CM Punk
CM Punk, the current World Heavyweight Champion, would make a thrilling opponent for Chris Jericho for several reasons, with the title belt being one of the most compelling. If Jericho were to feud with Punk, it would give him an opportunity to compete for perhaps his last championship in WWE, and also give him a chance to win the fourth World Heavyweight Championship of his career.
The most interesting aspect of this potential matchup is that Punk and Jericho have feuded in the past, most notably in 2012. The in-ring tension between the two escalated to a profoundly personal level, resulting in attacks that reached an intensity seldom seen in WWE.
Jericho targeted Punk’s family and his “straight edge” lifestyle as they battled over who was the “Best in the World”. They fought in multiple matches, leading up to their first major encounter of the storyline at WrestleMania 28 on April 1, 2012, which Punk won, retaining his title.
The buildup to the second matchup was even more electric, as Jericho, as the heel in the storyline, dissected Punk’s past issues with alcohol and attempted to use them to weaken Punk.
Their rematch at Extreme Rules, a few weeks later, took place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago in a “Chicago Street Fight” that was far more brutal than the first matchup. It was the storyline and promo battles between the two that took their encounters over the top.
Reigniting the past feud between Punk and Jericho, which spilled over into real life, would bring an exciting, nostalgic dynamic back to WWE that fans who witnessed the legendary 2012 feud would be elated to watch unfold. The ultimate grudge match that could take place would be epic, giving fans the opportunity to see two masters of the mic clash.
Chris Jericho’s potential WWE return, fueled by hints on his social media and media rumors, remains officially unconfirmed. However, there will definitely be big shoes needing to be filled once John Cena’s final match is over. There would be no one better to fill this void than Y2J, and his return would immediately provide the necessary star power the company will so desperately need going forward.
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