Chris Jericho Admits He Wasn’t Ready After Beating The Rock and Steve Austin for Undisputed WWE Title

Chris Jericho made history in December 2001 when he defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the same night to become WWE’s first-ever Undisputed Champion. It was one of the most important moments of the Attitude Era, instantly placing him at the very top of the company. But now, Jericho is revealing that behind the scenes, he didn’t believe he was fully prepared for that level of responsibility.

Jericho explained during an appearance on Untapped, that reaching the main event wasn’t the finish line — it was the beginning of a completely different challenge. After climbing the ladder and earning the biggest opportunity of his career, he realized that being champion required a different level of confidence and experience than he had at the time.

“When you get to that top level as the champion, you really have to make no mistakes and you really have to lock in. And when I beat The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin the same night, I wasn’t really ready to be the top, top guy.”

Despite becoming Undisputed Champion and cementing his place in WWE history, Jericho admitted that he was still developing as a complete performer. He understood the magnitude of the moment, but it took years before he felt fully comfortable carrying himself as the finished version of a top-tier main event star. He pointed to his later WWE run, particularly around 2008 and 2009, as the period when everything finally clicked and he evolved into the most complete version of himself.

“It was years after when I finally locked in — 2008, 2009 — that’s when I became the Chris Jericho that you’re talking to now. A guy who knows what he’s doing in all aspects, total confidence, total pro.”

Jericho made it clear that his early championship run wasn’t a failure, but part of a larger journey. The experience helped shape him into the veteran performer fans would later see dominate main events, reinvent his character, and remain relevant across multiple wrestling eras. He acknowledged that growth doesn’t stop once you reach the top, and that even winning the biggest prize in WWE didn’t mean he had fully mastered his craft yet.

“I wasn’t that at that point in time in 2001 when I was the Undisputed Champion. But it’s all part of the growing process and learning and building.”

Jericho’s honesty offers a rare look inside the mindset of a wrestler who achieved one of the most historic victories in WWE history, yet still viewed himself as a work in progress. His ability to evolve over the years is a major reason why he remained a main event presence long after that milestone moment, continuing to reinvent himself and stay relevant in WWE and beyond.

Do you think Chris Jericho was ready when he became Undisputed Champion in 2001, or did his true peak come years later? Leave your thoughts and feedback below and join the discussion.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.