WWE didn’t really have any undercard matches lined up for WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, and big names were gonna land up and down the card on Sunday, April 2. So after a hot opener between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon, it was time for KO-Mania 2.
And Chris Jericho and his amazing light-up scarf.
The animosity still lingered from Kevin Owens betrayal of Y2J at the Festival of Friendship, and the two former best friends immediately started wailing on each other as soon as they were in the ring together. The United States championship was on the line, but was almost an afterthought to the personal issues driving this feud.
The champ got the better of their initial exchanges, but then a cannonball of the apron put KO in the driver’s seat. Taunting his opponent and the crowd, asking where Jericho’s friends were now, Owens wore down the man he once looked up to as a young fan.
At the #UltimateThrillRide, @IAmJericho is pulling out ALL the stops! #WrestleMania #USTitle @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/CEO9zPPYrk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
Back and forth they went, trading and countering big moves, including when both men got their knees up for a series of manuevers in rapid succession - Jericho on Owens’ Frog Splash and senton, KO on Y2J’s Lionsault. After leaping over a Pop-Up Powerbomb attempt, Jericho was able to land the Lionsault, but only for two.
Not long after that, the challenger was able to lock Jericho in his own submission move, but the legend knew the counter.
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
When Owens set him up for another Cannonball in the corner, Y2J turned that into the Walls himself, but his former friend reached the ropes. KO hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb for a great nearfall...
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
... before a second one was countered into a Codebreaker... but Owens reached the ropes with one finger to break the referee’s count.
KO rolled out, and when Jericho went to follow, Owens trapped him in the ropes and kicked his knee - setting up the apron powerbomb no one has come back.
1 - 2 - 3. Owens is United States champion, and friendship is well and truly dead.
For complete WrestleMania 33 results and coverage of every match on the card click here.