Chris Jericho: Vince McMahon Told Me I Was Winning The Title From Kevin Owens In WM 33 Main Event

Chris Jericho says he was going to main event WrestleMania 33.

Throughout the second half of 2016 and into 2017, Chris Jericho‘s storyline with Kevin Owens was the top highlight on WWE television. The two best friends had unmatched chemistry that led to many memorable segments, peaking with the Festival of Friendship on the Feb. 13, 2017 episode of Raw. Owens’ turn on Jericho at the Festival of Friendship led to a bout between the two at WrestleMania 33.

And, according to Jericho, the bout was scheduled to go on last in Orlando. Speaking to Busted Open Radio, Jericho discussed where he was in WWE prior to leaving and the disappointment of his WrestleMania 33 match.

“What else could I do in WWE? If I went back tomorrow, I probably restart the feud with Kevin Owens. To be honest with you, the feud that I had with him in 2016 was probably the best thing on the show. And where were we at WrestleMania? Second on the card. It’s the same thing that happened in WCW,” stated Jericho. “I can’t get any higher than where I’m at. Even though I’d been to the top, if you can’t put Jericho and Owens in the semi-main event at WrestleMania, especially when at one point, it was slotted to be the main event. In the eyes of the old man [Vince McMahon], a main event is a main event. From a business perspective. I’ll take first over anything. Second is, to me, not a filler spot, but it’s a spot where you get your 15 minutes. To be on second, with this angle that we had, when it was designated at first, I was told by Vince, ‘You’re gonna win the World Title from Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania.’ Three days later he changed it to Brock vs. Goldberg and didn’t tell me.”

The match between Jericho and Owens ended up being for Jericho’s United States title. Jericho and Owens would trade the title over the next month before Jericho left WWE in a full-time capacity in May 2017.

Jericho is set to headline this Saturday’s AEW Double or Nothing event when he faces Kenny Omega.