[2001-01-04-WWF-Smackdown] Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit

[GSR]

On the very first episode of Smackdown in 2001, Chris Jericho says that he will win the Intercontinental title and will do so in front of all these ‘Jerichoholics’.  He goes on to say how that if it wasn’t for Lt. Commissioner Debra he wouldn’t be here tonight, and if it wasn’t for ‘old lady’ Benoit forgetting to take her birth control pills Chris Benoit wouldn’t be here either!  That brings out the ‘Rabid Wolverine’ who thinks that Y2J should take his own advice and “shut the hell up”.  Benoit ducks a clothesline and dumps the challenger on the back of his head.  After whipping Jericho chest first into the turnbuckles he looks for the crossface, however they’re too close to the ropes and Y2J grabs them for the break.  Jericho reverses the Irish whip and a boot to the mid-section followed by a bulldog.  There’s no-one home on the Lionsault and as Benoit starts the rolling German suplexes, Jericho blocks the second and counters with ‘the Walls’.  As he tries to turn him over, Perry Saturn sprints out from the dressing room and attacks him from behind for the DQ.  Dean Malenko is down there too, orchestrating things, until the Hardy Boyz make the save and run ‘the Radicalz’ off. 

Just storyline advancement as we only got a few minutes of action before the run ins.

[soup23]

Jericho and Benoit hurl insults at each other.  Neither is particulary funny but that is more of an endictment of Jericho than Benoit given his personality being more of a driver. Quick match to set up the feud further as they run through a lot of their signature spots together.  Jericho has the walls of Jericho locked in when Saturn and Malenko come in to cause the DQ.  The Hardys provide backup for Jericho. **