Chris Jericho Reveals Original Plans for His WWE Finisher

When Chris Jericho made his iconic debut in WWE in 1999, he brought with him the Boston Crab, later famously known as the Walls of Jericho, as his finishing move. However, as Jericho recently shared on his Talk Is Jericho podcast, the original plan for his finisher—and his nickname—was quite different.

Jericho recalled discussions with Vince McMahon about his finishing move, noting that McMahon initially envisioned something more explosive than a Boston Crab. During those conversations, Jericho suggested calling the move the Y2J Problem, referencing the Y2K computer bug that was a hot topic at the time. However, McMahon had a different idea.

“Vince said, ‘No, that’s not the name of your finish, that’s your name.’ I asked, ‘The Y2J Problem?’ He replied, ‘No, just Y2J.’ That’s one of those little things that Vince is really genius about, a little detail that created this amazing name that, especially for the time, people still chant to this day even though I haven’t used that name since 2008,” Jericho explained.

As for the Walls of Jericho itself, Jericho originally wanted to stick with the name Liontamer, which he had used in WCW. However, McMahon wasn’t keen on it because WWE already had Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den. After brainstorming, they landed on the name Walls of Jericho, which has since become synonymous with Jericho’s storied career.

Jericho also shared some more humorous moments from the brainstorming process, revealing that one of his early ideas for a finishing move was called the Standing Torture Device—or STD for short. Jericho noted that the name might have worked during the Attitude Era, given the era’s edgy content.

Additionally, Jericho recalled being given a list of potential finishers by WWE corporate, which included some head-scratching options like the Rock N Roll Finisher and the Salad Shooter. Jericho humorously questioned the connection between salad and his persona, realizing the name might have been inspired by the Sharpshooter, but ultimately dismissing it as an odd choice.

In the end, Jericho settled on the Walls of Jericho, a decision that has served him well throughout his career. The move has led to countless victories and remains a defining element of his wrestling legacy.

Jericho’s story highlights the creative process behind the scenes in WWE and the importance of finding the right identity in the wrestling world. Thanks to McMahon’s vision and Jericho’s adaptability, Y2J and the Walls of Jericho became iconic parts of wrestling history.

What are your thoughts on the origins of Chris Jericho’s Y2J nickname and the Walls of Jericho finisher? Do you think these choices were crucial in shaping his WWE persona and his overall impact on wrestling? Share your favorite Jericho moments or thoughts on how effective branding can influence a wrestler’s career in the comments below!