Video Of The Week: Chris Jericho Beats Steve Austin to Unify Titles (10 Years Ago!)

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Today is the 10th anniversary of Chris Jericho’s history-making night at WWF’s Vengeance PPV. On December 9, 2001, Jericho did the equivalent (roughly) of Daniel Bryan beating Randy Orton and John Cena in one night to unite the two World Titles. But back when titles meant more. And with one that originated in a company not at the time owned by Vince McMahon. That is, he beat The Rock – who was WCW World Champ (renamed to remove the WCW after the brand was extinguished at Survivor Series a few weeks prior), THEN bested Stone Cold to become the first ever WWF Undisputed Heavyweight Champion.

He would hold both belts until WrestleMania, when HHH defeated him in the anti-climactic post-Rock/Hogan main event… and the championship would become “disputed” when then-champ Brock Lesnar signed an exclusive deal with Smackdown, leading to RAW GM Eric Bischoff bringing back the Big Gold Belt and awarding it to #1 contender HHH. The rest is history…

Posts contributed by various Inside Pulse Wrestling staffers, a collection of writers who have a collective DECADES of experience covering pro wrestling.