"Chris Jericho reflects on the WWE and AEW rivals who pushed him hardest across his career"
Chris Jericho has faced just about everyone worth facing in modern wrestling, and he recently reflected on the rivalries that pushed him the hardest.
In a new interview, the veteran spoke candidly about the opponents who defined different chapters of his career, spanning both WWE and AEW. His comments offered a rare look at which battles truly stayed with him long after the bell rang.
Jericho made it clear that rivalries are not measured by wins or championships alone. For him, the most meaningful feuds were the ones that demanded growth, creativity, and emotional investment. The names he highlighted reflect eras where he was forced to evolve, adapt, and prove himself again, even after already establishing a Hall of Fame career.
Rivalries That Defined Eras
One of the first names Jericho mentioned was Shawn Michaels. Their rivalry in WWE remains one of the most respected programs of the early 2000s. Jericho described those matches as career-shaping moments, where the pressure to deliver was constant. Working with Michaels pushed him to sharpen every part of his game, from timing to storytelling, and the results are still praised today.
Jericho then shifted to his AEW run, pointing to Kenny Omega as a standout rival. Their encounters blended athleticism with layered storytelling, something Jericho clearly values. Facing Omega required a different approach, one rooted in pacing and psychology rather than pure spectacle. It was a reminder that even late in his career, Jericho could still reinvent himself.
Another rivalry that stood out was with Jon Moxley. Jericho described those matches as intense and unpredictable, driven by raw emotion rather than formula. Moxley’s chaotic style forced Jericho into uncomfortable territory, and that tension became the heart of their feud.
What ties all these rivalries together is respect. Jericho didn’t frame them as grudges, but as challenges that elevated everyone involved.
