Thursday, August 12, 2010

CHRIS JERICHO TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK, CHRIS BENOIT

 Among the topics discussed in Chris Jericho’s upcoming autobiography, Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Steps, is that of Chris Benoit. He offers insight into the man he previously considered a friend.


Regarding Benoit’s peculiar sense of humor, the rough draft states: “Not a giggle, not a chuckle, not a tee-hee…never went ‘Ha.’ But when somebody threw up or fell down the stairs, he would laugh out loud for hours on end.”


On being his friend, Jericho said while they were close, it wasn’t easy.


The rough draft states: “I considered Chris to be one of my closest companions, but it wasn’t always easy to be his friend. You had to take the good with the bad when it came to his friendship.”


Upon learning of the Benoit family death, Jericho notes: “My gut feeling was Chris had killed them.”


The book also features discussion of his arrival to WWE, the highs and lows, his relationship with Vince McMahon, the creation of Fozzy, and more. The book is set for release on February 16, 2011.

MICKIE JAMES TALKS ABOUT WWE, PIGGY JAMES

Former WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James weighed in on a number of topics in an interview with The Baltimore Sun including her recent departure from World Wrestling Entertainment, the Piggy James storyline, her music career, and more.


James says she hasn’t watching wrestling on television since being released in April, noting it’s much too difficult.


“I didn’t watch wrestling. I still haven’t seen a wrestling show and it’s been three months,” James said. “The only show I’ve watched was right after I was released and they were chanting, ‘We want Mickie, we want Mickie.’ And I started bawling. It just really broke me, so I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So, I started doing some dates. It’s definitely a different feel. Once you’ve wrestled in front of 90,000 people, where do you go from there?”


Regarding her release, she feels the company wanted to go in a different direction with the women’s division. She also says she didn’t understand their decision at the time, but now recognizes the writing on the wall.


“I just think it was the different direction of the Divas. No one can give 100 percent all the time and they can surely try. Looking back, if I take myself from the picture, there was writing on the wall and if I wasn’t so indulged in the business, I would have seen it,” James said. “I never would have shut that chapter on my own. I never would have cut that string on my own, so maybe they had to shut that door on me for to fully focus on my music, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.”


On the topic of the Piggy James storyline, she noted being more upset with its conclusion than the angle itself. She also remains unsure whether company officials were poking fun at her weight.


“I don’t know where it came from. Were they ribbing me or just poking fun? I sat back and prayed about it. There’s still not one female that can go out there and get a reaction I can,” James said. “And maybe they were trying to pull the fanbase away from me, but I got the championship, then they took it away. After six months of embarrassment and ridicule, that’s the payoff? I had to swallow my pride.”

UPDATED CARD FOR SUMMERSLAM PPV

WWE Title Match
Randy Orton vs. Sheamus


World Heavyweight Title Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Kane


RAW vs. Nexus Elimination Match
John Cena, Bret Hart, R-Truth, Chris Jericho, Edge, The Great Khali and John Morrison vs. Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Darren Young and David Otunga


WWE Intercontinental Title Match
Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler


WWE Divas Title Match
Melina vs. Alicia Fox


3-on-1 Handicap Match
Big Show vs. CM Punk, Luke Gallows and Joey Mercury