Chris Jericho vs. Triple H 04.17.00

Where: State College, PA

Back story:

Chris Jericho who had only been in the company for 6 months was getting over and the company waned to have him interact with the top tier guys a bit. Jericho had been harassing Triple H's wife, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley for a couple of weeks and the heel Triple H is defending his wife's honor in a non-title match. Jericho goads Triple H into making it a title match by making fun of his wife some more. After Hunter agrees, Jericho brings out his insurance policy the APA.

In Ring Action:

Hunter starts by charging Jericho, but he ducks and runs the ropes to hit a flying forearm. Jericho is really into this match as he realizes this is a great opportunity to him. Jericho back body drops a charging Hunter to the floor. When Jericho misses a baseball slide, Triple H takes him down with a punch.

I've always been confused why Triple H feels the need to have an excellent physique when he hardly does any power moves. The pedigree doesn't take any strength, and the rest of his offense consists of brawling and some mat wrestling. It's not like he is doing anything now that he wasn't doing in 1996 when he was a lot trimmer and quicker.

As Triple H is getting back in the ring Jericho his him with a top rope springboard dropkick which Jericho had slowly downgraded to a second rope springboard over the years. A bit of miscommunication as Jericho runs the ropes and they both go for a punch. Not a big deal, and they covered for it well.

Triple H drapes Jericho over the apron and drives some elbows into his throat. Triple H's heel act was great and poor in the ring in some respects. He keeps all of his moves basic where they look effective, yet are not too flashy. His major detriment is that he rarely comes off as weak to his face opponents.

Outside the ring Jericho throws Triple H's head onto the table after Hunter was blocked on his attempt. Then the camera picks up Hunter tapping his knee to tell Jericho to run into a kick while he was resting on the barricade. This isn't a big deal to me as I know wrestlers need to communicate somehow, but it's always fun to catch.

Triple H then throws Jericho into the steel ring steps, and then Stephanie McMahon points down to him and taunts him. She was very effective in her role and whiny wife because she was so unlikeable, that while Triple H was having these 4 star matches, you couldn't help but hate his wife. Any good will that Triple H built with the women hating wrestling fans is ruined when he blows his wife a kiss right before delivering a knee-drop to Jericho.

After the knee, Jericho is bleeding from the mouth to build up sympathy which works and he punches away for his first hope spot of the match. Triple H ends it with a clothesline. If you're not aware a hope spot is a portion of the match in which the babyface in peril gives hope that he is making a comeback which is quickly ended by the heel. Doing this once or twice before the real comeback gets the crowd to have more sympathy to the babyface that is taking damage.l

Jericho then gets more hope as he does a top rope armdrag when Triple H is going for an offensive move. Jericho also hits a second rope missile dropkick for a near two-count. You know your comeback is going well when the crowd is into a pinfall attempt after a mid-match maneuver. After Triple H gains advantage and goes for a pedigree Jericho reverses for a Walls of Jericho attempt. It fails, but after Triple H accidentally knocks out the referee Jericho hit a bulldog.

Jericho then goes to the top, but Shane McMahon (a heel) trips him up, and the APA do their job and chase Shane off. Stephanie then throws the WWF titles int he ring for Triple H to use. Jericho gets it first and hits Hunter over the head with it for a nearfall that is counted the new referee Earl Hebner. Hebner has an issue with Hunter since he's been beaten up several times since Triple H came into power.

Triple H and Hebner get into an argument and Hunter shoves him down. Seeing the distraction, Jericho hits a spinning heel kick, and a Lionsault for a 3 count and the WWE Championship.

Winner by pinfall for the WWF Championship: Chris Jericho in 8:37. ****

Unfortunately after the match Triple H, Stephanie, and Shane threaten Earl Hebner and get him to admit that the count was faster than normal. It's true. If you've ever seen Earl Hebner count to three, he does it slow and deliberate. This time was more normal. Hebner reverses the decision with the understanding that he'll never be attacked again while he works there. He is then fired and given a pedigree. This was a great way to built heat for Hunter as a corrupt champion that will do whatever he can to keep his top spot.

I thought this was a great match at the time, and was really ready for the underdog Jericho to have a title reign. It's kind of crazy that he was in the company less than a year but already he had built up a following that believed in him. People say he's overrated, but there's no denying that he is a top guy in wrestling history and will always be remembered.