Chris Jericho has drawn an unexpected comparison between his wrestling career and a legendary figure from the music world, explaining how he had to find his own path while working alongside generational stars.
Speaking on the UNTAPPED podcast, the former AEW World Champion reflected on arriving in WWE with strong momentum, only to realise he was sharing the spotlight with the two biggest names of the Attitude Era.
“You work to make it to the big leagues… but once you get there, like, okay, now I really have to start working on this and really watch the biggest names in the business and how they do things,” Chris Jericho said.
Chris Jericho Compares Himself To Legendary Music Icon George Harrison
Chris Jericho then likened his situation to that of George Harrison in The Beatles, noting that while he was popular when he arrived, he was positioned alongside The Rock and Steve Austin at their peak.
“I always say that I was like the George Harrison of the Attitude Era,” he explained. “I was in the company with The Rock and Steve Austin. The biggest babyfaces in the world. So, much like George, I’m a great musician, a great songwriter, but I’m in a band with Paul McCartney and John Lennon. What can I do? There’s no way I can get bigger than them.”
Recognising that breaking through as a top babyface would be difficult, Jericho said he made a strategic shift in his character.
“So, I turned bad guy, turned heel, and that’s when I really started getting to the next level because now I could be a foil for The Rock and a foil for Steve Austin, and I could go toe-to-toe with them on the microphone as a bad guy.”
Jericho believes that decision ultimately elevated him into the main event scene, allowing him to thrive as a top antagonist during one of WWE’s most successful eras.
