Sports Illustrated recently interviewed WWE Legend and Global Superstar Chris Jericho for their Extra Mustard Section on a number of pro wrestling topics. Below are the highlights from the interview:
On staying fresh with his fans: “I feel a great responsibility to my fan base. I am a fan, and I don’t want to see the same thing over and over again. I refuse to settle and stay in the same box. I want to create excitement and that, to me, is what it’s all about. There is no one in the world like Chris Jericho, but there is no one like Kenny Omega, either. That’s why this match really intrigued me: Kenny is the top guy in New Japan, and he is a best-bout machine with some of the best matches ever, but I think I’m better. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime match that you won’t see again, and it’s happening in Tokyo.”
On NJPW saying that Wrestle Kingdom 12 has double main events and causing talent like Tetsuya Naito (who is going on last against the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada) to speak out: “That’s like when people b—- and complain when Brock Lesnar and The Rock wrestle at WrestleMania, saying, ‘These part-timers come to steal our spots.’ Part-timers, full-timers, single-timers, whatever the f— you want to call it, they’re money-makers. I’m not the one calling this a double main event, it’s New Japan calling it that–and they’ve already sold more tickets this year, with three weeks before the show, than last year. I’d say it’s a smart move to bring Chris Jericho in and a smart move to make Alpha-Omega a double main event. If Naito doesn’t like that, then tough luck. That’s pro wrestling. Naito, don’t worry about what I’m doing, just worry about what you’re doing. You’re going on last, but just because you’re last doesn’t make you the main event. See WrestleMania 18 if you want to know more about that. I don’t give a s— who’s on last. If Naito is pissed off at me, then go out and prove it. It makes me want to work harder. Worldwide, and I’m just telling the facts, Alpha-Omega is the main event.”
On comparing his feud with Kenny Omega to a previous feud: “My goal is to steal the show. The match started as one thing and changed to another. This is going to be more of a fight. It has an organic feel to it. After 27 years of doing this, I know that you have to follow the path of the match. The last time I had a match like this was against Shawn Michaels in 2008 with our unsanctioned match. This has the same feel to it. It’s the two best in the world, but it is going to be intense, angry, and violent.”
You can read the entire interview of Chris Jericho at SI.com.