Jericho, New York holds a noteworthy, if often overlooked, spot in professional wrestling history. On January 11, 1984, the gymnasium of Jericho High School played host to a live WWF event featuring some of the biggest names of the era. The stacked card included Bob Backlund, Sgt. Slaughter, The Iron Sheik, Tony Atlas, Paul Orndorff, and Chief Jay Strongbow --an impressive lineup for a local high school venue. This event occurred just as the WWF was beginning its national expansion under Vince McMahon Jr., about a year before the inaugural WrestleMania. Bringing such top-tier talent to a suburban Long Island setting illustrates the federation's grassroots efforts to build buzz and expand its reach into community venues before pay-per-view and cable television dominance took hold.
Interestingly, while the name "Jericho" is iconic in wrestling, due to the career of Chris Jericho, the wrestler’s last name is not connected to the town. Born in Manhasset and raised partly on Long Island, Chris Jericho adopted his ring name from the song "Walls of Jericho" by German power metal band Helloween, not from the New York hamlet.
Still, Jericho’s proximity to Hicksville -- a neighboring town with a richer tapestry of wrestling appearances and alumni -- gives it additional contextual significance, which you can read more about within this LibGuide.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 18, 2025.