Originally Posted by THE_CRIPPLER

actually their street fight was much better both matches are not 5 stars.

No, Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels at 'Mania was definitely a five-star match and there's no debating it. I asked Vince McMahon how many stars the match earned and he replied "five". Pat Patterson as well. So there you have it, five-star proof. Their ladder match came pretty fucking close too.

Chris Jericho is one of the best wrestlers of all time because he's got the total package. His phenomenal in-ring ability combines Japanese and Mexican styles along with the ever-so-important WWE style of storytelling.

His mic work is spectacular: he's well versed in comedy, is an amazing heel, has the second-most catchphrases next to The Rock, and most importantly, he's got great improv skills.

And finally, he's got the IT factor. He's entertaining in everything he does. He's got the same passion for the business that all the greats have and had. In his 2012 he turned the crowd 100% without uttering a single word. How many guys can do that?

Finally, Jericho is one of the best of all time because of the things he's been doing in his older age. He came back to work with Punk and man, did they deliver. He just finished up with Ziggler and he put him over big time. Oh, and he pulled out a fucking Frankensteiner at Summerslam and a sort of leg-hook Frankensteiner the next night on Raw. Jericho is in his forties now and I haven't seen him do that move in ten years. It takes balls and a burning desire to really get Ziggler over to pull out a very dangerous move (One that very nearly killed him) like that just to make Ziggler look good and show that the Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla has still got it.

Jericho is easily one of the top ten best wrestlers of all time. Easily.

best in the world? hell no. best in the wwe? no. one of the best in the the wwe? possibly. best in the world is a big statement considering there is alot more countries with their own wrestling companies.

I have posted similar comments about this recently and I agree with everything you are saying. People seem to conveniently forget that Jericho was always prone to botched spots, shakiness on the ropes and there's also the fact he always came across as a weak champion. I can't understand how people can genuinely think Jericho was better than the likes of HBK, Bret, Dynamite Kid, Mr Perfect or Benoit. Sure most people have differing opinions and Jericho certainly has been a good performer over the years; but the best? I think he would struggle to make the top 10 best ever wrestlers, never mind the best. Sorry, just saying.

Other than Austin (who actually wasn't all that great in the ring) nobody is on both your lists of in ring performers and mic workers. They seem to be one or the other. But Jericho could be on both.

Like you mentioned at the beginning, all-rounded wrestler. There aren't many that can claim that.

You make some interesting points. But I also would like your opinion on something else, to go with this argument.

Let me start by saying, I agree with you from the point where I never considered Jericho to the be the be all end all of wreslting performers. I think he is inflated just a bit because of the lack of talent that exists in WWE today. But the otherside of the coin I'd like to hear from you is, if you feel this way about Jericho, then name me a few others who claim to be "Best in the World" that actually live up to it. If the Jericho/HBK street fight or the Jericho/Benoit ladder matches weren't 5 star matches, give me some examples of what were 5 star matches to you.

On another note, I'd like to agree with ewantu2, who mentioned his matches with Punk being the best of this year. While that may be true. That just doesn't say a whole lot about the WWE, since those matches were pretty good, but nothing I would call memorable. When i think of Jericho's best matches, his feud with Punk doesn't even scrape the surface.

Gotta say I'm a Jericho fan, but his return last year was so hyped and achieved absolutely nothing. He is in danger of ruining everything that he has achieved in the ring.