Photo Credit – All Elite Wrestling
Before AEW was ever a thing, TNT had a notable history with professional wrestling. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) to be exact. While WCW is most known for legends like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, and later on, NWO… in the mid 90’s WCW underwent a Cruiserweight renaissance. Eyeballs were tuning in to WCW programming for the amazing performances the Cruiserweight division were putting on. Stars included in WCW’s Cruiserweight division consisted of Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and Juventud Guerrera, just to name a few.
Juventud Guerrera debuted for WCW in 1996, after wrestling in Mexico & ECW. Within two years, in 1998, “The Juice” would be WCW’s Cruiserweight Champion. Juventud would dethrone the legendary Ultimo Dragon for his first reign as champion, although it was a brief one. The following month, Juventud would embark on a feud that ties in to his return to TNT next week.
Juventud would decide to chase the WCW Cruiserweight Championship again, challenging Chris Jericho. The match would end up taking place at SuperBrawl… however, there was an important stipulation. It was mask vs title. The mask that “The Juice” once wrestled in at home in Mexico, and in ECW, was now on the line. Jericho would end up retaining his championship, while Juventud would lose his mask.
That wasn’t the end of the story though. The two would continue to feud for half the year. It would culminate in Juventud Guerrera defeating Chris Jericho at Road Wild 1998. After months of being dragged and embarrassed verbally by Jericho, due to losing his mask… Juventud finally beat the bully, and his arch nemesis. Jericho and Juventud were often the best part of WCW television back then. Their rivalry is one that both men speak highly of, as they would both learn a lot from each other.
Fast forward nearly 25 years later, and “The Juice” is on his way back to TNT, part of AEW programming. What makes it so special, is that he’s coming for his old nemesis, Chris Jericho! Nearly 25 years later, a rivalry will be reignited. I cannot wait! What better show to return home to TNT on, than a show called “HomeComing?” Welcome back, Juvy. We’ve missed you.
Written by: Joseph Rivera
