Chris Jericho says that he was not ready to be WWE‘s top guy after his historic 2001 title win.
Speaking to Spencer Matthews on the UNTAPPED podcast, Chris Jericho looked back at defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night at Vengeance 2001 to become the first Undisputed WWF/WWE Champion.
While he went on to brag about that achievement for years, Chris Jericho admitted that he wasn’t ready to be WWE’s top guy after the historic title win. He said that when a wrestler is at the top of the mountain, he’s essentially performing for an audience of one: the boss. Jericho shared that even if thousands of fans cheer for them every week, a wrestler would lose the top spot if the boss is not impressed.
Chris Jericho further shared that he didn’t become the person he is today until his suit-and-tie heel run between 2008 and 2009. However, he had also claimed he was in “a very dark place” during that run.
“I wasn’t really ready to be the top guy. It was years after when I finally locked, in 2008, 2009, that’s when I became the Chris Jericho that you’re talking to now, a guy who knows what he’s doing in all aspects, total confidence, total pro. I wasn’t that at that point in time in 2001 when I was the undisputed champion. But it’s all part of the growing process and learning and building,” he said.
Speaking in the same interview, he explained the lengths he went to sell his heel character in WWE.
Read More: Chris Jericho Claims He’s Never Been Injured In Wrestling, Aside From One Incident
If you use this transcription, please credit the source, H/T WrestleZone, and link to this page.