[1997-09-14-WCW-Fall Brawl] Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Jericho

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

A good comparison to Rey/Malenko from Havoc the year before, and another point to prove that the cruisers were trying to work the US pro style and do more face/heel playing for heat than history may remember for these guys. This was actually fairly slow paced for a cruiserweight match but it was really nicely laid out and Eddy is awesome. Jericho was a weird wrestler at this point and gave some uneven performances, but this was one of his better ones, even though Eddy carried things. Love all of Eddy's weird holds working over Jericho's back. Great finish, with Eddy countering the top rope superplex then following up with the frog splash. This had one crowd-pleasing spot after another, as Eddy was clearly ready for a higher spot on the card and Jericho would be taking steps in that direction within a few months.

[Kevin Ridge]

It’s a good match but my problem with the finish is that it looked like Guerrero took a brainbuster off the top rope and just popped up after leading to him win. But Eddy is great overall and this all leads up to him facing Rey for the title.

[soup23]

I thought this was super. Cesaro vs. Zayn was a rightfully praised match but this felt like an equal or maybe just a step below mixing in really sound psychology with some great spots. The way the match escalated after Eddy started working on the back was glorious. I also thought the commentary was terrific with both Bobby and Tony getting into this one and praising Eddy throughout. Finish feels good as Eddy is able to reign supreme and Jericho still gave a great effort. Perfect PPV opener given time to develop into something special.

[El-P]

Terrific match, a WCW MOTYC to me. The way they worked a slower pace and got nice reactions from working holds during the body of the match was a real nice touch. Eddie was cut, I wonder if he juiced up to come back from his pec injury. He was also total poetry in motion here. The best Jericho match up until then probably. A match that elevated both guys.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WCW Crusierweight Champion Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero - Fall Brawl 1997

 

WOW! I have seen this match before a bunch of times since I have it on DVD and always thought it was good, but today it really clicked with me. Eddie was just on fire during this heel run. He was doing all the right things. He was a sniveling coward, a funny stooge and a sadistic muthafucka at all the right times. Jericho during this bland Lionheart babyface run is not too fondly remembered, but when he was kicking ass he came off as a badass. I loved his chops and late in the game he kept up with Eddie spot for spot. His top wristlock really needs to be tightened up especially when Jarrett later on the show works a way better one. I miss top and double wristlocks in wrestling.

 

Big Eddie Sucks chant early and Eddie hits the stall to milk it by covering his heel. On the first armdrag, Eddie claims his hair was pulled. Eddie makes all of Jericho matwork really fun. Eddie takes his first big bump when he goes flying into the top rope to set up the Lionsault. It is all Jericho early who looks like a runaway freight train. Eddie out of desperation on the apron snaps Jericho's neck across the top rope. Eddie goes to town on Jericho's back with a ton of cool surfboards even breaking out the Gory Special. Jericho reverses into his own and drops Eddie on his face. Jericho follows up with some weak clothesline. I like how Tony calls them as such because Jericho has taken a beating that's how you call what you are selling but give a good kayfabe justification. Jericho consolidates his advantage when he crotches Eddie on the top rope and sends him for the ride. That spot never gets old! Perfect timing for Jericho's springboard dropkick. In the gnarly spot, I always remember Jericho looks to powerbomb Eddie off the apron, but drops back with it hotshotting him. Eddie falls off the apron onto Jericho. It was a desperation play by Jericho to level the playing field, but not without cost to himself. They just start throwing bombs with reckless abandon and it is super fun. Everything is hitting so crisply. Jericho's release German sent Eddie flying halfway across the ring. Again, Tony covering for the kickout saying Jericho had to crawl so far cost him the pinfall. Jericho hits his double powerbomb spot and places Eddie on the top rope for the superplex. Eddie counters mid-move (Yes, it does look like Eddie took a Brainbuster) by reversing his weight. This leaves Jericho prone for the Frogsplash.

 

I really liked how this match built perfectly to the finish. You had Jericho dominate early, but get caught by a nefarious Eddie tactic. Eddie worked a tremendous heat segment with a wicked sneer. Then it just came down to a crazy wild finish of bombs with each going for the win. It made the Crusierweight title feel really important. I loved the finish with Jericho looking to pull the trigger on a superplex, which could win him the match, but on this occasion he pays the price for this high risk move and Eddie capitalizes. Great stuff! ****1/4

[PeteF3]

Terrific match, probably the best of Jericho's career to this point. The moves get more advanced but this is really laid out like a '70s NWA title bout, with matwork leading to a few highspots then the pace being slowed down again before ramping up to the finish. But the matwork is pretty intricate and focused at the same time, with Jericho going after Eddie's arm and Eddie working the back with some unique holds that really get the crowd's attention to a degree that you don't often see for submission holds in the U.S. This is the best type of "smart" audience--the kind that understands psychology and what good wrestling is. In an ideal world, Eddie would be springboarding into Nitro main events because of this and Havoc.

[JKWebb]

I tried to watch this on a scrambled channel on my satellite dish when it originally aired. I remember going to the PPV channel and moving the dish slightly. The video was scrambled, but I could hear the audio. I finally started ordering all of the PPVs after that. This match is great. You can tell they are both feeling the moment. The crowd is hot for them, and all the moves are very crisp with sound psychology. Love the left arm work on EG and focus on the back of Jericho by EG. Jericho's facial expressions, while in submission, are fantastic. These guys stole the show on this night. ****1/4

 

#458 - placetobenation.com/countdown-top-500-matches-of-the-90s-500-451/2/

[ohtani's jacket]

#458 -- History has not been kind to this match. I guess in '97 people expected more spectacular high spots from a cruiser weight bout, but this really was an excellent bout with great psychology and tremendous wrestling from both men. By far and away one of the best Jericho bouts I've seen, and the only time I ever like Chris Jericho is begrudgingly. Even Heenan and Schiavone seemed to forget about the NWO for five minutes and got drawn into this one. This is the kind of match I would have bypassed before this list thinking it was like other disappointing PPV matches like that Eddie vs. Malenko match from Starrcade, but this is super underrated. Worth a revisit if you haven't, people.

[Zenjo]

Jericho was in serious need of a heel turn at this point in time. His facial expressions here were the worst I've seen in some time. This contest started off slowly and took a while to get going. It would've benefitted from being JIP. Some weak arm work from Y2J before Eddy took over. It improved the longer it went and was really cooking in the closing stages. They got where they wanted to go in the end and delivered a good 'un.