Wasted Potential

[Ben M]

April 4th, 2022. More than two months had passed since Chris Jericho's 12th World Title reign had been ended by the man that he had beaten for the championship a month prior, The Miz. On Warfare, Jericho would be wrestling what was only his second match since the Last Survivor pay-per-view. He had appeared at Fallout, doing commentary for the main event in which Miz had lost the World Title to "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. While on commentary, Jericho had hinted that Wyatt winning would put him back in the World Title picture, since one of the stipulations he had agreed to in his match with The Miz was that if he lost, he wouldn't be allowed to challenge Miz for the title as long as Miz remained champion. While Jericho didn’t know what Wes had planned for Wyatt's World Title reign, it seemed unlikely that he would be involved. Miz was technically "owed" a rematch, and given the ongoing feud between Wyatt and Rated RKO, it seemed probably that Edge or Randy Orton (or maybe even both of them?) would be challenging Wyatt for the championship in the nearer future. Plus the winner of the King of the Ring tournament (if it was still going to be called that?) would be getting a title shot at the August pay-per-view (name tbc). So yeah, there was no room for Jericho in the World Title picture for the foreseeable future. If he was being honest with himself, Jericho was fine with that. He had ended up back in the World Title picture almost by accident, and while he would have preferred to hold onto the championship for longer, he understood and accepted that Wes had other plans.

Jericho's match on Warfare was against the leader of the Bullet Club, Prince Devitt. His last match, on the February 14th edition of Warfare, had been against Bullet Club's Adam Cole. Devitt and G.O.D. had attacked Jericho after the match, which was the "kayfabe" reason for his absence over the past six weeks. In reality, he had taken some time off to add the finishing touches to Fozzy's new album, Boombox, and prepare for their upcoming tour. Tonight, though, Jericho wasn't thinking about the album or the tour. His sole focus was on putting on a good show for the EBWF fans. Despite Devitt having had several runs in EBWF, he and Jericho had never had a one-on-one match, so Jericho was excited about working with him.

After he arrived at the arena, Jericho got changed into his ring gear, then headed to the "promo zone". Once he was there and the camera was rolling, Jericho began to speak.

Chris Jericho: Tonight, in the nation's capital, I get to fight a man that calls himself a leader. Prince Devitt, the so called "leader" of the Bullet Club. Now Devitt, Fergal, Finn... I've heard you complaining that people think Adam Cole is the leader of the Bullet Club, and trying to make sure everyone knows you're actually the one in charge. But you have to ask yourself, why do people think Adam Cole is the leader? I'll tell you why, because he's made his presence felt a lot more than you have since the Bullet Club returned to EBWF! I mean sure, he's lost most of his matches, but at least he's getting booked. And when he isn't booked, he's out there or back here running his mouth. But you, Devitt... I'll be honest, I forget you were still here until I saw your name on the match card. What kind of leader takes a back seat? I could understand if the other members of Bullet Club were achieving success, at least then you could claim you were orchestrating things behind the scenes. But your fellow Bullet Clubbers keep coming up short... so shouldn't you be getting more involved? You ought to be grateful that Bullet Club isn’t a democracy, because if it was you'd be getting voted out. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Adam Cole was planning a coup.

Jericho winked towards the camera, as if he knew something, then continued speaking.

Chris Jericho: Devitt, tonight you have a huge opportunity. Maybe this is your chance to prove your worth as a leader, to get things back on track for the Bullet Club. Because while I may no longer be the EBWF World Champion, I am still the GOAT. I am the guy everyone on the EBWF roster wants to beat, because a win over me can propel you to superstardom. The question is, Devitt... do you have what it takes to win "the big one", to beat me? I've got to be honest, junior... I don't think you do.

Jericho shook his head and sighed.

Chris Jericho: It's a shame, really. Because when I look at you, Devitt, I see a lot of wasted potential. I remember watching you when you first went to Japan back in 2006. Just when things were starting to go well for you out there, you suffered an injury. But you didn't let that slow your momentum, you came back stronger. You achieved success as a junior heavyweight, breaking records along the way, and then of course you formed the Bullet Club. You set your sights on the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but even with the help of your club you just... couldn't get the job done. And if memory serves me correctly, didn't the Young Bucks doubt your credentials as a leader back then? What makes you think you can trust them now? It's been eight years since you walked away from New Japan and set your sights on making it big in the States, and while you've had your successes, you've never quite been seen as a top guy. It's not a distinction we really have here, Devitt, but you're still very much a "junior heavyweight". You couldn't make it to the final of the Breakout tournament, and when you were given a chance to earn a World Title shot in the Elimination Chamber, you were the first guy eliminated! You've had several runs here in EBWF, and despite being given chance after chance after chance, you always seem to end up failing. Maybe that's why the rest of the Bullet Club is failing here too, Devitt... they're following your example.

Jericho smirked and wagged his finger, as if he was "ticking off" Prince Devitt.

Chris Jericho: When I wrestled Adam Cole a few weeks back, you got involved and with the help of Cole, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, you were able to come out on top. Congratulations on beating me in a four-on-one situation, Devitt, but it will be one-on-one tonight. And the odds are very much against you. The way I see it, there are four possible outcomes for our match tonight. The first outcome is that we have one on one match, no outside interference, we tear the house down and I win. The second is that the Bullet Club gets involved and you get disqualified. The third is that they get involved but don't get caught, and they help you beat me. In those three scenarios, I win. The only scenario in which you truly win, Devitt, is if you beat me without the Bullet Club getting involved. Because if you beat me with their help, that just proves that you know you can't beat me on your own. So if you can silence that doubt that has inevitably built up from all your failures... aim for that fourth scenario, Devitt. And even if you fail, you'll at least earn my respect. Prove to me that potential that I saw in you 16 years ago hasn't completely gone to waste.

The camera was shut off and Jericho headed back to his locker room as the scene drew to a close.