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WWE NEWSWIRE (10 years ago): Insider details on Chris Jericho's WWE debut including original idea for debut, why it was changed, TV ratings for segment with The Rock
Aug 9, 2009 - 5:15:23 PM
WWE NEWSWIRE
TORCH NEWSLETTER #561
COVER-DATED AUGUST 14, 1999
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
-- The "Countdown to the Millennium" gimmick as a way to introduce Chris Jericho was only a moderate ratings success. After dropping from a 7.1 rating two weeks ago for Vince McMahon's final Raw appearance to a 5.9 rating last week, there was reason for concern that the absence of McMahon's dominant heel personality would cause a long-term drop in ratings. Jericho and Ventura were supposed to stop the ratings slide. While Ventura was in the highest-rated segment, Jericho's segment saw a drop in ratings. His segment began at the tail end of a segment that drew a 6.8 and was in the bulk of the segment that drew a 6.5 (Road Dogg vs. Bossman closed out that seventh quarter hour).
There was no shortage of fanfare for his debut. During a Rock promo, the "Millennium Countdown" came on the TitanTron and indicated there were 15 seconds left. After 15 seconds, the lights went out, then fireworks went off, and a video montage aired and "Jericho" appeared on the big screen. The crowd popped big when his name appeared. He stood with his back to the crowd and his arms extended. He then said, "Welcome to Raw is Jericho." He said he is the new millennium for the WWF. He wore leather pants and a shiny silver jacket. He told people who don't know him that he is the most charismatic showman to ever enter their living rooms via the television screen. He called himself the "Ayatollah of Rock & Rolla." He said he is the dawning of a new era in the WWF.
"A new era is what this once proud and profitable company sorely needs," he boasted. "What was once a captivating, trendsetting program has now deteriorated into a cliched - let's be honest - boring, snoozefest in dire need of a knight in shining armor and that's why I'm here. Chris Jericho has come to save the WWF." Ross rhetorically asked, "From what?" Jericho continued. He said TV ratings were on a downward spiral, PPV buyrates were plummeting, mainstream acceptance was non-existent, and live crowd reactions had become silent. "You are silent because you are embarrassed to be here and quite honestly I'm embarrassed for you. The reason you are embarrassed is because of the steady stream of uninteresting, untalented, mediocre sports entertainers whom you are forced to cheer for and care for. No wonder you are not cheering. You couldn't care less about every single idiot in that dressing room, especially this idiot in the center of the ring. You people have been led to believe mediocrity is excellence. Eh-eh. Jericho is excellence. Now, for the first time in WWF history, you have a man who can entertain you. You have a man who is good enough for you. You have a man who can make you jump up off your chairs, raise your filthy fat little hands in the air, and scream 'Go Jericho Go.' Thank you. Now that the Y2J problem is here, this company from the front office idiots to the amateurs in the dressing room including this one, to everybody watching tonight, will never, ever be the same again."
Rock finally chimed in. "After three boring minutes," he said, "The Rock says know your role and shut your mouth. How dare you little jobroni come on the Rock's show and not even have the class to introduce yourself. What is your name?" Jericho said, "I told you..." Rock interrupted and said, "It doesn't matter what your name is." He said in response to the Y2J plan, he has a KY Jelly plan. Rock said he was going to lube his size 13 boot, turn it sideways, and stick it straight up his candy ass - "if you smell what The Rock is cooking." Jericho fumed and walked away as Rock's music played to end the segment. (As a sidenote, the booking sheets for Raw explicitly stated "Rock gets the last word" when scripting the guidelines to the Rock-Jericho segment. It was management's idea, not Rock's, that it end that way.)
-- Chris Jericho's debut was originally supposed to include a verbal confrontation with Road Dogg, but WWE changed those plans. Musical performer Kid Rock, who was backstage at a Raw last month, was going to be involved in the angle on Monday, playing into Jericho's rock music character. WCW, though, signed away Kid Rock, so the WWF completely rebooked Jericho's debut. Without the celebrity power of Kid Rock, the WWF apparently felt a bigger name than Road Dogg was necessary for Jericho's debut segment. Originally there was talk of having Jericho wrestle Road Dogg at Summerslam. Since Rock is already booked against Billy Gunn, Jericho won't wrestle on Summerslam, but instead will work a program with Rock after Summerslam.
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