CHRIS JERICHO (C) VS. KEVIN OWENS

  I looked back and realised that I forgot to do a Raw match for last year's Wrestlemania. So I went back to my list (convenient....) and drew out this match. Chris Jericho is who I consider to be the most efficient part-timer, although it doesn't always work out. He comes back, tries some new ideas and faces new opponents for a few months before going off to do one (or more) of his other business ventures, never allowing us to get sick of him and constantly evolving. In this run, he had the classic tag team ---> rivalry story with one Kevin Owens. Kevin Owens makes his entrance wearing a modified Wrestlemania 2 vest, which he has taped over to say “KO-Mania 2” as he makes his way down the loooong ramp the video package plays showing Owens turning on Jericho in the Festival of Friendship and Jericho costing Owens the Universal Championship. Chris Jericho enters and Michael Cole mentions the giant list behind him. Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton are on commentary duties.

CHRIS JERICHO ©VS. KEVIN OWENS (WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP)

WWE Wrestlemania 33 (2^nd April 2017)

© Sportskeeda.com

Michael Cole mentions these guys facing on a Madison Square Garden live event that aired on the WWE Network back in 2015 as they go at it in the middle of the ring. Owens gets the advantage, clubbing at Jericho's back but Jericho trips him looking for an early Walls of Jericho. Kevin Owens quickly crawls to the ropes and all the way out to the apron for safety. Jericho hits him with a baseball slide, putting a dampener on that plan. Jericho flies from the top rope on to Owens on the floor then sends him into the ring steps. Owens beats Jericho around ringside before throwing him back inside. Chris Jericho climbs back to the top rope, decking Owens with a right hand. Kevin Owens gets sent corner to corner, but Jericho runs into a superkick to swing the momentum. Kevin Owens goes to Jericho with some ground and pound as Jericho struggles to cover up. Owens is talking shit but the crowd means I can't make out what it is. Chris Jericho slumps in the corner and gets squashed with a running cannonball. Chris Jericho slumps out to the apron, but Owens hits a second cannonball, sending Jericho to the floor. Kevin Owens sends Jericho back in the ring and covers, but Jericho kicks out at 2.

Kevin Owens kicks Jericho in the small of the back before asking where his friends are, then applies a chinlock on the mat. Jericho fights back to a seated position before Owens releases to hit a running kick to Jericho's chest and a running back senton for another 2. Kevin Owens stalks Jericho as he tries to get to his feet using the ropes. Owens hits Jericho across the face and uses the middle rope to send him across the ring. Owens slaps Jericho across the face but runs into a dropkick. You don't fuck with Jericho like that. Owens crawls out to the apron as we go split-screen for the replay, but watching live Jericho hits the triangle dropkick sending Owens out to the floor. Byron Saxton says Jericho should catch his breath here, but he immediately goes after Owens, who is back on his feet. Owens shoves Jericho into the side of the ring but Jericho counters the apron powerbomb with a back body drop. Jericho knocks Owens down with a pair of running shoulder blocks and sends him back inside. I think Jericho has forgotten how to get in the ring normally, as he takes his place on the top turnbuckle and hits Owens with a spinning back elbow for a nearfall.

Chris Jericho beats on Owens in the corner, Owens tries to make some separation but can't. He does reverse an irish whip, however, but Jericho floats over. Kevin Owens catches a Codebreaker attempt and hits a Package Powerbomb, covering Jericho for 2 again. Kevin Owens decides to perch himself on the top rope now, but Jericho knocks him off balance. Lucha Jericho hits a super hurricanrana! He covers Owens but can only keep him down for 2. Kevin Owens reverses an irish whip but ducks too early. Jericho kicks him then hits a running bulldog. Chris Jericho calls for a lionsault, Owens rolls out of the way but Jericho lands on his feet. Owens hits a superkick from nowhere! 1, 2, Jericho kicks out. Kevin Owens stands on Jericho on his way to the corner but Jericho gets his knees up for a frog splash attempt. Jericho eats knees on his second lionsault attempt so Owens goes back to the top rope. Kevin Owens flies with a Swanton bomb but again has a rough landing on Jericho's knees.

They both get to their feet on opposite sides of the ring, Owens gets tripped with a double-leg takedown but powers out of another Walls attempt. Chris Jericho ducks a clothesline but a running cross body is caught by Owens, he spins Jericho around before driving him into the mat. Kevin Owens hooks the leg but Jericho kicks out after 2 again. Chris Jericho leapfrogs a pop-up powerbomb attempt, dropping Owens with a back elbow. Chris Jericho hits a lionsault but Owens just stays in the match. This time Jericho shows how little he respects Owens with a slap to the face, Owens reverses an irish whip but runs into a European uppercut. Chris Jericho is caught on a hurricanrana attempt, Owens locks in the Walls of Jericho! Owens sits back, keeping all his weight on Jericho's spine, eventually Jericho is able to roll himself back over. He hits Owens with right hands but can't break free, Owens catapults Jericho into the corner, but Jericho lands on his feet on the middle rope! Jericho jumps back into the ring but Owens cuts him off with a superkick to the chest. Jericho slumps down into the corner so Owens fires up for his cannonball.... Jericho catches him and counters into a Walls of Jericho, bringing Owen into the centre of the ring! Owens is able to push himself up and get to the bottom rope, Jericho holds it on for a couple of extra seconds.

Kevin Owens wraps himself around the bottom rope before getting to his feet. Kevin Owens ducks a clothesline and hits a pop-up powerbomb, he covers 1, 2, Jericho kicks out at 2 ½. Kevin Owens tells Jericho they were never best friends, and that he's a piece of trash whilst slapping him. He sends Jericho across the ring but is caught off-guard with a Codebreaker! Chris Jericho covers, 1, 2, 2.999, Owens gets a finger on the bottom rope! He didn't even grab it, he touched it with his finger. Kevin Owens keeps his finger on the rope as we see a replay, then uses it to roll out of the ring instinctively. Chris Jericho follows out to the apron as Owens slowly gets to his feet. Owens wraps Jericho's knee around the middle rope, kicking it. Owens lifts Jericho and powerbombs him onto the apron. Owens rolls Jericho into the ring and covers to win the US title.

WINNER: KEVIN OWENS (NEW WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION)

I originally was disappointed with this match, considering what I'd heard and seen about the feud. However, upon review I actually really liked it. Kevin Owens was a complete dickhead heel to Jericho, slapping him around and talking trash at every chance he got, with Jericho's veteran instincts keeping him in the match. The cannonball-Walls-catapult sequence was amazing and it took something brutal to keep Jericho down, although they seemed to start the match with as much time outside of the ring as in it, as it went on it worked out. Also, just a second to appreciate the desperation psychology of one finger on the rope. – WORKRATE: 3/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 6.75/10