By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE wrestler Chris Jericho says WWE wouldn't be able to pull off a brand split if they started it in 2009 because they don't have enough stars to fill two separate rosters.

WWE created the Raw and Smackdown brands in 2002 when the company had two complete rosters of top stars following the acquisitions of WCW and ECW in 2001.

"I think it was a better idea then than it is now," Chris Jericho told Kenai Andrews of Slam Wrestling in an interview. "There was a lot more talent when they did the brand extension."

Now a veteran on the roster, Jericho said he's scouting young talent to see who will be the next top stars. He said some wrestlers "get it" while others need to improve.

"We have some young guys that are ready to grasp it and there are other guys that aren't," he said. "They're going to have to speed up the process a bit."

Jericho singled out John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, Cryme Tyme, Legacy, Evan Bourne, and Sheamus as young talent on the verge of stardom. He singled out Jack Swagger, The Miz, and Kofi Kingston as three young wrestlers who "are going to have to start becoming more of a presence."

Jericho said it will take time for some of the wrestlers he mentioned to be more consistent as they build toward being stars for WWE. He said some guys just don't have the ability yet, but he hopes WWE will continue to push them in order to replace the current generation of top stars down the road.

"So now is the time, we need these guys to step up and the thing is too, is you say step up, step up, step up, but some guys just aren't capable; they're not ready because they don't have the experience yet," Jericho said. "But as long they are improving every week, and those are guys that I kind of see as being the next wave of the company, when my generation of guys is retired or not at the same level as we are now."

Link: Read Jericho's complete interview including thoughts on working with Big Show on Slam Wrestling.

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