Chris Jericho recently spoke with Sport.co.uk. Here are some of the highlights:
Your sharply-dressed, serious, best-in-the-world character was something we hadn’t seen for a while, but now everyone seems to be using the same gimmick.
I think, subtly, that’s how they’ve been told to represent themselves. If you look back at 2008, then no-one was doing it. There were no suits and slow talking, it was all about that very intense style. Now almost all of the heels in the WWE are doing what I did. I think it’s a testament to me. I didn’t create it completely, but at that the time no-one else was doing that. It’s a pat on the back and I’d rather be a leader than a follower, but it also tells me that when the road leads me to come back to the WWE, if and when that happens, I’ll have to come up with something completely different all over again.
If and when you return to the WWE, having achieved so much, what would your goals be?
I don’t have any goals left. If I never wrestled again, I’d be happy. But at this point, I enjoy doing it. It’s different from 2005 when I was disheartened, this time it’s because I have all of these other things going on. I’m still a big fan, I still enjoy watching and if I came back I’d like to do what I was doing for the last three years and that’s performing to the best of my abilities and ensure that I’m doing something different that the fans don’t usually see. I’ve always prided myself on that. I always have ideas and thoughts and when you’re creative you get on a roll, get these ideas and think ‘I could do that’.
Who are your sympathies with in the recent war of words between The Rock and John Cena?
I would not like to go face to face with The Rock in any way, unless I was a stone cold heel – no pun intended. One of the reasons Rock and I had such great chemistry is that I was a perfect foil for him, but in a babyface versus babyface war, I don’t know whether I’d want to go toe-to-toe with him in any situation like that. I don’t sympathize with John though, because I think he’ll be looking forward to the challenge. Just because I said I wouldn’t like to go toe-to-toe with him doesn’t mean to say that he wouldn’t so I’m sure John’s salivating at the chance to show what he can do and who knows, maybe he’ll surprise people and blow The Rock away. That’s part of the excitement of it and it’s going to be great. John needs to be challenged, and that’s the thing and there’s not a better challenge in the business than going up against The Rock on the mic.
Monday, March 7, 2011
COLE WILL BE ANNOUNCING SPECIAL REFEREE TONIGHT
Also on last night’s SmackDown, Michael Cole revealed that he would announce his special referee for WrestleMania 27 on Monday’s RAW. Cole called the person “flamboyant, simply awesome and one of the all-time greats in WWE.”
CHRISTIAN RETURNS EARLY
Christian made his return to SmackDown last night, saving Edge from an Alberto Del Rio attack. Earlier in the night, WWE announced that Christian would be returning to SmackDown on next week’s episode.
DREW MCINTYRE WAS NOT FIRED
There was some confusion from our correspondents at Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings as Drew McIntyre was not storyline fired. Teddy Long told Drew that he would be fired if he didn’t wrestle Edge last night, and he did, losing the match.
CRIS "CYBORG" SANTOS NOT COMING?
Dave Meltzer reported on Yahoo Sports that WWE officials have denied that Strikeforce women’s MMA champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is in negotiations to come in.
Cyborg currently has a champion’s clause in her Strikeforce contract which would prevent her from jumping until she loses. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said this weekend he was aware of the rumors but didn’t know if they were serious or just something being said to leverage contract negotiations as Strikeforce and Cyborg are currently working on her new contract.
Cyborg currently has a champion’s clause in her Strikeforce contract which would prevent her from jumping until she loses. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said this weekend he was aware of the rumors but didn’t know if they were serious or just something being said to leverage contract negotiations as Strikeforce and Cyborg are currently working on her new contract.
WHO WILL BE IN THE CORNER OF CM PUNK AT WRESTLEMANIA?
It has been discussed to have Mason Ryan in CM Punk’s corner at WrestleMania 27 in the match against Randy Orton. Orton will have to face David Otunga and Mason Ryan on RAW to determine if they can be in Punk’s corner at WrestleMania or not. Punk is expected to have just one Nexus member in his corner at WrestleMania.
JIM ROSS TALKS ABOUT HULK HOGANS COMMENT ON JERRY LAWLER'S MANAGER
Jim Ross wrote the following on his website this weekend when asked about TNA politics and Hulk Hogan revealing Jimmy Hart as Jerry Lawler’s manager at WrestleMania 27:
“First of all I watch so little TNA that I’m not a good person to judge how their inner workings are, good or bad. Philosophically, I don’t enjoy their style of creative more often than not but, again, I’m not a regular viewer. But it’s none of my business either and only a personal opinion from afar. I think the statement Hogan made about Jimmy Hart being King’s manager for the night @ WM27 is simply speculation and rumor. I don’t think that it will happen or that it has any basis in fact. Time will tell but it’s not a big deal one way or another. I hope TNA succeeds and I spend zero time concerned about TNA politics, etc.”
“First of all I watch so little TNA that I’m not a good person to judge how their inner workings are, good or bad. Philosophically, I don’t enjoy their style of creative more often than not but, again, I’m not a regular viewer. But it’s none of my business either and only a personal opinion from afar. I think the statement Hogan made about Jimmy Hart being King’s manager for the night @ WM27 is simply speculation and rumor. I don’t think that it will happen or that it has any basis in fact. Time will tell but it’s not a big deal one way or another. I hope TNA succeeds and I spend zero time concerned about TNA politics, etc.”
WWE PUSHING EDGE'S SUBMISSION HOLD
WWE is pushing Edge’s submission hold going into the match with Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania 27, to go against Del Rio’s armbar finisher.
FORMER WWE STAR ARRESTED
Former WWE star Shad Gaspard was apparently arrested over the weekend in Columbus, Ohio for what his wife calls “crossing the street.”
Shad’s wife wrote the following on Twitter last night:
“This is Shad’s wife everyone. I want to address the rumors that are going on around the Internet right now about Shad’s arrest. He was indeed arrested today, in Columbus. No use denying it. But Shad did nothing wrong, he was trying to attend the Arnold Classic, and can you guys believe that the Columbus police department has nothing better to do than arrest him for crossing the street????!! That’s what they got him for “pedestrian in roadway” I think we should all stand up and be heard! Too many cops abusing their authority!! Apparently they even decided that it was necessary to tackle him…. I am very disappointed in those who “serve and protect” right now.”
She then went on to note that Shad’s bail had been posted and they have hired a lawyer. She also said that footage of the incident was available and that it was being released to TMZ and other media outlets.
Shad’s wife wrote the following on Twitter last night:
“This is Shad’s wife everyone. I want to address the rumors that are going on around the Internet right now about Shad’s arrest. He was indeed arrested today, in Columbus. No use denying it. But Shad did nothing wrong, he was trying to attend the Arnold Classic, and can you guys believe that the Columbus police department has nothing better to do than arrest him for crossing the street????!! That’s what they got him for “pedestrian in roadway” I think we should all stand up and be heard! Too many cops abusing their authority!! Apparently they even decided that it was necessary to tackle him…. I am very disappointed in those who “serve and protect” right now.”
She then went on to note that Shad’s bail had been posted and they have hired a lawyer. She also said that footage of the incident was available and that it was being released to TMZ and other media outlets.
TRIPLE H AND JOHN CENA WILL BE ON SMACKDOWN
RAW stars are scheduled for this coming Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings as Triple H, John Cena, Edge, Big Show and Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and Ezekiel Jackson is advertised.
ALEX RILEY APPEARING AS A-RI
Despite losing his job on this past Monday’s RAW, Alex Riley worked this weekend’s live events, losing to John Morrison. Riley came out and said that just because he wasn’t The Miz’s sidekick anymore didn’t mean he wouldn’t be around.
Riley came out with new theme music and has his own catchphrase that uses the “A-Ri” nickname.
Riley came out with new theme music and has his own catchphrase that uses the “A-Ri” nickname.
REY MYSTERIO TALKS ABOUT EDDIE, FEUDING WITH CODY
Rey Mysterio recently spoke with Jon Robinson of ESPN.com to promote WWE’s All Stars video game. Here are some highlights:
Jon Robinson: “WWE All Stars” is all about matching current stars up against legends to see who is the best ever. One match that they have in the game is you against Eddie Guerrero in a battle to see who is the top high flier of all time. Does that bring back a lot of memories for you?
Rey Mysterio: No doubt. Every now and then, I go back and watch some of our matches in order to bring back old moves that I’ve done but I just haven’t been able to do with no one else. I might try and do these with somebody new, so I go back and YouTube some of my matches with Eddie, because I felt that we had some of the best matches, as a wrestler, as a person. I’m aware that most of the fans think the same way, so I think that now when I play the new “All Stars” game, my son will probably pick Rey and I’ll probably pick Eddie. Of course, it will bring good memories without a doubt.
Jon Robinson: I was at Elimination Chamber, and you got thrown headfirst into the chamber glass.
Rey Mysterio: [laughs] Yes, I did. I couldn’t stop. In the heat of the moment, it’s all good, but then, oh man, it was a stinger. The next day you’re feeling it more, then the following day it’s even worse. It builds up until you get to day four or day five, then the swelling starts to go down, the bruising starts to go away and you feel less pain. But it was pretty bad.
Jon Robinson: You’ve been feuding with Cody Rhodes, and now his father, the legendary Dusty Rhodes, is also involved in the storyline. What do you see in Cody that made you want to work such a big program with him heading into WrestleMania?
Rey Mysterio: First off, he comes from a dynasty. I grew up watching Dusty and was a big fan. I’ve seen Cody’s brother, Goldust, too, and there’s a generation there that you just can’t let slide by and close your eyes and pretend that it’s not there. It’s there, and it’s been pushing strong ever since Randy Orton had Teddy [DiBiase] and Cody with him. So me, being a second-generation wrestler as well, I figure why not clash together. I really feel strong that there’s a lot of material here that we’ll be able to give fans to enjoy. That’s what I’m all about. I’m all about entertaining my fans.
Jon Robinson: Speaking of bringing back old memories, The Rock made his return to Raw recently and will be at WrestleMania. What does that mean to the WWE to have him back?
Rey Mysterio: I want to say that maybe for a while, our fan base, the WWE Universe have been asking themselves for a very long time if The Rock is coming back, when is The Rock coming back. Now here he is, and I think everyone who had been wondering about that were very entertained. And I’m not going to lie to you, I was at home and I was entertained. But there was a big comeback from what The Rock said last Monday, so now it’s getting good because John Cena doesn’t have tape over his mouth. He can spit, and when he spits, he can get nasty, so it’s going to be good. That’s all I can say; it’s going to be good. Anytime you get something new or something old that was good that fans have been waiting to see but hasn’t been given to them, then boom, it’s back, it’s like wow, and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Here we go. And this year, I think fans are going to be on the edge of their seats for WrestleMania, from the beginning to the end.
Jon Robinson: “WWE All Stars” is all about matching current stars up against legends to see who is the best ever. One match that they have in the game is you against Eddie Guerrero in a battle to see who is the top high flier of all time. Does that bring back a lot of memories for you?
Rey Mysterio: No doubt. Every now and then, I go back and watch some of our matches in order to bring back old moves that I’ve done but I just haven’t been able to do with no one else. I might try and do these with somebody new, so I go back and YouTube some of my matches with Eddie, because I felt that we had some of the best matches, as a wrestler, as a person. I’m aware that most of the fans think the same way, so I think that now when I play the new “All Stars” game, my son will probably pick Rey and I’ll probably pick Eddie. Of course, it will bring good memories without a doubt.
Jon Robinson: I was at Elimination Chamber, and you got thrown headfirst into the chamber glass.
Rey Mysterio: [laughs] Yes, I did. I couldn’t stop. In the heat of the moment, it’s all good, but then, oh man, it was a stinger. The next day you’re feeling it more, then the following day it’s even worse. It builds up until you get to day four or day five, then the swelling starts to go down, the bruising starts to go away and you feel less pain. But it was pretty bad.
Jon Robinson: You’ve been feuding with Cody Rhodes, and now his father, the legendary Dusty Rhodes, is also involved in the storyline. What do you see in Cody that made you want to work such a big program with him heading into WrestleMania?
Rey Mysterio: First off, he comes from a dynasty. I grew up watching Dusty and was a big fan. I’ve seen Cody’s brother, Goldust, too, and there’s a generation there that you just can’t let slide by and close your eyes and pretend that it’s not there. It’s there, and it’s been pushing strong ever since Randy Orton had Teddy [DiBiase] and Cody with him. So me, being a second-generation wrestler as well, I figure why not clash together. I really feel strong that there’s a lot of material here that we’ll be able to give fans to enjoy. That’s what I’m all about. I’m all about entertaining my fans.
Jon Robinson: Speaking of bringing back old memories, The Rock made his return to Raw recently and will be at WrestleMania. What does that mean to the WWE to have him back?
Rey Mysterio: I want to say that maybe for a while, our fan base, the WWE Universe have been asking themselves for a very long time if The Rock is coming back, when is The Rock coming back. Now here he is, and I think everyone who had been wondering about that were very entertained. And I’m not going to lie to you, I was at home and I was entertained. But there was a big comeback from what The Rock said last Monday, so now it’s getting good because John Cena doesn’t have tape over his mouth. He can spit, and when he spits, he can get nasty, so it’s going to be good. That’s all I can say; it’s going to be good. Anytime you get something new or something old that was good that fans have been waiting to see but hasn’t been given to them, then boom, it’s back, it’s like wow, and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Here we go. And this year, I think fans are going to be on the edge of their seats for WrestleMania, from the beginning to the end.
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