A beloved classic Chris Jericho gimmick inspires WWE star Javier Bernal as he seeks to define his future following his recent NXT release. As Bernal reinvents himself outside WWE, he openly credits Jericho’s 1997 WCW persona for shaping his own wrestling identity and attitude.
Javier Bernal Reflects on His Wrestling Persona and Jericho’s Influence
Chris Jericho’s legendary career has been a beacon for many in the wrestling world, and Javier Bernal is candid about how deeply he draws from Jericho’s classic work. Formerly known as “Big Body Javi” during his WWE NXT tenure, Bernal adopted a brash, confident attitude reminiscent of a young, heel Jericho. Despite being released by WWE in May 2025, Bernal is determined to march forward, now going by the ring name Javi, and is eager to build on the foundation he established in NXT.
Bernal, who is married to Tatum Paxley of NXT, was part of a wave of wrestler releases this spring. During his run on NXT, his persona “Big Body Javi” stood out among fans for its arrogance and humor. He often played the role of a self-important fighter in a landscape dominated by bigger, more imposing athletes, riffing on the delusional, confident characters that have become iconic in pro wrestling history.
During a recent virtual appearance at K & S WrestleFest, Bernal traced the roots of his character back to the era of Chris Jericho’s WCW days, long before he began wrestling himself.
“You know, it’s funny because the way I thought of Big Body Javi and then the other way people thought of Big Body Javi and when I mean other people, I mean just creative. When you go into these creative meetings, you have your idea honestly, then you have their idea and there’s — I’ll just say five. I don’t know how many but five people in a room so we’re all trying to figure out what one idea there is. So, Big Body Javi to me was like, I am so confident in a land of giants, I’m gonna call myself the biggest one, and also, it sounded cool. Big Body Javi. It just sounded frenetic, right? You can see from my gear even that I’m a very big fan of Chris Jericho. Specifically, this character was very inspired by WCW, ‘97 Jericho… Very arrogant, pompous. I wasn’t (born at that time). I was born — I think I was alive when he did his WWF debut, I think.”
—Javier Bernal, Former WWE NXT Wrestler
This reflection highlights how Bernal consciously modeled his attitude and wardrobe after Jericho’s peak ’90s persona, despite being too young to have witnessed it firsthand. Instead, he explored tapes and stories, discovering how Jericho’s “Man of 1,004 Holds” list and larger-than-life attitude shaped the heel archetype in American wrestling.
Big Body Javi: A Gimmick Informed By Rock and Wrestling
Bernal’s inspiration goes beyond pure wrestling theatrics and ventures into pop culture territory. He likened his “Big Body Javi” persona to the outrageous, over-the-top energy of rock bands like Van Halen and Steel Panther, building a character equally audacious and entertaining. Bernal’s approach delivered a character fans “loved to hate” yet couldn’t ignore, owing to his comic timing and self-awareness.
Adding to this dynamic, Bernal gained exposure in WWE NXT through backstage segments with announcer McKenzie Mitchell, where he developed “Big Body Files”—a satirical riff on Jericho’s
“Man of a Thousand and One Holds”
shtick. This prop involved a list of potential opponents written on a computer sheet, further cementing the playful bravado of the persona.
“But that was about it. But very Van Halen, very Steel Panther. That’s like the best way to describe Big Body Javi and it was very arrogant, very fun though because you could — as much as you hated it, you kind of liked him because he was funny. The Big Body Javi stuff is kind of where I got my break and I did these backstages with McKenzie (Mitchell), and again, going back to the Jericho thing, I did the Big Body Files where I had a list of (names) on a computer sheet of paper and it would list people I’d wanna wrestle. The Man of a thousand and one holds type of gimmick.”
—Javier Bernal, Former WWE NXT Wrestler
This creative energy crystallized Bernal’s character in the minds of fans and WWE staff, making his exit from NXT all the more poignant. With his future wide open, Bernal hopes to keep evolving, keeping the legacy of classic wrestling entertainment as a guidepost for his next chapter.
Chris Jericho Pauses His AEW Run After a Historic Year
Meanwhile, Chris Jericho’s own path remains one of reinvention and endurance. Having won the ROH World Title earlier in the year, the wrestler closed out his “Learning Tree” storyline and chose to step back from AEW in April. Now at 54 years old, Jericho stands as one of the last veterans active at the top level in either AEW or WWE.
This spring, Jericho wrapped up a worldwide tour with his band Fozzy and shifted his focus to new opportunities. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer,
“His Fozzy tour is over, so right now, he’s done some TV work while he’s been gone—a couple of TV shows that he filmed. But as far as coming back to AEW, there’s nothing on the table right now. As far as, is he ready and available? I mean, you know, technically, he’s always been available, because even when he tours, Wednesday is open. But you know, I think that he felt that it was time for a break, and so that’s the deal with them.”
—Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer
This absence is particularly notable with AEW’s marquee event, All In Texas, scheduled for July 12th. Many fans are watching to see if Jericho will re-emerge to set up a big match or if the return of the seasoned performer will occur at the show itself. Given his influence on both current stars like Bernal and entire generations of wrestlers, Jericho’s presence remains highly anticipated.
Chris Jericho’s Enduring Impact on a New Generation of Wrestlers
Jericho’s ability to reinvent both himself and his characters over a span of decades has touched aspiring wrestlers worldwide. For Javier Bernal, drawing inspiration from Jericho’s classic WCW phase has helped him stand out amid a competitive roster. The impact is evident: Bernal imitated not just Jericho’s moves, but his philosophy of showmanship, audacity, and humor—even carrying that forward into NXT’s unique environment.
The fact that a wrestler barely old enough to watch Jericho’s WWE debut still feels the resonance of his ’97 WCW persona highlights Jericho’s continued relevance. This cross-generational influence speaks to the enduring power of wrestling legends and the importance of embracing the art’s history while forging new paths.
For now, as Javier Bernal forges ahead on the independent circuit with a refreshed sense of identity, observers will be watching to see where his career leads, and whether the classic Chris Jericho gimmick inspires WWE star into even more original territory. At the same time, with Jericho enjoying a pause in his schedule but still looming large over both AEW and WWE, the wrestling world waits for the next chapter in one of its defining rivalries between past icons and emerging talents.
