Chris Jericho & Big Show Were A Surprising WWE Tag Team Success Story

Posted by Kary Bruening on Friday, April 5, 2024

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Chris Jericho has had multiple tag-team partners over the years in his wrestling career. Some partners didn't achieve much, and some have succeeded beyond most people's expectations. With that said, 2008 to 2010 was arguably one of the best years for Chris Jericho, as he's won numerous singles and tag belts while also rejuvenation his entire persona as an ultra-arrogant heel character. Part of what made his heel persona appealing was his alliance with The Big Show, as both men won the WWE Unified Tag-team Championship and held it for many months. Because of their alliance, both Chris Jericho and Big Show became one of the most featured performers on both Raw and Smackdown at the time and garnered unlikely success as a tag team.

The Initial Forming Of Jeri-Show

In 2009, Chris Jericho was considered one of the top heels in the WWE, alongside the likes of Randy Orton and Edge. A few months after moving to the Smackdown brand, Chris Jericho allied himself with Edge not too long after he lost the World Heavyweight Championship. Both men quickly found success as they won the Unified Tag-Team Championship at The Bash 2009. It was going well for the team until Edge suffered a near career-threatening injury, as he'd been medically uncleared to wrestle for the rest of 2009.

While Chris Jericho and Edge were the top heels on the Smackdown brand, The Big Show was one of the top heels on Raw as he recently just got done feuding with John Cena. Fortunately for him, he had no issues finding direction for his character moving forward. At Night of Champions 2009, The Big Show was revealed as Chris Jericho's mystery replacement for Edge as they successfully defended the tag belts against Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase Jr.

RELATED: Chris Jericho Has The Most Reigns, But Was Never A Good Intercontinental Champion

Jericho And Big Show Had A Unique Dynamic

As they took the name "Jeri-show," Chris Jericho may not have Edge in his corner but a giant that aided his back. Chris Jericho could continue acting overly arrogant as he's got The Big Show that usually finishes the matches for him to steal the victory. Every time Chris Jericho and Big Show were in a position where it looked like they were losing, The Big Show would make the save.

It's a compelling dynamic between them, considering both had colorful personalities and unique in-ring styles. Chris Jericho's dirty but technical in-ring specialty alongside the Big Show's powerhouse style made for a dangerous combination, as also believable in the process.

Prominent Performers On Raw And Smackdown

As Unified Tag Champs indicates that both champions can appear on both Raw and Smackdown, Chris Jericho and The Big Show made the best of it and became prominent performers on both brands. They tangled with practically every tag team on both brands, from tag-teams from the mid-card to main-event level talents. One of the most appealing aspects of Chris Jericho and Big Show's alliance is that they can pair with any tag team and have exciting programs, whether in the ring or delivering a non-wrestling segment.

For example, they've defended their championship belts against a mid-card tag team like team Cryme Tyme, to which both teams delivered a fun build-up towards their match at Summerslam 2009. Another example is Chris Jericho and The Big Show taking on main-event level talents like Batista and Rey Mysterio at Hell in a Cell 2009, which also clicked in the ring, considering both teams worked well.

Chris Jericho and The Big Show not only paired well with other tag teams but were victorious in the process, whether they faced mid-card to main-event level tag teams on both Raw and Smackdown. That says a lot, considering heel tag teams generally tend to lose a lot in WWE. However, it helps that Chris Jericho and The Big Show were veterans and were already multiple-time world champions, as they had impressive resumes to back up their alliance.

RELATED: Chris Jericho Says He Almost Died After 2009 TLC Spot With DX

Chris Jericho And The Big Show Continue As Singles Competitors

And because of their resumes, Chris Jericho and the Big Show were not only successful as a tag team but also continued as main-event singles performers. Fans already took them seriously as singles wrestlers, regardless of wrestling tag matches or not. For instance, Chris Jericho and the Big Show were in a triple-threat match against The Undertaker at Survivor Series 2009 for the World Heavyweight championship while still holding the tag titles. It's worth noting that their bout with the Undertaker also paved the way for a classic tag match on Smackdown before the PPV against the Brothers of Destruction, as Undertaker and Kane were two other legends they faced through their championship run.

Jeri-Show Created Special Moments

Chris Jericho and the Big Show were well protected through their Tag-Team Championship reign, as WWE also deserves credit for how well they've booked them. When they eventually lost their tag belts at TLC 2009 at the hands of Triple H and Shawn Michaels of D-Generation X, it created a massive event as this was the first time Triple H and Shawn Michaels held the Tag-team Championship with each other.

Because Chris Jericho and The Big Show's run as a tag-team succeeded, D-Generation X beating them for the belts made their victory that much more memorable. It shows that when wrestlers achieve by themselves and get over to where fans take them seriously, they can use it to elevate others. Chris Jericho and The Big Show were successful in fitting those criteria.

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