August 9th, 1999 is a date that is remembered forever in pro wrestling history. It is the night that marked the WWE debut of "Y2J" Chris Jericho. The highly anticipated debut was the start of a new beginning for one of the industry's brightest stars, who many felt was underutilized in WCW.
Jericho, who was also known as "Lionheart, Chris Jericho" developed a following with a unique array of in-ring talent mixed with undeniable charisma and top tier mic skills. He got over in WCW with very little to work with and began to make a name for himself with entertaining antics while residing in mid-card purgatory. The young star ended up leaving the promotion in unceremonious fashion. This created a buzz unlike any other in the IWC (yes, to our younger SWV nation members, the internet wrestling community was alive and thriving in 1999).
In the summer of 1999 a countdown clock saying "Countdown to the Millennium" began to appear on WWE programming. This approach echoed the real world panic and fascination with Y2K on route to the next century.
This all lead to August 9th. On Monday Night Raw, the hottest and argurably most over star in the business at the time, The Rock, was cutting a promo in electrifying fashion, only to be interrupted by the final countdown of the clock. Once the clock hit zero the lights changed to various colors and the audience was introduced to pyro before the lights went dark.
The original version of "Break the Walls Down" plays along with the titantron and when the title of the song is yelled the name "Jericho" appeared, garnering one of the biggest pops ever for a debut superstar.
The lights come on and there's Jericho in his pose soaking it all in. In a few minutes "The Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rolla" was taken more seriously as an impact player than his his entire stint at his previous promotion (don't get it twisted though, Jericho was still super entertaining in WCW).
"Y2J"s first words to the fans was "Welcome to Raw is Jericho!" He cut an amazing promo, The Rock responded in hilarious fashion and the rest was history.
This epic debut was a monstrious turning point in Jericho's career, a huge moment in the Monday Night Wars, and a win for work-rate performers with high flying and technical prowess. The WWE and all of pro wrestling would never, eeeee--ever, be the same againe. That Jericho guy sure went on to have one hell of a career that's still being written today.
Make sure to revisit this moment in time by checking out more vintage Chris Jericho gear.
- "The Blog Guy" JustJayBe
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