From the WWE Rumor Mill: Further plans for Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 33

What’s the story?

During the latest edition of the Talk is Jericho podcast, WWE veteran Chris Jericho once again discussed the plans for him to win the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33 last year.

In case you didn’t know…

Former six-time WWE World Champion Chris Jericho faced-off against Kevin Owens at last year’s Wrestlemania 33 event in Orlando, Florida, when the two men collided in a gruesome match for the WWE United States Championship. Jericho, who walked into WM 33 as the US Champion, would go on to drop the title to Owens at The Grandest Stage of Them All.

The heart of the matter

Chris Jericho revealed in the latest edition of Talk is Jericho that the original plan for him and Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 33 was to engage in a battle over the WWE Universal Championship, which would eventually see off Jericho walking out with the World Championship at the Camping World Stadium last year. However, Jericho also added that the apparent plan for him was to drop the Universal Championship to “The Beast” Brock Lesnar at the very next pay-per-view after Wrestlemania 33, which was, Payback.

"[Vince] goes, 'Yeah. You'll lose it the next pay-per-view to Brock [Lesnar].' I'm like, 'That's cool!'"- Jericho stated.

Additionally, Jericho also claimed that he was really excited to win the World Title as a babyface because all of his six World Championship reigns have been as a villainous heel.

Furthermore, Jericho revealed that his initial plans for WrestleMania 33 were eventually nixed and changed, one week after the Survivor Series 2016 pay-per-view took place, which saw Goldberg defeat Brock Lesnar within one minute.

"One week later Survivor Series happens, Brock versus Goldberg. Goldberg beats Brock in a minute. And that's when Brock went, 'I can work with this guy [Goldberg]. I want to work with him. I'll lose in a minute, but only if I can beat him for the title at WrestleMania.' And Vince had to make a decision: what's the bigger box office? Ya know and obviously, it was Brock and Goldberg, and Chris and Kevin take back seat."- Chris Jericho added.

What’s next?

Chris Jericho has been recently making all sort of headlines under the New Japan Pro Wrestling banner. Jericho’s next NJPW match is likely to be against Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito, who was attacked by “The Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” at this year’s NJPW: New Years’ Dash event at the Korakuen Hall.

Author’s Take

Financial wise, Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg was certainly the money match, however, I believe that the WWE Universe would rather be invested into a World Title match between Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.