Chris Jericho’s 6 Best Matches In NJPW

I remember Chris Jericho as a behemoth in the WWF/WWE, and I can remember watching him decades ago on Smackdown! and RAW. He had some amazing matches against legendary wrestlers such as the Rock, Kurt Angle and Mick Foley. However, I never got to see Jericho during either of his two stints with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he arguably gained as much fame and fortune.

If you are learning how to bet on sports like wrestling or other disciplines, I’d recommend trying betting guides. You have to understand the players, history and organizations to make informed bets and decisions. Therefore, in the guide below, I want to take a look at Jericho’s NJPW past by dissecting his six most iconic matches.

First, let’s take a quick look at his NJPW history. His first stint was in 1997 and 1998, where he debuted as Super Liger but success was minimal due to the poorly-received gimmick and the fact that Chris could barely see. It would not be until 2017 that Jericho would return, and he enjoyed greater success and some amazing matches, as you will see below.

1. Jericho vs Kenny Omega (Alpha vs Omega)

Although he talks about other things on the Talk Is Jericho podcast, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Alpha vs Omega fight pops up occasionally, as this was easily his most memorable NJPW match. Hosted at Wrestle Kingdom 12, the buildup to this fight was fantastic and the fact that it was a no disqualification match made it even more epic.

The match had it all, including top-rope dives, chair smashes and even a powerbomb from Jericho outside the ring. Ultimately, Omega triumphed, but Jericho made a name for himself and the fight was dubbed a classic.

2. Jericho vs Tetsuya Naito (Wrestle Kingdom 13 for the IC)

The first match vs Tetsuya Naito was great but the rematch at Wrestle Kingdom 13 was even better! The fight was a no-disqualification match, which was often Jericho’s trademark, and it started with Naito making a surprise attack before the bell had even rung.

After that, it was a classic slobber knocker that resulted in both men showing some superb wrestling skills and performing their finishers on each other. Naito won after using the IC belt as a weapon. This was easily the best grudge match of Wrestle Kingdom 13.

3. Jericho vs Tetsuya Naito (Dominion 6.9 for the IC)

This fight had been built up superbly, with Jericho attacking Naito twice leading up to the event. This built the tension, and that continued into the fight at Dominion 6.9 as Jericho jumped Naito before the official match start. From there, we got to witness some amazing moves, such as a powerbomb and DDT through tables, and both combatants put on a really emotional show. Jericho triumphed here to claim the Intercontinental Championship, which would set the scene for their rematch later at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

4. Jericho vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (Wrestle Kingdom 14)

What could be better than seeing two iconic wrestlers go at each other at Wrestle Kingdom 14? This is what fans were treated to when Jericho faced off against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The atmosphere in the Tokyo Dome was electric, and the fight itself was perfect. Although the crowd was obviously cheering for Hiroshi, Jericho won after executing his Lion Tamer finisher.

5. Jericho vs Kazuchika Okada (Dominion 6.9 for the HWC)

The match against Okada was actually Jericho’s first challenging match for a NJPW belt, and the fight was excellent. Both wrestlers performed admirably and got the crowd really involved. Due to his loss, Jericho ended up attacking Okada after the match, which added to the overall excitement and tension of the bout.

6. Jericho vs EVIL (NJPW Power Struggle for the IC)

There had been buildup to this fight beforehand due to interactions and fights between EVIL, Jericho, and Naito, and Jericho would serve as the heel in this mini-saga, with the crowd being firmly behind EVIL. That wouldn’t matter, though, as although EVIL showed plenty of promise, Jericho would ultimately win with his Lion Tamer finisher and get EVIL to submit.

Although Jericho is a WWE legend, his NJPW matches were iconic, too.

Most Western wrestling fans will know Chris Jericho from his various tenures with the WWE. He was certainly a legendary character who had some fascinating storylines and excellent wrestling skills. However, the list here shows just how versatile Jericho was and the amazing career he also enjoyed with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

His match vs. Kenny Omega – dubbed the Alpha vs Omega fight – was certainly the most memorable bout, but he provided plenty more fantastic matchups and was a favorite with the Japanese crowds for many years in his first and second stints with the organization.