Every week on Raw, the best heel in the business right now, Chris Jericho, has been coming out and delivering astonishing segments. Be it with Ricky Steamboat, or Roddy Piper, or even Jimmy Snuka, the former Y2J has delivered some spectacular television. It’s timely as well, appropriately delivering in the run-up to what was supposed to be a Marquee match at the biggest show of the year, WrestleMania.

The whole genesis of this feud is the challenge Mickey Rourke (a non-wrestler) issued Jericho, which in turn has led to the Canadian becoming increasingly disgusted at “legends” crawling out from the wood-work. The notion behind the feud is unmistakeably great, fitting in with Jericho’s astonishing character, a whinging, wannabe-Martyr who has contempt for both his peers, and the fans. His heel character is one of the more complex in modern-era wrestling (up there with Jimmy Jacobs’ role in Ring of Honor in recent years), and it ensures he is the perfect fit for a less athletically satisfying, but heavily storyline-orientated WrestleMania feud.

Rourke’s current status of beloved comeback kid is the polar opposite of Jericho’s righteous, self-pitying personality, and the fact that Rourke achieved more acclaim for “pretending” to be a wrestler, than Jericho ever will for “really” being a wrestler, is a wonderful dimension to the rivalry. Bringing in a variety of “legends” for Jericho to decimate in the build-up only served to add heat, and fuel to the storyline in Rourke’s absence, and make his eventual appearance truly heroic.

However, it hasn’t panned out how the WWE originally wished. It’s become clear in recent weeks, that Rourke will no longer clash with Jericho, unfortunately. Put off by his handlers, the timing of the Oscars, and the potential for Mainstream media mockery, Mickey Rourke pulled out of the collision. It appears that he will still be in Texas for the show, and may get involved (probably nailing Jericho with a knockout punch), but it will not be in a wrestling capacity. This has thrown a huge spanner in the WWE’s plans, to the point where supposedly no-one, bar Vince McMahon, knows what the outcome of this feud will be. Depending on what the actual conclusion to the situation is, and who is booked to work Jericho on April 5th, I tend to believe that the lack of certainty confirms that they’ve had to scramble for a resolution.

This is quite the situation the WWE have seemingly booked them into, don’t you think?

Don’t feel too sorry for them though. After all, the snooty corporation had nothing but contempt for Rourke’s starring role in Darren Aronofsky’s wonderful opus, “The Wrestler”, (reviewed in full, here) until it gained steam in the mainstream, and found itself nominated for countless awards. In one of the worst examples of bandwagon jumping I’ve seen from Vinnie Mac, they endorsed and offered promotion for the picture once it became a realistic possibility that Rourke would win an Oscar (he should have done in my book, though I’ve sadly not seen Sean Penn’s turn in “Milk” just yet). And once Mickey made his WrestleMania intentions known to the public, the company was perhaps too eager in kicking off the rivalry, before anything was inked for sure.

But Jericho deserves better. All throughout this process, he’s been fantastic, and he has certainly warranted a happy outcome, and a pleasingly significant pay-check in Houston.

With everything currently up in the air, I felt it appropriate to look at the potential candidates to face Jericho at Mania.

Mickey Rourke
Of course, the original plan could (slim chance…I know) still transpire, given Vince’s current obsession with working the smart fans, and providing silly swerves (it was Matt all along….GASP!). As much as I’d like to see this (Rourke could have worked a short, gimmicky match with Chris, and had Flair, or one of the other legends, in his corner), and given how the angle began, it would have been ideal. But It’s an extremely far out notion. It’s much more likely that Rourke will be in the corner of whomever Jericho takes on, or perhaps be seated and ringside, and be inserted into the finish of the bout.

Steve Austin
Rumours have been circulating for months, and months, that Austin was going to work one last match at WM 25. Originally, I lobbied for Stone Cold to battle Randy Orton at the big show (Orton would have benefited more than anybody, from being put over by “The Rattlesnake”), but conceded that Austin/Cena would have been financially, the biggest match they could have booked. However, with Rourke absent from the biggest bout on the card (from a mainstream perspective), had Austin been scheduled to work Mania, he was the logical choice to take the actor’s place across the ring from Jericho. And I’m sure that Austin would have been thrilled, having know Jericho for a long time, and being able to trust the Winnipeg native with his fragile body.

Recent reports though, have made clear that Austin will not be competing though. Could this be another Vinnie Mac swerve? Could the “insiders” offering the Intel on this one, be in McMahon’s circle, and merely be spreading gossip? I doubt it highly. Business-wise, it would be incredibly inane to wait this long to announce Steve Austin’s return to the squared circle. Ideally, if he was to be the one to take out Jericho, it would be announced by now, and/or, he’d be due an appearance on television.

Hulk Hogan
The one aspect of Hogan’s potential that is really believable, is that while some of the other stars would surely have needed to be announced a good while in advance, Vince doesn’t perceive Hogan as the star that Hogan perceives himself to be. Therefore, I find it plausible that instead of Vince booking Hogan over the course of several weeks, he’d insert him into the mix at the last minute, as a “surprise”, already convinced that he’s not a drawing card anyway.

Supposedly, Hogan is injured (back surgery I believe), but in fairness, Hogan’s been physically incapable of working for at least ten years, and that has never stopped him before… Hogan vs. Jericho would be no disaster, as it would certainly garner some press, and probably add (ever so slightly) to the buyrate, but it’s not ideal either.

Ric Flair
Ric Flair has now stated that he will not be wrestling Jericho at WrestleMania. Thank God. Last year. His retirement bout with Shawn Michaels was a fabulous way to draw the curtain on his career. To return, just one year later, would be a huge slap in the face to everyone who appreciated, admired, and applauded Flair last year. At one point, it emerged that Flair had agreed, that if Rourke pulled out of the show, he would step up and take his place. However, he was worried about both tarnishing his legacy, and also, being lost in the pack, if there were multiple legends involved. While it would make sense for Flair to get involved in the match somehow, he should certainly not be a participant.

Jerry Lawler
The last couple of shows, during the segments with Jericho, the WWE have thrown out subtle and not-so-subtle hints that Lawler, becoming increasingly sick and disgusted at the actions of Jericho, will be the one to step up the plate and take him out at Mania.

I can’t underline how much of a colossal disappointment this would be. The other legends are more plausible, because they’re surprise elements, and they’ve been off TV. Lawler has not. Lawler is the guy behind the desk every week, and as such, would not even register as a blip in the media. Aside from anything else, the fact that he’s jumped out of the announcing seat, and fought full-time performers (often defeating them, to their detriment) so often, completely kills the “special” aura they need to achieve for this event. Lawler was a fantastic worker, and drawing card, in his day, but that’s not now, and a Lawler bout is about as intriguing as un-toasted soda farl.

Ricky Steamboat
While Fan-boys have wet themselves over the very thought that Steamboat may be the mystery opponent, it just isn’t going to happen, nor should it. As much as I loved the guys work, he isn’t anywhere near on the same scale of any of the other talent mentioned, in terms of star-power. Steamboat being featured would not create a single word of main-stream publicity, nor would it be a decent match at all (Steamboat has not wrestled for 15 years), and enough fans are aware of that shortcoming to ensure that it would add no-buys. In short, it’s a complete fantasy.

The Legend’s Gauntlet/Legend’s Handicap match
Ugh. I’ve heard from a couple of sources that this was originally one of the substituted ideas for Mickey Rourke. It’s a horrible idea in my opinion and to feature multiple opponents demeans the intensity behind all involved. It removes all personal grudges, and an authentic sense of revenge. It also makes everyone involved look utterly ridiculous, and is too predictable. Can you imagine the mess it would be, if Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Snuka, and Flair were all in the ring beating on Jericho? Ugly stuff…Sadly, they may well go with something along these lines…

Randy Savage
Yup, wacky as it is, I’m throwing Savage into the pot, as my far out choice of opponent for Jericho.

The former WWE World Champion, Macho Man Randy Savage has never come back. Never. There’s been speculation abound as to why, although it has always seemed obvious that whatever the source of the issue, the fact is, Vinnie Mac despises Savage. I don’t for a second, believe that he banged Stephanie, as many would insinuate, but it does beg the question, what is the problem? Vince has forgiven everyone else for their “sins”, from Austin, to Hogan, to Superstar Billy Graham. However, there is now light at the end of the tunnel – the company are releasing a Macho Man DVD this June. That in itself, is an enormous step forward, as fans have been absolutely clamouring for a Macho release for years now.

So, could it be? Well… Stranger things have happened… and if it did… yes, the match would be short, and probably not even decent, but for a few moments, for a few big moves, for a couple of really swell promos, and for the look on Jericho’s face, it would be something really special.

Of course, there are other names to add to the hat, be it The Ultimate Warrior, or The Rock, but these are the ones that continue to circulate, refusing to go away. It’s interesting stuff for sure, but “interesting” does not sell Pay per Views… we need a match.

There are four weeks left to go… They need to make a decision as soon as possible and let the fans know.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback and I can be contacted at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!