to kick out of.  The Breakdown works all right when sold properly, but a steal of the Stroke would look much better.  Hell, no one's using it now, he may as well take it.  Maybe let him start putting the knee on the back during the Walls, too, and for god's sake let him get the double powerbomb back.  That was his one heavy move, and I could see it working as a finisher if he just sat out into a pin on the second one.

[Guest red_file]

 Maybe let him start putting the knee on the back during the Walls, too, and for god's sake let him get the double powerbomb back.  That was his one heavy move, and I could see it working as a finisher if he just sat out into a pin on the second one.

The double powerbomb is a good move, but just who could Jericho execute it against?  He used it against Tajiri and struggled bringing the cruiserweight up for the second bomb.  Brock Lesner, who we'll agree is significantly larger and stronger than Jericho, appeared to have some degree of difficulty getting Jeff Hardy up for the second and third powerbombs.  The multiple powerbomb is very impressive, but it seems to only be feasible to be used against cruiserweights.  It would be a struggle for even the strongest of wrestlers to use it against some of the ME heavyweights.

 

I've always thought that Jericho's problem with executing his moves was lack of motivation.  Previous to this year, management didn't really seem to want to give him a shot at moving up the ladder.  If he knew that no matter how hard he tried he would never get into the main event, he might've slacked off on his training and whatnot.  When he was thrust into the main event it must've been unexpected and the knowledge that he was a lame duck champion probably didn't help either.

 

If management ever took Jericho seriously, which would probably entail making the Liontamer a legit finisher again, he might take more interest in the crispness of his moves.

[Guest]

I'd say it's almost all of the fault of the bookers. When Jericho was a face he got a huge pop from the walls and the lionsault, as well as his springboard dropkick that he dosen't even use anymore.

Jericho's booking as a heel(not just champ) has been horrible IMO.

He has the potential to be one of the highest workrate main eventers in WWF history but so far WWF has dropped the ball.

[Guest mathbrat]

It's still a question of motivation. Sure, on one hand you can say Jericho shouldn't be motivated since he has no chance for bein elevated to a certain "level". Then again, the WWF certainly shouldn't push an unmotivated worker to the main event level. I was personally shocked that he got the world title last year after the laziness he showed in his feud with Rhyno.

 

And about the powerbomb, no arguments here.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Umm.....Rhyno wasn't the last person to tap to the walls. Matt Hardy and Maven have both recently tapped to it.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Jericho IS ready but was badly booked. Case Closed. disagree go watch his feud with RVD and you'll see his was doing just fine.

[Guest mathbrat]

Corrections noted Damaramu, thanks.

 

Cobain, my eyes weren't closed for the RVD feud. Robbie bumps like a pinball for just about anybody, the most recent example being that nasty half-nelson suplex he took from Regal at X-8. I'm not saying that Chris doesn't show some good work rate and bumps at times, but his offense is sorely lacking. It feels like he took any cool moves out of his aresenal around the start of the invasion.

[Guest]

I think that one of the major flaws of Jericho ever being taken seriously as a main eventer, is that he has not got any big moves that can realistically hurt the main guys. His finishers are weak, there is no believabilty in those moves that they could finish off somebody.

 

Also he just has not got any ring intensity or ring presence about him, he is just a generic wrestler. My other problems with Jericho is that he blows spots easily and also for a guy of his size, he blows up pretty easily. And also he cannot carry anybody to a **** match, all his good matches are the result of being carried.

[Guest Insanityman]

I agree, the two or three continious powerbomb is vicious. His moves do look weak, I just wish Jarret was there to do the Last Stroke right.

[Guest]

The continous powerbomb is vicious, but lets see if he can do it to the Rock, Austin or HHH. If he cannot do it to them then the move is pretty worthless.

[Guest Zero_Cool]

I know that the WWF would never go for this, but hohw does a Cradle Piledriver sound?  It would be new to the WWF fan, and he could hit most people with it.  He could use it on Rock,Austin, HHH etc.

 

It would be immediately credible.

[Guest FakeRazor]

Jericho not ready?  Who are you Triple H?

 

Jericho may not have the greatest moves in his arsenel, but at least he puts on good to great to outstanding matches, and has psychology.  That's a HELL of a lot more then most main eventers can say.  I mean, guys like Hulk Hogan, HHH (look at his move list... Pedigree is getting kind of weak, that stupid knee to the face, and so on... mind you, I used to love HHH), etc, don't exactly have great movelists.  Why critisize Jericho, if he's the best of the bunch (well outside of Angle.. and Benoit, but he's not a ME technically)?  I'll agree that Jericho should add some more powerful moves to his arsenal, but in terms of in ring ability, at least compared to the other main eventers, he is MORE than ready.

[Guest]

I think Jericho is doing just fine. He played a great cowardly heel and I hope he continues to do so. He's still popular enough to come back as the unstoppable face somewhere down the line.

 

He does need a new move as a heel though. The lionsault just isn't very heelish. The Breakdown, while a good heel move, just looks way too sloppy. See the Breakdown Rock took through a table a few months back.

[Guest]

However, move arsenal shouldn't dictate whether someone is main event worthy. It's all about character and that's Jericho's number one trait. Jericho is a great heel who should be main eventing seasonally.

[Guest mathbrat]

I agree, Jericho has character in spades. He's very charismatic and can easily hold the attention of the crowd. But I'd like to cite some precedent here. Where would Flair have been without the figure-four? Or Shawn without Sweet Chin Music? They had moves that meant something when they happened, not lame flips or love taps.

[Guest]

I'd say it's almost all of the fault of the bookers. When Jericho was a face he got a huge pop from the walls and the lionsault, as well as his springboard dropkick that he dosen't even use anymore.

Jericho's booking as a heel(not just champ) has been horrible IMO.

He has the potential to be one of the highest workrate main eventers in WWF history but so far WWF has dropped the ball.

No the bookers are bad but Jericho's weak moves should not be blamed on them. The Lionsault got a pop because it was his move and he was a face. Now that he's a heel and noone cheers him it looks even weaker because noone cares. How is his workrate good? He usually needs someone really good to be with him.