Chris Jericho told an interview that his rivalry with The Rock in 2001 was one of his most underrated stories in wrestling. He said the matches and promos between them deserved more credit.
Jericho says the feud was special
Jericho looked back at the run he had with The Rock and called it an underrated feud. He said the two could go “toe to toe” in the ring and that The Rock was a very good wrestler. Jericho praised The Rock for his promo work and said few people could match him on the microphone.
Jericho used a simple image to explain their dynamic. He said to have a great “dragon slayer,” you need a great “dragon,” and he believed they fit those roles well. He added that every time they worked together—whether in the ring, on promos, or in backstage segments—it was excellent.
Key matches and title changes in 2001
The feud included several big moments in late 2001. At WWE No Mercy in October 2001, Jericho beat The Rock to win the WCW World Championship. After that, they briefly joined forces and captured the WWE Tag Team Championships by defeating The Dudley Boyz. That tag title reign lasted about two weeks before their on-screen tension rose again.
The rivalry continued with a rematch for the WCW World Championship in which The Rock won. Then, at WWE Vengeance in December 2001, Jericho beat The Rock to regain the WCW World Championship. Later the same night, Jericho also defeated “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWE Championship. By winning both titles that night, Jericho became the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion.
Why the feud still matters
Jericho’s point is that the feud showed both men at their best. It blended strong in-ring work with sharp promos. The brief tag-team partnership and quick turn back to rivals added layers to the story. Those shifts helped make the matches feel important.
Jericho also noted the emotional and storytelling value of the feud. At times The Rock accused Jericho of not being able to win the big one. Jericho used that line in the story and then beat The Rock for the big prize. For Jericho, that payoff mattered.
Quick facts
Below is a short look at the main people and results from this run in late 2001.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Chris Jericho | Defeated The Rock at No Mercy (Oct 2001); Regained WCW Title at Vengeance (Dec 2001); Defeated Steve Austin same night to become first Undisputed WWE Champion |
| The Rock | Lost WCW Title to Jericho at No Mercy (Oct 2001); Brief tag reign with Jericho; Won a rematch for the WCW World Championship (date not specified) |
| The Dudley Boyz | Lost WWE Tag Team Championships to Chris Jericho and The Rock (date not specified) |
| “Stone Cold” Steve Austin | Lost WWE Championship to Chris Jericho at Vengeance (Dec 2001) |
Jericho’s comments remind fans that the matches and storytelling from that run still mean a lot to him. He believes the feud with The Rock deserves more recognition for its quality and impact.
