The following are highlights of a new blog from WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On I-C title battle royal: “For the record, I’m not a battle royal guy. Never have been since the days of when I was a Ref. Too much fun and games at times during these matches and generally fans don’t emotionally invest until the match it down to a small, handful of talents. I can see one occurring annually like the old San Francisco Cow Palace days, etc but that’s about it. I hope it works out better than I expect for WWE to crown a new IC Champion via the Battle Royal route.”
On Chris Jericho’s return: “Chris Jericho looks physically good and that’s thanks to DDP Yoga considering Jericho’s massive work load and travel schedule. Bray Wyatt will have a positive experience working with someone new and that’s better than him in the immediate future. This is good, strategic booking with the goal to obviously have some entertaining TV but to help Bray continue to grow as a talent.”
On Emma’s arrest and WWE release: “Seems as if too many people are jumping to conclusion regarding Emma’s arrest for shoplifting. Count me as someone who has forgotten to pay for a small item at a grocery store, etc and then went back in to settle up. My dealings with Emma have been nothing but positive when I was traveling to Orlando and Tampa to work with the young talents. I have no issue giving her the benefit of the doubt in this matter.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
Chris Jericho spoke about his surprise return to WWE on the latest episode of his Talk is Jericho podcast, which you can hear at PodcastOne.com.
Jericho said he always keeps in touch with WWE and has been getting texts and emails for months asking him about a possible return to the company. He was negotiating with WWE late last year and earlier this year about working WrestleMania XXX, with Jericho pitching Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt as potential opponents.
The WrestleMania XXX return didn’t work out, but he got a call a month ago saying one of the writers wanted to speak to him. They mentioned bringing him back to feud with Bray Wyatt, which he was really excited about. Three weeks passed and he never heard back from WWE, until last Friday, when he got a phone call.
Jericho said the deal was brokered by Triple H and it took about 5 minutes for them to agree on a game plan.
On Monday morning, he flew into Boston (instead of Hartford, Connecticut) to keep his return a secret. He rented a car in Boston and drove to Hartford, arriving at the arena around 5:30pm. Since there were fans waiting by the entrance of the arena, he had to wait for them to leave before pulling in.
Jericho was first met by WWE’s head of Talent Relations Mark Carrano and was then escorted to the crew bus, where he hung out for about 4 hours. He met up with Dean Malenko, gave some input about how he’d be used on the show, with Vince McMahon signing off on the angle.
He met with the Wyatts, The Miz and Michael Hayes before heading to the gorilla position, where he got warm greetings from Vince, Triple H and Stephanie.
Jericho said he’s back with WWE working an “almost full time” schedule and will be doing overseas tours with WWE and working live events.
– Following last night’s episode of WWE Main Event, here’s an updated list of confirmed participants for the upcoming Battle Royal at WWE Battleground (7/20) to crown a new Intercontinental champion:
– Cesaro
– Kofi Kingston
– Damien Sandow
– The Great Khali
– Rob Van Dam
– Dolph Ziggler
– Big E
– Ryback
– Curtis Axel
– Alberto Del Rio
– Chris Jericho will face The Miz on next week’s episode of WWE RAW from Montreal. WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart will also be appearing.
Speaking of Chris Jericho, he noted on Twitter that he’ll be part of WWE’s upcoming tour of Tokyo and Osaka next weekend.
Chris Jericho, who returned at Monday’s post-Money In The Bank edition of WWE RAW in Hartford, Connecticut, is reportedly worked into the creative plans through the Night Of Champions pay-per-view on September 21st.
Jericho, who always messes around with the internet fans, tried fooling people prior to RAW by posting photos on social media that showed him with his family, basically to try and throw people off.
It’s said that the working plan right now is for Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam, although there’s a chance they could work the Battleground pay-per-view as well, with SummerSlam being the followup and/or blow-off of the program.
– In a pretty surprising note, during the WWE RAW Backstage Pass post-show on the WWE Network on Monday night, WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T mentioned the infamous backstage fight between Chris Jericho and Bill Goldberg from years ago. He didn’t go into specific details on what happened during the fight, but did mention it.
– Also on the RAW post-show, Renee Young interviewed AJ Lee, who spoke about her return on Monday night. Lee noted that it feels good to be reunited with her baby, the WWE Divas Championship. She said she only came out to congratulate Paige the same way Paige did for her after WrestleMania XXX, and that she just happened to leave with what is rightfully hers.
Monday’s episode of WWE RAW featured the surprise returns of The Miz, Chris Jericho and AJ Lee.
WWE announced on Monday afternoon that a former WWE Champion would be returning on RAW. A limousine arrived backstage and RAW and many fans were expecting Chris Jericho to walk out, after news leaked online that Jericho would be returning to RAW. A lot of people were surprised when that returning WWE Champion turned out to be The Miz. The “Awesome” Superstar talked about being a multi-platform entertainment powerhouse, having just finished his latest movie for WWE Studios, The Marine 4. As Miz was rambling, he was interrupted by yet another returning former WWE Champion, Chris Jericho. Jericho’s homecoming got a thunderous reaction from the live audience, but it was short lived – as The Wyatt Family showed up, crashed the party and left Jericho for dead in the ring.
AJ Lee returned in her first appearance since the night after WrestleMania XXX, when she dropped the Divas Championship to newcomer Paige. AJ returned the favor last night, recapturing the Divas Title and ending Paige’s reign.
– Following Sunday’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view, the next time WWE will be at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts is on September 14th. The code for tickets to the show, which will be a non-televised live event, is WWEBOSTON.
– Chris Jericho delivered a special YouTube edition of his “Talk Is Jericho” podcast recently. The official description for the show reads as follows:
Chris Jericho dives into the life of ultimate fan, and now dear friend Daniel House as Daniel shares his inspirational journey on being diagnosed with terminal cancer. From how the two met to Daniel’s bucket list checkoffs, here’s a different side to Talk is Jericho… one you don’t want to miss from Jericho himself.
To help Daniel and his family, please send checks or kind words to:
Daniel House PO Box 222 Pfafftown, NC 27040
Facebook – Daniel House Twitter – @tazz_dan Instagram – @tazzda
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features part two of an exclusive interview with Paul Heyman and Edge, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP51 – WWE’s Paul Heyman & Edge Pt 2… & Egypt Returns
“It’s Round 2 with Chris Jericho, Paul E. Heyman, and Edge! And this time it’s WWE Smackdown vs Raw, ECW, Liza Minelli (WTF?), and Paul E.’s departure from WWE. They also talk Sabu, Raven, Cesaro, and fav matches! And… it’s the return of Egypt! He & Y2J are predicting WWE’s upcoming Money In The Bank PPV Event!”
The following are highlights of a new Chris Jericho interview:
Getting fans to hate him: “It is a lost art, it’s a lot easier to get people to hate you than to like you but it’s hard to get them to stay hating you, that’s where the secret is. Look at some of the greatest heels of all time in movies for example, Darth Vader, Freddie Kruger and Hannibal Lecter, they all became the good guys in the later movies because they’re too entertaining, so the secret to being a good heel is staying a heel. It’s very easy to get drawn into putting out merchandise, saying a catchphrase or doing an interview, I did none of those things when I turned heel in 2008 and it was a conscious decision. When I started saying ‘hypocrite’, people started bringing in signs then I would decide not to say that anymore, then people thought ‘parasite’ was funny then again I stopped saying that.”
Vince McMahon supporting his extra effort to stay in character outside of the ring: “I remember in Madison Square Garden there was a dad with his son in the elevator who asked for an autograph and as much as it pained me as I have a son, I just stared ahead, it’s all part of it and nowadays no one wants to do it. Vince loves it because it’s old school, he gets it, it’s heat, Vince had my back with anything I did, for example when I caused the crowd to pelt me with glow sticks in London, DX were furious, Stephanie was furious, they wanted me fined and suspended but Vince goes ‘no you’re a heel’. “ I learnt in WCW that that NWO were cool heels, just by being up there they were so likable and cool, there was nothing I could do to get a reaction, and I might as well have been a heel. That’s why they don’t turn John Cena heel, all the people that booed him will end up loving him, it would be a waste of time.”
Guys like The Shield, The Wyatt Family and Cesaro getting over: “I kind of am like the Nostradamus of WWE, I predicted that all of those guys will get over, with Cesaro we had a tour of Japan last year and I specifically asked to work with him and with Bray Wyatt when I went to work with NXT I said to put me with that guy.”
Paul Heyman, “The One Behind The One In 21-1″, appeared with WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland on this week’s Talk Is Jericho podcast. During the interview, Heyman spoke at length about why he thinks CM Punk decided to leave WWE.
“He was unhappy. He had enough. He couldn’t take it anymore. A year before he walked these was daily conversations of, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to take this. I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be here. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to be before I just decide to go home.’ I’m surprised it lasted that long.”
Heyman says that Punk was no longer able to “find the passion” that he needed to keep up with the grind of being a WWE Superstar – which is what ultimately led to his departure.
“Every day with him was an exercise in him finding the balance to simply continue on and find the passion he needed that he to do it. And I think what happened was he walked in the day after the Royal Rumble and he couldn’t find that passion. He couldn’t convince himself or persuade himself, ‘OK, whether I’m happy or not this is about the performance, my legacy. It’s about I take pride in what I do. And whether I’m happy or unhappy when I go out there I’m going to be the best CM Punk I can be.’ And I think somewhere during that day he couldn’t find that.”
The following are highlights of a new In Your Head Wrestling Radio interview with Larry Zbyszko
What is your involvement with NXT? “Well you know, I’ve been a big fan of NXT…they film it five miles down the road from me. I’ve been going down, and that was a big mistake because now I’m emotionally involved and entangled in all these new guys, talent that’s training there. They have the same dream I had; you can see it in their face, they want to learn. It’s really a cool place. It’s kind of like an omen to me that they would just happen to build this thing five miles down from my house. There’s really not too many people left in the business that know what I know, so it’s working out good where I’m going to be involved. When I go down there I get a chance to pass down the hidden secrets of wrestling’s illuminati to a new era; so it’s really cool…There’s a trick to it. You’ve got a whole bunch of big tough guys, but unless you figure out a way to be different …With wrestling, like any other sport, the fans get emotionally involved with their favorites…you get into their emotions. That’s the secret that they have to be taught, because they’re great athletes and have a great training facility, and they’re learning moves and becoming wrestlers, and that’s great, but to attach to the fans you have to be a personality, and you have to be able to grab that microphone and talk to people, and let your character loose and be creative. It’s a different story. Any idiot can pick someone up and throw them, but drawing money is a different animal.”
In Chris Jericho’s book, he actually said you were the worst commentator he ever heard. What are your thoughts on that? “Here’s the story on that. At the time, Chris was a young guy and he didn’t know what he was doing, along with a bunch of other guys; there was a whole group of them. There was Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko, and maybe even someone else, and these were the newer guys coming in to WCW trying to get a break. They were getting upset at the promotion, and a couple of times at me but it wasn’t my fault…These guys were all good athletes, but they were all 5’8”, 5’10”, 180 pounds, 190 pounds, and at that time in WCW who were the big stars that they were pushing? Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sid Vicious; these guys that were 6’8”, 6’6”, 300 pounds. So when they were wrestling these guys, every once in a while I’d be getting a message over the voice on the headsets about ‘Hey, mention how much Sid Vicious towers over Dean Malenko’ or ‘How much bigger Kevin Nash makes Jericho look like an ant’. I didn’t want anybody telling me what to say and I ignored them anyway, but I got the drift. And in that time, what could you say; Jericho’s as big as Sid Vicious? So I think the guys let some steam off on me, but it really wasn’t me talking; the office wanted those points made to push their big stars who were giants compared to this new generation of smaller, high-flying guys that were trying to get in. So I don’t blame him for saying it; if everybody liked everybody it would be a pretty boring world.”
– The official WWE website has recently added a new article looking at the 15 greatest Superstar entrances of all-time. The top ten of the list reads as follows:
#10. Rey Mysterio
#9. Gangrel
#8. The Rock
#7. Hulk Hogan
#6. Chris Jericho
#5. Bill Goldberg
#4. Triple H
#3. Kane
#2. Ultimate Warrior
#1. Undertaker
You can check out the complete article at WWE.com.
– The latest edition of WWE’s “Canvas 2 Canvas” YouTube show, which features Triple H, is available below.
– There will be no new episode of “WrestleMania Rewind” next Tuesday (June 24th) on the WWE Network. Instead, a replay of the episode that features a look back at the WrestleMania 19 match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho will air.
– The following is a new workout clip featuring former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson:
– The latest edition of Steve Austin’s “Steve Austin Show Unleashed” podcast, which features an interview with former WWE writer Court Bauer, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
SASu – EP126 – Former WWE Writer & current MLW Radio’s Court Bauer
“Court Bauer, founder of Major League Wrestling (MLW) also worked on the creative team for the WWE for a few years back in the 2000s. He’s got stories about Gary Hart, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Eric Bischoff and the demise of WCW. He and Steve also break down today’s current WWE roster!”
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features an interview with former WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP49 – Drew McIntyre
“Drew Galloway also known as former WWE wrestler Drew McIntyre is breaking his silence about his “release” from WWE last week. How’d he take the news & what are his future plans? He tells Chris Jericho! Plus, Drew’s reliving some of his favorite moments & fondest memories of his 8 years with WWE.”
At his one-man show in the United Kingdom this weekend, former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho spoke about the backstage altercation he had with Bill Goldberg several years ago during their WWE run.
Jericho mentioned that he and Goldberg got into it, he applied a headlock on Goldberg and he couldn’t get out of it.
A fan recently brought this up to Goldberg on Twitter, and the former WWE Superstar replied with the following tweet:
The following are highlights of MVP’s interview on the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast:
On his knee injury: “I was feeding for the comeback and just heard my knee pop.”
On his status for this Sunday’s TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view: “Regarding my knee and whether or not I’ll be able to go this Sunday, that’s a conversation that I’m having currently with creative and we’ll see what happens. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I can go.”
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features an exclusive interview with TNA star MVP, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP46 – TNA Impact’s MVP
“Will MVP take part in TNA’s “Slammiversary” PPV event this Sunday? He updates Chris on his knee injury! He’s also talking about his time with NJPW and why he left, how he ended up at TNA, what he thinks about WWE, and how he survived 9 years in prison. Plus, he shares his favorite thing to say in Japanese.”
– The latest edition of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast, which features an exclusive interview with WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, is now available. The official description for that show reads as follows:
TRR – Ep17 – “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
“”The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase chronicles his life in the squared circle with JR – from his early days in the mid-South territory to his days as the most hated wrestler in the biz! Hear stories about Stan Hansen, Bill Watts, Jim Barnett, Vince McMahon Sr & Jr, Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, and Ole Anderson.”
– After Monday’s WWE RAW from Minneapolis, Minnesota went off the air, John Cena left the ringside area. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose stayed behind and celebrated with the crowd to end the show. The advertised dark match main event between John Cena and Bray Wyatt never took place.
– Comedy Central announced that the’ve picked up six new digital series under the “CC:Studios” banner. One of the shows, Team Tiger Awesome, stars former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho.
Here’s their synopsis of the series:
Team Tiger Awesome – Written by Nick Mundy, Michael Truly and Clint Gage, Team Tiger Awesome follows a loose cannon cop (Chris Jericho) and his partner (Mundy) getting super sensitive and introspective on a stakeout.
The Team Tiger Awesome Twitter account wrote on Monday night:
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features Y2J’s WWE Payback review and an interview with KISS member Bruce Kulick, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP44 – Bruce Kulick of KISS & WWE Payback Review
“Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick sat at Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons’ table at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, and has plenty of stories to share about that night, and about his time in KISS! Plus, Y2J breaks down the WWE Payback PPV. How’d he do vs Egypt?”
– The latest edition of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast, which features JR’s exclusive interview with Eric Bischoff, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TRR – Ep16 – Eric Bischoff
“JR and Eric Bischoff are talking wrestling business… and by that, we mean “the business of professional wrestling.” They get into Eric taking over WCW and firing JR, the Monday Night Wars, the current state and future of the WWE, and what Eric thinks about his own son’s foray into the business. Plus, hear creative strategy, brand building, and what it takes to be a star.”
– WWE Superstar The Miz will be appearing on the season finale of the TBS show “Deal With It,” which airs tonight at 8:30pm EST. The show is a hidden-camera prank show hosted by Howie Mandel, the same program that Chris Jericho appeared on earlier this season.
– The following is the latest “Five Things” video from the official WWE YouTube channel, which looks back at the five best Money In The Bank matches of the past.
– The following is the official description for the latest edition of “Who’s Next w/ Goldberg.”
Who’s Next w/ Goldberg – Ep02 – Terry Crews
“NFL Stud-Turned Wrestling Legend Bill Goldberg welcomes NFL buddy turned actor Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Old Spice stud) to talk about his journey and what makes a real man.”
– The following is the official description for the latest edition of the “Steve Austin Show.”
SASu – EP120 – TNA’s Cowboy James Storm Pt 2
“Cowboy James Storm and Steve Austin are sharing their tag team pet peeves, and the worst matches of their respective careers (at least according to Dave Meltzer). They’re also talking Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart, the Superkick, the Stone Cold Stunner, cars, vegetarians, and 80s heavy metal.”
– The following is the official description for the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho.”
TIJ – EP43 – TNA’s Bully Ray Pt2 & WWE Payback Predictions
“TNA’s Bully Ray (formerly known as Bubba Ray of the Dudley Boyz tag team at WWF/E) is back talking about ECW, Paul Heyman, shaving his head, working for WWE, and his favorite matches! Plus, Egypt returns to predict this weekend’s WWE Payback PPV matches with Chris! Who will come out ahead?”
– The next edition of WWE Countdown, which airs on Tuesday night on the WWE Network, will look at the top ten greatest couples in history.
– The next edition of WrestleMania Rewind, which also airs on Tuesday night on the WWE Network, will look back at the epic encounter between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker from WrestleMania 25.
– Speaking of WrestleMania Rewind, here’s a new WrestleMania Rewind Extra featuring Chris Jericho:
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features an interview with TNA star Bully Ray, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP42 – TNA’s Bully Ray & Tour of Fozzy’s bus
“TNA’s Bully Ray… formerly known as Bubba Ray of the Dudley Boyz tag team at WWF/E has lots to say about TNA today, the WWE style, TLC IV against Chris Jericho, wrestling school, Mick Foley, and meeting Ronnie James Dio. Plus, his three childhood dreams and which two have come true!”
– The next edition of WrestleMania Rewind, which airs this coming Tuesday on the WWE Network, will look back at Chris Jericho’s performance against the WWE legends at WrestleMania 25, as well as his showdown with Edge at WrestleMania 26.
– The next edition of WWE Countdown, which also airs this coming Tuesday on the WWE Network, will look at the top ten factions in history.
Chris Jericho was recently at the Accountability Crib to record a new “Talk Is Jericho” podcast with Diamond Dallas Page and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Speaking of Chris Jericho, the former WWE Superstar recently tweeted out a link to a photo on his official Instagram account, which shows off his latest tattoo. You can check out the photo of Jericho’s new ink below.
