One of the most entertaining combinations in WWE during the latter part of 2016 was Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho. Each week, these two would use their charms to garner a reaction from the fans, and whether it was intentional or not, JeriKO had fans laughing hysterically.
The dynamic created was one that most had a hard time not enjoying. Even the biggest of Owens or Jericho detractors had to accept the fact that these two weren't simply engaging in a bromance, but rather had a friendship that many could only dream of having.
However, a couple of weeks ago, the relationship between JeriKO took a turn for the worst.
It had been teased several times towards the end of 2016 that the two were on the verge of a split, but what happened during the Festival of Friendship was an example of a well thought-out swerve.
When Jericho saw that he got a new ‘List' from his ‘best friend' Kevin Owens, he was ecstatic, at least until he realised that his name was on it. At that point, Owens beat down the United States champion, to the point where he had to be taken out of the arena in an ambulance.
This isn't the first time in wrestling that a friendship has gone sideways. Here are five WWE friendship storylines which were comparable to that of the JeriKO storyline.
#5 Hulk Hogan and 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff
Fans of the WWF in the 1980s will remember Hulk Hogan's feud with Rowdy Roddy Piper, which led to the main event of the first WrestleMania, where Hogan and Mr. T faced Piper and ‘Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff.
The finish of the match saw ‘Cowboy' Bob Orton inadvertently knock out Orndorff with his cast, causing him to get pinned, after which he was left alone in the ring. When Orndorff came to, he didn't expect both Hogan and Mr. T wanting to check in on him to make sure he was alright.
Also read: 5 most unbearable WWE storylines
What came about after this was a slowly built friendship between Hogan and Orndorff. However, as time began to pass, Orndorff started hearing comments from the likes of Bobby ‘The Brain' Heenan, who called Mr. Wonderful, ‘Hulk Jr'.
After some time, Orndorff finally snapped, and the result was a split in his friendship with Hogan. Despite Hogan's best efforts to convince Orndorff that it wasn't true and he wasn't a follower, the idea had played on Orndorff for long enough that he turned on The Hulkster.
#4 Kevin Nash and Scott Hall
While they were in WWE, they were known as Diesel and Razor Ramon, and they were part of a collection of friends known as The Kliq, along with Sean Waltman, Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
When they left WWE, they were immortalised in a moment that is known as ‘The Curtain Call'.
When they left WWE to join WCW, it was there that they formed the New World Order faction alongside Hulk Hogan. They were inseparable, and wherever one man would be, the other would follow.
Between them, there was no distinct leader and follower, rather two men that were as much friends as partners.
However, after some time, their on-screen friendship would be put to the test. Hall and Nash would feud with one another while being on opposing sides of the New World Order. When the nWo separated into white and red, Nash led the (red) Wolfpack, while Hall remained as part of the Black and White nWo alongside Hogan.
One would think that their allegiance to one another wouldn't come into question, but at one time it was very much tested.
#3 Triple H and Shawn Michaels
Much like the Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels and Triple H's relationship was a case of a friendship ending and hatred replacing it.
For years, these two were inseparable as part of Degeneration X. As a unit alongside Chyna and Rick Rude, they caused their rivals grief while changing the way fans looked at professional wrestling.
After a five-year absence due to injury, Michaels returned to the ring, and his return suggested a reuniting of Degeneration X. However, just as it seemed that the two were set to reunite, Triple H turned on his long-time friend.
What ensued was a bitter rivalry where they competed in everything from a no holds barred match to matches for the WWE championship.
Despite eventually reuniting and ending their issues with one another, Triple H and Shawn Michaels had one of the most bitter feuds in the post-Attitude era, one filled with such hostility that may have even made some question their friendship behind the scenes.
#2 Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
These two are the best of friends. However, if you were to see them in the ring together today, you would assume that they really are the bitterest of enemies. Much has been made about their relationship before they came to the WWE.
Stories are often told about how they were there for each another after training to wrestle in Quebec, Canada. Many fans are also aware of their relationship in promotions such as PWG and most notably in Ring of Honor.
It was in ROH where they captured the tag team championships together when Owens was competing under his real name Kevin Steen and Zayn was wearing a mask and was called El Generico.
The first time these two had an on-screen friendship dissolve was in ROH. In a moment fans thought to be a sad one, it was believed that Owens would have to retire because of his injured knee, however, he turned on Generico and aligned himself with the Young Bucks.
Years later, Zayn and Owens embraced after Zayn's NXT championship win, only to have Owens turn on his partner, showing that the best of friends can also make the bitterest of rivals.
#1 Diesel and Shawn Michaels
Before they were the Kliq, Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash were the ‘dudes with attitudes.' During their time together as friends and partners, they captured the WWF tag team championships, while holding singles titles as well.
Many fans will recall that the nearly seven foot tall Nash first joined WWE as the hired bodyguard for Michaels, under the name Diesel. Wherever Michaels went, ‘Big Daddy Cool' was sure to be there. He would either prevent any harm from coming to Michaels or assist him in attaining victory.
However, much like any relationship in wrestling, when mistakes are made, problems tend to arise. What appeared to come between Michaels and Diesel was jealousy, as Michaels was becoming increasingly jealous of the success Diesel was achieving on his own.
Eventually, their relationship was beyond repair, and a split between them was all but a foregone conclusion. Shawn enlisted Sid to act as his new bodyguard, proving that Diesel was replaceable. Their feud with one another came to a head at Wrestlemania, when they faced each other for the WWF championship.
It was a case of jealousy because one didn't want the other getting all the accolades.
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