CHRIS JERICHO TALKS ABOUT HIS GIMMICK, RETURNING TO WWE, ROCK AND CENA

 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.

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.