How Chris Jericho’s WWE Debut Was Inspired By Michael Jackson

WWE has seen a few big debuts in the history of the company. Few fans will forget watching the countdown clock strike 00:00 that they were watching tick down for weeks. Then Chris Jericho made his debut for the company. That moment was inspired by the King of Pop.

While speaking to the Broken Skull Sessions, Chris Jericho revealed how Michael Jackson helped him come up with that iconic WWE debut. I all took place at a Mexico City concert in 1993, but MJ had no idea Jericho was a fan in the crowd.

“The thing with the back to the crowd… you know where I got that from? Michael Jackson. I saw Michael Jackson in Mexico City in 1993. He comes out of the thing and his back is to the crowd and he stood there for like five minutes and people were going crazy and I’ll never forget like, ‘what a way to make an entrance.’ We all know it’s Michael, but he does nothing.”

Suddenly, Michael Jackson struck a different pose and the show started. The crowd went crazy and Chris Jericho was watching from that crowd, soaking up everything like a teaching moment. It definitely helped make his WWE debut more impactful.

Transcription by Thirsty