Chris Jericho Leaves, Again

The WWE wrote off Chris Jericho with a "Contract vs. Contract" match against Dolph Ziggler on Raw. Going back a step, Jericho did beat Ziggler at Summerslam. Does that count as winning the "big one"? On one hand, that was Jericho's first and only PPV win since his return. You can say that makes it a big win. On the other hand, nothing was on the line. Chris Jericho failed to win the Royal Rumble, failed to win the WWE title on multiple occasions,  failed to win the World's Heavyweight Championship, and failed to win Money in the Bank. Those would have been more meaningful victories. In his match where something was on the line on Raw, he loses again. And he lost clean.

In two days, the WWE loses two top faces. Yes, Triple H was not a regular anymore and everyone knew Jericho was leaving, but it is still worth talking about it. First, going back to my point about some people complaining about Triple H having the spotlight after his match with Lesnar at Summerslam, would those same people complain about Jericho taking the spotlight after his loss to Ziggler. He even attacked Ziggler after the loss. And yet, I don't have too much of a problem with that. There is a small problem I do have, however. They wrote Triple H off with an injury and possibly retiring after that loss. He was mentally and physically broken. I don't think he needed all that. The injury would have been enough to send him away and let Lesnar look strong. I would have let Jericho be the one who leaves mentally broken. He loses another match where the stakes are high, and this one costs him his career. Instead of that, he takes a shot at Ziggler and leaves with his head high. Okay. I can understand not wanting to sell the same kind of story as Triple H just had. But I would have developed both differently. Lastly, is the WWE in a tough spot with these two out? No. Orton and Mysterio came back. Cena and Sheamus are around. As I type it, I realize the WWE really needs to do more to develop more faces. They are developing more new heels better than new faces, when it comes to main-eventers and upper-midcarders. Still, having Triple H and Jericho taking attention wouldn't solve that problem.

When Jericho does return again, what should happen? He can still come back refocused to win the title. And it would still be great if Ziggler is holding it when that happens. However, some of the kick may have been lost. Had he gone away a broken man, that return would have meant so much more. That kind of story is probably what they will sell with Triple H. As for Jericho, he definitely has not been buried with his recent run. They could have handled it better to draw in the fans. I still believe that. However, he can easily pick up with anything when he does return.