Chris Jericho is arguably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, reinventing himself time and time again, most recently in All Elite Wrestling as head of the Jericho Appreciation Society. Still going strong at fifty years of age, Jericho is a legend of the industry and has dazzled viewers with his magnificent promos, character work, championship reigns, and matches for decades.
RELATED: Chris Jericho's Last 10 Losses, Ranked Worst To Best
Although only receiving two 5* matches from Dave Meltzer and his star-rating system at the ‘Wrestling Observer Newsletter’, there have been numerous bouts that have been overpraised and underappreciated by Meltzer throughout Jericho’s illustrious career.
10 Overrated: W/ The Inner Circle Vs. American Top Team & Men Of The Year, Ten-Man Tag Minneapolis Street Fight, AEW Full Gear 2021, 4*
While this ten-man tag Street Fight was still highly entertaining particularly Jericho and Dan Lambert’s antics, this had no right being rated 4* by Dave Meltzer. Simply nothing about this match up signified a great PPV bout.
RELATED: 10 AEW PPV Matches Dave Meltzer Overrated
Why this was an almost-20-minute match is beyond anyone’s comprehension with some good spots sprinkled throughout, but also a litany of errors particularly from the green MMA stars involved. The only forgettable encounter on an otherwise tremendous PPV event for AEW.
9 Underrated: Vs. Shelton Benjamin, WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE Backlash 2005, 3.5*
A great clash here between Jericho and Shelton Benjamin at 2005s Backlash PPV to open the show for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Stellar in-ring work with spectacular counters, thrilling sequences and spots, and a strong dynamic with Jericho the clear heel opposite the athletic Benjamin. An extremely fun opening match with a nice finish as Benjamin retains, with splendid action top to bottom that warranted a higher rating than 3.5*.
8 Overrated: Vs. Wheeler Yuta, AEW Dynamite #148, 4*
The most recent inclusion here, this AEW Dynamite main event would determine who would face Jon Moxley for the AEW Interim World Championship the following week. A solid bout, with a good dynamic and strong enough action, but there was nothing that stood out as particularly stellar. How Dave Meltzer reached a 4* rating is baffling, with the very predictable decision to have Jericho and Moxley face off once again a poor move as well.
7 Underrated: Vs. CM Punk, WWE Championship, Street Fight, WWE Extreme Rules 2012, 3.5*
This was an excellent street fight for the WWE Championship between Jericho and CM Punk, continuing their 2012 rivalry at the Extreme Rules PPV. While not a wrestling clinic, this was a riveting brawl with excellent spots, great intensity, and a red-hot Chicago crowd. Although disjointed at times, this was bound to happen given the stipulation at hand and should not affect the rating of an otherwise great WWE Championship bout.
6 Overrated: Vs. Kazuchika Okada, IWGP Heavyweight Championship, NJPW Dominion 6.9, 4.25*
This was a highly underwhelming Dominion main event at 2019s NJPW Dominion 6.9 PPV, particularly compared to the two previous all-time classics between Okada and Kenny Omega at the two previous Dominion events.
RELATED: Kazuchika Okada's 10 Best Wrestling Matches, According To Dave Meltzer
While still strong enough as a match, this was very good at best with little to elevate it beyond that. A 4.25* rating is very generous from Dave Meltzer here with Jericho’s usual brawler style in NJPW falling fairly flat against ‘The Rainmaker’. A roll-up finish, which was a nice change of pace for Okada matches, sadly led to an abrupt ending as well.
5 Underrated: Vs. CM Punk, WWE Championship, WWE WrestleMania XXVIII, 3.75*
This was a fantastic WWE Championship match at WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012, sadly overshadowed by both The Undertaker vs Triple H and The Rock vs John Cena. However, in terms of pure in-ring work, this was arguably the best match on the show with the tired crowd following Undertaker/Triple H quite a shame. A great story told here and stellar in-ring action with excellent spots, technical exchanges, counters, and submissions particularly the wonderful closing stretch. Punk would retain in a very strong, underrated WrestleMania bout.
4 Overrated: Vs. The Rock, WCW World Heavyweight Championship, WWE No Mercy 2001, 4.5*
This was a big-time WWF co-main event with little substance, as Jericho faced The Rock for the World Heavyweight Championship at 2001s No Mercy. The in-ring work was solid enough if not largely uninspired relying on the atmosphere from the crowd to elevate it with little story behind it, as the two then transitioned to finishing moves and big spots without rhyme or reason. A big Jericho win was wonderful to see here at the time but did not make up for a good match that failed to be great.
3 Underrated: Vs. Shawn Michaels, WWE WrestleMania XIX, 4.25*
This was an instant classic at 2003s WrestleMania XIX in a dream first-time meeting between Y2J and Shawn Michaels. It lived up to the hype and then some as the two stars wrestled a tremendous bout, with top-notch storytelling, character work, and of course, spectacular in-ring action.
RELATED: 5 Most Underrated Matches In WrestleMania History (& 4 Most Overrated)
Great technical exchanges built to a fantastic final third with amazing counters and near falls, as Michaels prevailed with a sneaky pinfall. A brilliant post-match hug and subsequent low blow from Jericho was the icing on the cake here in a classic WrestleMania bout that is surely underrated by Dave Meltzer at 4.25*.
2 Overrated: Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, NJPW WrestleKingdom 14 – Tag 2, 4.5*
A great match between two legends of the industry at NJPW’s WrestleKingdom PPV in 2020, but not the amazing match that 4.5* implies. This was much more story-heavy with excellent psychology and submission work, as well as the star power of the two competitors involved elevating the match up. However, despite this, there is nothing to suggest this bout ever reached the level required to be outstanding. A great first-time meeting but not a 4.5* encounter.
1 Underrated: Vs. Rey Mysterio, WWE Intercontinental Championship, Title Vs. Mask, WWE The Bash 2009, 4.5*
Although 4.5* is a very favorable rating, it is arguable that this absolutely amazing bout between Jericho and Rey Mysterio during their 2009 rivalry deserved even higher from Dave Meltzer. A Match of the Year contender in just under sixteen minutes, this was incredible top to bottom with incredible storytelling regarding the mask, tremendous in-ring action with unbelievable counters, and a red-hot crowd to boot. Jericho played his role perfectly as did Mysterio in this perfectly executed Intercontinental Championship bout as the two stars displayed their sensational chemistry. Mysterio would prevail after Jericho removed one mask, only for another to be concealed underneath, as he nailed the 619 for the win. A classic here between Jericho and Mysterio that deserved 4.75* or even the full 5*.
