In the United States Championship match at WrestleMania 33, Chris Jericho defended the gold against former best friend Kevin Owens.
In arguably the most personal match of the night at WrestleMania 33, Chris Jericho defended the United States Championship against Kevin Owens after Owens and Jericho’s friendship exploded at the Festival of Friendship.
Owens turned his back on Jericho and his friendship, which led to Jericho responding by costing Owens the Universal Championship against Goldberg back at Fastlane last month.
The two finally clashed at WrestleMania on Sunday night in front of over 70,000 at Camping World Stadium for the United States Championship and it didn’t disappoint.
It's time for #KOMania2 as @FightOwensFight looks to capture the #USTitle from @IAmJericho, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/L9le09DFL6
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
It's the GIANT LIST of JERICHO...INK IT IN, MAAAAAAAAN! #WrestleMania #USTitle @IAmJericho pic.twitter.com/RZo5uDm6r0
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
It didn’t take long for these two to get this match going. The early action was on the outside and Jericho looked to the skies for the early momentum.
#USChampion @IAmJericho is QUICKLY taking to the sky in an effort to defeat former "best friend" @FightOwensFight! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/4aico58zfJ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
The pace would slow down after Jericho’s hot start and Owens would dictate matters with a ground attack. (He is the Headlock Master after all.)
Does @IAmJericho have a chance to retain his #USTitle? Not according to @FightOwensFight... #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/aF2Zep3Tcc
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
Jericho looked to take the momentum back in the back-and-forth affair with a big-time Frankensteiner. It’s WrestleMania and the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n Rollah was pulling out all the stops for this one.
At the #UltimateThrillRide, @IAmJericho is pulling out ALL the stops! #WrestleMania #USTitle @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/CEO9zPPYrk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
Owens began to pull some tricks out of his bag, but to no avail. Jericho countered the Frog Splash and Senton Bomb attempts from Owens, which led to Jericho finally hitting the Lionsault on his third attempt of the match.
Jericho took the top rope once more, but got caught by the challenger and led to a version of the Walls of Jericho from Owens himself.
The #WallsOfJericho LOCKED IN...ON @IAmJericho?! @FightOwensFight looks to make him tap out to his own submission at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/DsSbqRolEH
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
Owens looked to flatten Jericho with a Cannonball shortly after Jericho was able to break the hold, but then he got caught in the Walls by the Man with 1,004 Holds.
Now THAT'S about right! Can @IAmJericho make @FightOwensFight tap to the #WallsOfJericho at #WrestleMania, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork?! pic.twitter.com/yzVKD80QwY
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
Owens was able to get out of the hold and send Jericho in the ropes for a Pop-Up Powerbomb, but only got a count of two. Owens went for it again that was greeted with a Codebreaker by Jericho. THAT only got a two-count, too.
From The #WallsOfJericho to a #PopUpPowerbomb, former best friends @IAmJericho & @FightOwensFight pulled out ALL the stops at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/ZbW5d1avdJ
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
"YOU WERE NEVER MY BEST FRIEND!" - @FightOwensFight to @IAmJericho #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/J9LWLBqvou
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
Jericho thought he had Owens, but he was just barely able to get a finger (yes, a finger) on the bottom rope. As Owens went outside again, Jericho looked to stay on KO, but after a shot to the knee of Jericho, a Powerbomb on the ring apron, Kevin Owens became the new United States Champion.
The #USTitle has a new owner, and his name is @FightOwensFight! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/RDpR0ZEYr6
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
KOMania, indeed.