Welcome
Showdown...December 14, 1997 - Chris Jericho
Conducted 12/14/97 by Fonzo, Sir Adam and the Phantom.
Phantom: Chris Jericho is on the line! Play the music Club Ed!
Sir A: Awww, Chris Jericho!
Chris Jericho: Find it! (the music)
P: Put it up!
CJ: Come on!
SA: Come on, he likes his music loud!
P: Put it louder!
CJ: My music should be ready.
P: (laughs) Mr. Jericho, how're you doing today?
CJ: Good, how're you doing man?
SA: Good, good. It's great to have you on the show. Welcome to Get in the Ring and the callers are already on the phone asking questions for you.
CJ: Sounds great, sounds great. I'm ready to do it.
P: (To caller) Go ahead, ask him.
SA: Well, I think we got rid of him.
P: We got rid of him.
SA: Yeah, he said he wants you to go to the WWF. He said you would be the next great superstar of the sport. We said you already are a superstar.
CJ: Well, thanks a lot. Well that's been the source of controversy over the last couple of weeks as far as I've been concerned. But, I mean, what can you say? That's one thing Vince (McMahon) still knows how to do better than WCW. (That) is create stars, you know?
SA: Right.
P: Definitely.
CJ: I think WCW PAYS the stars, you know?
GIR: (laughs)
Fonzo: Bombshell!
P: Now Chris, lately I've noticed that you stopped going into the fans, stopped having them hold you and stuff like that. Was it scary to have those fans like all over you?
CJ: Okay, let me just explain myself. Now, that's kind of a funny thing, too because I stopped doing that I think probably in about August or so, about three or four months ago. And the reason why I started doing that was just to be different rather than being your typical guy. You know you see most guys when they come to ring and they shake hands with all the people. They don't really care, you know?
GIR: Right.
CJ: It's kind of like, "Well I'm a babyface so I have to do this." And I just wanted to try and do something different so I started doing that. And I don't know if it really worked to my advantage "against me" sort of thing. And after a while it just got too contrived and too stale. So I just stopped doing it maybe try something else.
P: And you have a little rougher edge now.
CJ: Yeah, well I'm going back more to my old Japanese-style roots. That's what I always wanted to do anyways. And so I just started to do it on my own and I don't know if the office really likes it or not, but I like it better. I feel more comfortable with it. It's more what got me there in the first place is that style I used to have. So might as well bring her back!
GIR: (laughs)
F: Mr. Jericho, you mentioned before Vince McMahon's light heavyweight division. What do you think of them trying to emulate WCW with their divisions of the cruiser weights?
CJ: I think it obviously works in WCW so Vince is going to give it a shot.
F: But they don't have anybody.
CJ: Yeah, well they have Taka (Michinoku). He's pretty good. He's one of the better ones that you could possibly get. And I think Brian Christopher is pretty good as well. I don't know if him and Taka are really a perfect match to work together. But you'll probably it working better because I know they'll probably have scouts looking around in Mexico and maybe some more Michinoku guys will probably come. There's a few other guys there that they could have good matches with as well. So, you know, it's a good idea. I mean what the hell, might as well do it. It worked somewhere else, let's see if they can do it too.
P: We heard you're a local Long Island boy, born and bred in Manhassit.
CJ: In Manhassit, yeah.
P: Thank God you got out! (all laugh)
CJ: It was funny because I, let me see, I was there 'till I was about two or three or four, something like that. And, of course, I don't really remember it much. But I think it was about a year ago we had a show for ECW in Deer Park, I think. And afterwards I went to the ECW school, House of Hardcore, and I think it's somewhere not in Long Island, it was somewhere near there. So I get to drive past Manhassit, see the old digs, you know? So it was pretty cool.
P: We're going to take some calls, Chris?
CJ: Sounds good man.
P: Jeff from Brooklyn, talk to Chris Jericho.
CJ: What's up, Jeff?
Caller: Hi, what's up?
CJ: How're you doing?
Caller: I'd like to ask Chris Jericho about Raven. What do you think about him?
CJ: What do I think about Raven?
Caller: Yeah.
CJ: I think it's cool� I think� people are starting to understand it a bit more right now. When he first came in, I don't really know if people quite understood exactly what he was trying to do or supposed to do. I think the thing with (Chris) Benoit is going to raise him up a bit because then people will see some direction for him and his gang of "ruffians".
SA: He's got a big gang now.
CJ: Yeah, and it's getting bigger everyday. I think there's going to be a new addition coming up soon which is quite a surprise, but I'm not going to say who it is.
P: Oh!
Caller: And Jericho, I look at you when you come to the ring and I just imagine you dressed up as like what Raven wears. I think you'd be a perfect raven member.
CJ: Yeah, it's kind of funny because that's kind of� I mean the way those guys are, that's kind of the way I am in real life as far as "look" and stuff. I always get in trouble with the office because they say, "Wash your hair! Shave your beard!" (all laugh) I say, "I just did wash it man!" Actually, originally raven was trying to get me into that little gang. But things didn't work out that way and, you know for the better. I'm not too sure if I really feel comfortable in that group setting sort of thing anyway. But it would've been kind of cool�maybe.
P: More of a loner.
Caller: I wanted to ask you, how were your days in ECW?
P: Thanks for the call Jeff.
CJ: I loved it there, man. That was a great time. Obviously it's the best dressing room atmosphere I've ever been in as far as people being friendly with one another, and kind of like� not really a family, but kind of like a club where you go with all your friends there (saying) "Hey, how're you doing!?" Kind of like Cheers. "Norm!"
SA: (all laugh) That's great.
CJ: But yeah, I had a good time there. I had a lot of good matches and it was a good experience. Someday I wouldn't mind going back there again.
SA: What's the atmosphere like in the WCW dressing room? Because you're on the Internet now. I mean you hear so many rumors that I'm sure most of them are just rumors. But we always here that there's just so many little sections and different rival groups. What's it like back there?
CJ: Well, I mean, there's definitely cliques and groups of guys that hang out together. But I think it's kind of like that anywhere you're at. I mean, I remember in high school you hang out with your boys and sometimes you hang out with somebody else, but most of the time you're just hanging with the guys you get along with the best. And there's no real� Everyone's pretty much cool. I mean the boys are the boys. But there's definetely little ego pockets and stuff like that. But to be honest with you, I really can't complain. Because everyone there is fairly cool and I'm sure if worse came to worse, if you ever needed a ride or ever needed some kind of help, the boys always stand up for each other. So that's cool.
SA: We've got Jamie from Belmore. Jamie?
Caller: How's it going?
CJ: Hello.
Caller: Hello. I've got two things I want to say to Jericho. One: How come you you're not the TV champion? I mean "Disco Inferno?" The guy lost to a woman a couple of months ago!
SA: That's one tough woman. I wouldn't get in the ring with her!
Caller: Who cares?! Jericho's got more talent in his pinky than Disco Inferno's got.
CJ: Hey man, thank you very much. (all laugh) I appreciate it. He can dance better than I can though. So, you know how it is in this country. Sometmes if you can dance better that means more than if you're a good wrestler!
P: Definitely.
CJ: But I don't know. I hopefully would like to get some shots at that belt or some shots at something. It's definitely crossed my mind that if Disco Inferno could be two time champ, no less, there must be room for me somewhere in that mix. I'll have to wait and see exactly what happens.
P: Chris, are you a little frustrated right now with your stay in WCW? Did you see yourself, like when you first came, a little further ahead than you are right now?
CJ: In a lot of ways yes and in a lot of ways no. I mean you can't expect to go in there with the same level that you were in other promotions. Everywhere I'd ever worked I'd always been kind of like a "main event" guy and one of the focal points and always involved. In WCW I haven't been involved as much as I would like to be. I mean there's no secret about that. And there's a lot of guys there. I mean there's a lot of guys and a lot of depth. But I still think there's more of a spot for me than I've been given. So I have to see what to do about making some advancements towards that. But, overall it's been a lot of fun. There's a lot of great guys to work with there and a lot of guys to learn from experience-wise. I guess the hardest thing about starting there is just dealing with the TV. I mean there's a two-minute match, three-minute match, four-minute match. I come from the land of twenty minute matches so it's kind of hard to get used to all that. I'm still getting used to it to this day.
F: Chris, I know you and Alex Wright had a lot of fights and you exchanged belts back and forth and now I'm hearing a lot of bad things about Alex Wright, that he might be retired, that he suffered an injury that might put him out for a while. Do you know what the prognosis is with Alex?
CJ: I don't really know for sure. All I know is� Let me see. It was in Saganaugh, Michigan. There was a Nitro, I think it was two weeks ago, I think, and something happened where he got taken out in a stretcher and he couldn't see out of his eye, or something like that and I guess he had some kind of an aneurysm or something like that. And I don't really know exactly what the prognosis is. Nobody really knows for sure. But it's a real shock.
F: It's tragic.
CJ: Yeah, a real tragedy. Because I mean the guy, I think he's 22 years old.
SA: Oh wow, man.
CJ: I mean he's just starting out and he's got the world upon his hands. So everyone say a little prayer for him and hopefully he'll be okay. Because I'm not really too sure exactly what's going on with him though.
SA: Yeah, absolutely. Get better Alex Wright.
CJ: Yeah, whether you like him or you don't like him, this is a guy's life here.
SA: Tom from Floral Park.
Caller: Chris Jericho?
CJ: Hey.
Caller: Hey, how're you doing? I have some questions for you and your wrestling in Japan.
P: Make it one.
Caller: Okay.
P: We're running out of time.
Caller: What are your thoughts on All Japan, New Japan and Michinoku Pro?
CJ: What are my thoughts on them?
Caller: Yeah.
CJ: I love New Japan. Actually, I love Japan, period. I've been there thirty times. And I really�
Caller: How was it wrestling (Jushin "Thunder") Liger?
CJ: Oh, he's great. The thing I like best about Liger is he's really adapted his style where he doesn't really fly much. He does if he has to, but I mean he knows how to work without really even doing any of those shooting star presses or Asai moonsaults outside. He's probably one of the better guys I've worked with. And the sad thing is I just started with New Japan this year so I've only been (in the ring with him) four times. I worked with him in a singles match once and the rest is all tag teams. So I haven't got to know him as well as I know like a (Ultimo) Dragon, yet. But I mean he's definitely one of the best. All Japan, I love their style. I think their only problem is they have such a high standard of main events that they have the same main event pretty much every month because they can't really find anyone else to put into the mix. After saying that, the guys they have on top are some of the best in the world. I love (Mitsuharu) Misawa. I love (Kenta) Kobashi. Michinoku: I like some of their guys. I don't like other guys that they have because it's a lot of choreographed (stuff). Sometimes they just get out of control with the false finishes. Instead of doing five, some of them will do 25 just to show how many moves they do. But on the other side of the coin, I really like Taka and (The Great) Sasuke's good. So Japan's a great place though. That's my favorite place to work.
P: On the same subject, what's your favorite CD right now you're listening to?
CJ: My favorite CD? Wow. I like (Metallica's) Reload. It's like a controversial thing but for the first time since (And) Justice for All� I actually like every song on a Metallica album. I like Dream Theater a lot. I don't know if you guys know that band. There's another band called Tourniquet that I really dig, they're really heavy. That's about all I've heard. There hasn't too much that came out. I bought the new (Judas) Priest, that's pretty heavy.
P: Wow.
CJ: Just a bunch of metal stuff is what I'm into right now.
SA: Cool.
CJ: Yeah. (laughs)
SA: We were trying to get some death metal going on for your intro.
CJ: Oh, did you.
SA: The guy's a little late on putting it on.
CJ: You didn't have it cued, man. You guys, ( joking) you let me down, man.
SA: Well, we're going to fire him!
P: Put it on again for him. Let me see if he likes this one.
SA: Song three.
P: Song three.
(Death metal music plays)
P: It's generic but, you know, it works.
CJ: That's all right. What band is that?
P: What's the band?
SA: I don't know. He (the engineer) has got the CD.
P: What's the band?
SA: What's the band name, Club Ed? Come on Club Ed. (silence) This engineer, we pay him by the word.
P: "Domestic"?
CJ: What's that?
P: Domestic.
CJ: Domestic?
P: Yeah.
CJ: Okay.
P: (To engineer) Stop! (laughs)
CJ: Possibly new ring music for me. Maybe not. (laughs) I don't want to lie.
P: Now Chris, you worked with Syxx a little while back. How was it to work with him?
CJ: He was good. I like Sean (Waltman, a.k.a. Syxx) and I like his work. The thing I liked about him is when I saw him last in '95 in Japan� his style was like the same as mine pretty much. But when I saw him again here he had learned how to adapt kind of the high-spot Japanese style with an American psychology style. He's good. I like working with him and I feel almost really cheated that we never had a chance to work together for real. You know this issue behind the cruiserweight belt was that I beat him in like a minute in Los Angeles. We never even got to have a real match out of it. And I mean that's just typical WCW office hierarchy. I guess they didn't want him to be seen on TV losing a belt or something. I think the fans got cheated the most by not seeing a good match we could have together.
P: So that was the reasoning, huh? He didn't want to be shown on TV losing the belt.
CJ: I don't if that's the reasoning or not, but, I mean, what else would it be, you know? And even if it was just some house show in LA, just to have a one minute pretty much B.S. match after he fought a match with (Rey) Mysterio seemed to me like just a cop out, you know?
P: He pulled a Hogan! (all laugh)
CJ: Yeah. But I don't think it was him, but who knows. I don't think so, though.
SA: Yeah, that's the thing about WCW. We love the cruiserweights. We love watching you, Mysterio, Syxx, all that. And we wait for Sting. I mean it's so frustrating. I don't even know. It's probably frustrating for you. You're probably curious to see what goes on with Sting. We wait and we wait and there's one minute left and we hear (Tony) Schiavone screaming and he falls through the mat and then "We'll see you next week!"
CJ: Yeah.
F: (Imitating Tony) "Good night!"
SA: What do the wrestlers (think)?
P: Does Sting like that whole thing?
CJ: I guess he must like it
P: It must be scary to come down from the top all the time. (all laugh)
CJ: But, I mean, he's the focal point and I'm sure he's having a good time with it. It's working. You can't argue with success, I guess.
SA: Absolutely not. Now, you're on the Web. The fans can get in touch with you right? You have a website?
CJ: Yes. It's www.chrisjericho.com. And if you're on the Net check it out because I've been having a lot of fun with it. At first a couple of my friends in Canada said, "Hey, you should do a website!" And I was like, "Yeah, whatever, whatever." And then I started thinking about it and we put together a bunch of stuff and it's been pretty fun. It's not like you're typical "Buy this shirt" and "I am the greatest thing ever" website.
P: That's ours. (all laugh)
F: Yeah, I know.
CJ: There ain't no Get in the Ring website pal! (There ain't?)
P: I like the part where you analyze a lot of your favorite matches. I think that's the best part of it.
CJ: Yeah, well that's for the true inside guy. You know I keep a log of all the matches I ever had up to this day from the first one I ever had. And I just thought it would be interesting. If anyone even cares about that sort of thing, they can check it out, you know. And there's tons of pictures on there and I've got a lot of ideas for upcoming things to put in there as well. So, I've been having a lot of fun with it and a good time.
P: Chris, thanks for joining us. I wish we had more time for you. We invite you back anytime you want. You're a great guest.
CJ: All right, man. Any time you guys need someone give me a call.
P: Excellent.
CJ: All right, take care guys.
GIR: Take care.