2. 1st WCW Championship Reign (October 21, 2001-November 5, 2001)
- Defeated For The Title: The Rock (No Mercy 2001)
- Lost The Title To: The Rock (Raw, November 5, 2001)
- Days Held: 15
- Successful Televised Title Defenses: 2
- Vs. Booker T (SmackDown, Oct. 25, 2001)
- Vs. Kurt Angle (Rebellion 2001)
The story leading up to Chris Jericho vs The Rock at No Mercy 2001 was incredible. Chris Jericho was still a babyface at the time, and he managed to get a better reaction than The Great One himself at the PPV. Jericho had never been world champion at that point, so Rock mentioned Jericho wouldn’t be able to beat him for the big one at No Mercy. It was simple storytelling that everyone could understand, and it worked.
Jericho got a tremendous reaction at No Mercy, with The Rock brilliantly working as the heel-in-peril. The two put on a spectacular bout that ended with Jericho beating Rock for the WCW World Championship. Jericho and Rock continued to feud from there, even becoming tag team champions at one point! Jericho eventually dropped the title to Rock on the November 5 Raw, just days after beating Kurt Angle inside a steel cage at Rebellion.
This reign only lasted 15 short days, but it helped Chris Jericho far more than the Undisputed Championship run.
