Chris Jericho

[nightrain]

WWE contract rebel Chris Jericho has sworn his undying loyalty to Vince McMahon's organisation.

Despite currently being on hiatus from wrestling to tour the UK with his rock band Fozzy, Jericho insists if he returns to the ring it will ONLY be with WWE.

In the first part of an exclusive interview with SunSport, he said: "I have a certain understanding with Vince. Sometimes he gets mad at me, sometimes I get mad at him.

"But the bottom line is I love wrestling and I love the WWE. I will NEVER wrestle anywhere other than the WWE. That's a given and everyone knows it.

"I'm a creative person and, just like the boss, I'm going to do things that creatively stimulate me. Vince is surrounded by a lot of yes men and I think he is very refreshed by the fact that I'm not a yes man."

Throughout our 40-minute chat, Jericho consistently referred to WWE as 'we', although he refused to categorically clear up the speculation surrounding him and state whether he will definitely return to work for McMahon.

He said: "I've always had an air of mystery. I love the **** fans and if there was an Internet back in the '80s I would have been on it too, but I like to pull their chain. People don't know as much as they think they know.

"So my status right now is that I've got a big Fozzy tour coming up for the next three weeks in the UK, that's what I'm looking forward to right now, and what happens after that is what happens after that.

"I could tell you everything that is going on in black and white, but that wouldn't be as fun. You'll have to wait and see how things play out.

"I got kicked in the head in WWE and now I'm coming to the UK to rock my socks off."

Jericho was written out of WWE programming after a trademark punt kick by rival Randy Orton. This has, in the short term, led to a break to facilitate a tour of the UK with Fozzy which starts on Saturday.

There is currently not only speculation on when and if Jericho will return to WWE, but also in what capacity.

During 2010 his popularity has grown, with the supposed bad guy gaining cheers from live crowds. On more than one occasion he has teased a fully fledged babyface turn, only to become a cowardly heel once more.

The Canadian, a true student of the wrestling game if ever there was one, seems to revel in his role as a master manipulator.

He said: "I love being able to tread that line throughout the course of a show, to get people happy and angry within a five-minute span of time. It's not just a matter of studying wrestling, it is a matter of being around for years.

"There are not a lot of guys in this business who can say that they've been around for that long and been to all these different places that I've been. I can just fall back on those experiences, come to the ring with a huge cheer then make people boo and make them cheer again.

"Stuff like that keeps it interesting for me."

However, despite an obvious passion for the creative side of wrestling, Jericho claims he has no interest in moving behind the camera as a writer or agent when he finally hangs up his boots.

Looking ahead to when he does call it quits in the ring, he added: "I think when it's time for me to be finished in wrestling, finished on camera, then I'll be finished with the business, maybe completely.

"I might end up doing commentating or something like that. I have a journalism degree but I'd rather be the person who is being written about, rather than the person who is writing.

"I think it's the same with creative. I don't think I'd ever be able to give up the spotlight. Kicking and screaming, if I had to I would, but I feel I'm more of a creative person in front of the camera than behind it."

Although a very accomplished in-ring performer, Jericho's biggest strength is undoubtedly his ability to use the microphone to develop his character and achieve any crowd reaction he desires.

After spending his initial five years in WWE as a brash upstart known as Y2J, on his return in 2007 he soon developed a new and totally different fan-hating character.

Speaking about the metamorphosis, Jericho compared himself to fellow wrestling greats such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Undertaker.

He told us: "That character on my return was because I didn't want to be a nostalgia act. I wanted to reinvent completely.

"It was like the inspiration people take from Madonna and Kiss ? acts who would completely reinvent themselves album by album, still remaining true to themselves as an artist but changing things up.

"My attitude was that people see me 52 weeks out of a year on weekly TV, so I'd be pretty freakin' boring if I looked the same, acted the same, had the same moves, the same catchphrase and the same schtick every single night.

"Unlike with music, in wrestling, you could do the same act for 30 years.

"Look at Flair or Hogan or guys that have been around for years. They do the same thing.

"Although Hogan reinvented himself with the nWo, a guy like Flair does the same thing every night and people want to see it.

"I've always been the type of guy that wants to change, adapt and morph from year to year.

"The Undertaker has done that. I've called him the 'Madonna of wrestling'. We laugh about it.

"He constantly changes his look, his appearance, his act. He adds things to it, does different moves, has different ring music and can then go back to the tried and true formula that works. He's always been an inspiration.

"I look back through the matches on my new DVD and I am different all the way through.

"If you looked back and you were the same for the last 10, 15 or 20 years, you'd be like, 'Man, that's pretty boring'."


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/3173236/Chris-Jericho-insists-he-will-remain-loyal-to-the-WWE.html#ixzz124KmO4E7

[Hammy]

Hardly surprising, he has seen how most people who leave for other promotions get misused, barring the odd exception.

[scotta75]

I going to agree with Hammy on this one, and beside I do not thing Jericho is stupid for staying with the WWE because he knows where is bread is butter so to speak. Beside that Easy E has already stated that Jericho would never get a fair shot in TNA with him and Hogan at the wheel so to speak. If he went to Japan he would be huge but it would not be like the WWE that has made Chris Jericho a Global Megastar!

[Hammy]

Chris Jericho indicated to wrestling fans in a video message that he will be returning to WWE following his run on Dancing with the Stars.

?When I come back to WWE when this show is done, we can continue right where we picked off. You can boo and cheer and yell,? Jericho stated.

Jericho is asking that WWE Universe members pay him back for his many years of entertaining audiences and putting his body on the line by continuing to vote for him on Dancing with the Stars. He says the longer he stays on the program, the better it is for the entire WWE Universe.

?I?m taking this universe into places we haven?t been,? Jericho said. ?Twenty-three million people watch Dancing with the Stars every week. The Tonight Show, Rachael Ray, Ellen, all these people are starting to understand what it is that we do as WWE Superstars and why the WWE Universe is so loyal.

?I think it?s very important to remember, it?s not just me I?m representing. I?m a pioneer, an ambassador for WWE on this show. Continue to vote for me.?

Jericho?s next performance takes place Monday. He is among the show?s final eight contestants.

[nightrain]

The only problem is that it appears Fozzy are. as mention in the Fozzy thread, due to go on tour, starting with a date in April, then again in June.  Whether that hinders this ya don't know.

[Hammy]

8 contestants left.  So I'm guessing the show has 6-7 weeks left or something...right?  So he could be busy with that for a few months as it is.  Plus saying he will be returning, once he's finished his run on there might not be as immediate as it sounds.  Maybe he's just trying to get more of the "WWE Universe" voting for him.  Although actually maybe they'll stop voting so he gets booted off sooner... 

[D]

Thats two months he is left obligated to show. Even if he gets voted off, I think they have to do the finale show. Summerslam would be the earliest in my opinion after the summer music festivals.

[Hammy]

Whether he is or isn't taunting fans, I'll be happy when he does eventually return.  I was a big fan of his last run, he did a great job of re-inventing himself, always solid in the ring and on the mic, his attempt to get Bourne over, his feud with HBK, his tag reign with Big Show.  Always very good.  I'll be seeing him first at a rock/metal festival or 2 this summer though 

[Hammy]

Chris Jericho has once again responded to query regarding a return to WWE.

He was asked Saturday on Twitter if he will be returning to WWE and responded, "Still no plans right now."

He also said it was a "Dumb move on their part" to not include him in WWE '12.

[D]

Jericho needs to quit Steel Panther lite and get his ass back to WWE and save it again.