Back in August, Chris Jericho made the following comments on twitter after he was mentioned on RAW by CM Punk, “Everyone is so excited that @CMPunk mentioned me on Raw. Newsflash…I don’t give a ****. Mind ur own business and stop rippin me off Punk.” At the time there were those who suspected that this was Chris Jericho planting the seeds for a potential future feud, and they were right. Since his return Jericho has basically kept us guessing as to what his motivations are, but not anymore.
Last week, by laying out CM Punk, he made clear who his target was, and this week he makes known his reasons for returning. In various interviews he has given since last appearing for the WWE, Jericho has made known his frustrations at other wrestlers copying him. For instance, he was none too pleased with the suit wearing, slow talking Miz, which was pretty much what Jericho was during his last run with the WWE after his heel turn in the now classic feud he had with Shawn Michaels. Of course, during that run he had also said many times, “I am the best in the world at what I do.” So, apparently his dissatisfactions with Punk stem from the fact that the straight edge superstar has been telling everyone who will listen to him that he is the best wrestler in the world.
This has the makings of an interesting feud. Both Punk and Jericho are favorites of the Internet Wrestling Community. So, it will be interesting to see whose side they pick. I’m guessing it will be something of a fifty-fifty split. Punk has his fans, but so does Jericho. A lot of fans though like both, and I wonder who they will side with. Going by the reaction of the fans in the arena at Oklahoma City, the mainstream WWE Universe also does appear a little confused as to which side to pick. There were some CM Punk chants when both Jericho and Punk were in the ring together on RAW, but by no means were those chants deafening. Jericho, of course, over the next few weeks will do everything he can to get the fans to boo him, but given how popular he is with the fans, it will be interesting to see how much success he has.
CM Punk has had a stellar twelve months and he really did need a marquee opponent at WrestleMania to cap off what has been a dream year for him. Despite his many attempts, both on twitter and on RAW, to goad Stone Cold Steve Austin to come out of retirement and face him, Austin has remained steadfast in refusing to come out of retirement. Now, he still may, but it won’t be at WrestleMania XVIII. In Austin’s absence, Jericho is still a dream opponent, and let’s see what Punk can do against the millennium man.