An epiphany I just had about Chris Jericho.

[The One]

I was talking with BDC when we realized why it is Jericho has never gotten to that next level. If you were to rate a wrestler using a 1-10 scale on a bell curve in various categories; promos skills, match quality, bring that "big fight" feeling, character development, etc. Chris Jericho is a straight 9 in everything. He's so far beyond most that he's great, but he could never etch himself into greatness. I think that was Jericho's weakness. A jack of all trades, master of none.

Guys like Austin and Hogan have a 10 in character. They can build legendary careers off their characters alone. Nothing else really matters. Guys like Rock can build millions upon millions of fans with his mic skills. Michaels has a very long a storied history of having 10.0 matches. Guys like Triple H have an amazing ability to give a match such a wonderful build up that the match alone becomes worthy of 10s. Jericho, he can only seem to do better than most everyone else, he can't seem to cross that barrier and become a 10 anywhere. He has wonderful matches, promos, atmospheres, and his character has been a delight...BUT...none of it's ever been iconic. I think that's why he's been stuck as a upper midcard guy for most of his career. He just can't become a 10.

(Personal disclaimer: Jericho is one of my top wrestlers of all time, and my personal markishness towards him disagrees with this, but as a logical observer of the industry, this is what I've noticed.)