Undisputed: How to Become World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps
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However, I would like to personally thank Jessica, Ash, Cheyenne, Sierra Irvine, Ted Irvine, Joan Irvine, Chad Holowatuk, Todd Holowatuk, and Dave Spivak for being the best family a guy could have!
I’d also like to thank Pete Fornatale, Ben Greenberg, Bob Castillo, Tanisha Christie, and Flamur Tonuzi for helping me to create another killer book!
Finally, I’d like to thank the following auteurs for taking some of the photos used in this book: Jessica Irvine, Ed Aborn, Ian Nicol, Michael Lacey, Bruno Lauer, Paul Gargano, Ryan Ahoff, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Speewee, Henry Di Rocco, Brian Bird, Glen Butler, John Howarth, and Dan Winters.
Bonus Acknowledgments
There are all kinds of different co-writing setups. In the case of my collaboration with Chris, co-writing isn’t even the right word. Our dynamic is more like that of producer and recording artist: I’m involved from the start, I brainstorm, I organize, I help select material, I edit. But the writing is all his. Chris, it’s been a pure pleasure working with you.
Another note: We know what Vince McMahon’s wrestling company was called in 1999 but for simplicity’s sake, we’re calling it the WWE throughout.
I would like to thank my friend Ron Epstein for his assistance in putting this book together. And thanks to Rich Bienstock for his musical knowledge.
It’s been great working with Benjamin Greenberg and Bob Castillo and all the folks at Grand Central Publishing.
And to my wife, Susan Van Metre, I’d just like to say you are the best.
PTF
The name on the Tron might’ve said Jericho, but backstage it was Mud.
When I barged into Arnold’s dressing room in Baltimore to get a picture with him, his facial expression never changed once. I personally think he was intimidated by my massive guns.
I’ve never actually seen a Jericho ice cream bar. Nor have I seen a Jericho bowling ball or a pair of the Jericho designer eyeglasses that also exist. (Photo © 2010 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.)
I love this poster. But I hate that my gorgeous face was replaced by the rugged good looks of Mick Foley about a month after it was released. Interesting that the numbers on the right are electric blue and resemble the binary codes I used for my second coming seven years later. (Photo © World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.)
Fozzy’s first centerfold, published in Metal Edge magazine. I wish Gargano would’ve taken the picture before the show instead of afterward; Sneap and I look particularly disheveled.
My mom and grandma were so excited and happy to be a part of our wedding. This was one of the last times my mom voluntarily left her house.
Me, Adrian, Todd, and Chad (the wise man on the end), during our first meeting in Chicago. Adrian was amazing and even offered us a piece of pizza, a gesture that Todd still raves about to this day.
One of my favorite pictures of all-time. Gargano and I spit alcohol into each other’s faces and squirted ketchup over each other’s heads, yet our inebriated expressions of pure joy say it all.
The Walls of Jericho on top of the ladder at the 2001 Royal Rumble was one of my favorite moves I’ve ever done in my career, and it was all Chris’s idea. The ladder was wobbling under our combined weight, and I was convinced it was going to flip us right over.
At Ozzfest in New Jersey the night after we ate boiled eggs and drank beer in Zakk’s hotel bathroom. Here’s a fun game to play: which one of us is more hung over? Maybe Jack Osbourne (in the background) knows.
In Albany, New York, the same night as the Station tragedy in Rhode Island. Rich set off pyro that evening during our gig too. I’ve formulated fire-escape plans in my head for every show we’ve done since.
I was the first Undisputed Champion in the history of the wrestling business, an accomplishment I’m very proud of that can never be taken away. I miss that eagle world title.
Rock and I were having so much fun during our 2002 Asian tour that every night we’d grab the ringside photographer’s camera and snap pictures of each other. The contest was to see who could make the most ridiculous face. On this night in Malaysia, I definitely won.
This front cover of Tokyo Sports talks about the classic match Rock and I had the night before; my incident with Great Muta at ringside; and Rock calling me okama (“gay”)on the mic in front of 18,000 people. You can see Okama written on the bottom of the page, middle line, in dark letters.
The Rock is one of my all-time favorite opponents. Because he’s such a great entertainer, people forget how awesome he was as a worker. In my opinion, he’s one of the best ever.
When Rock held my arms and told Bruce Willis to do something to me, I prepared for a punch. When he headbutted me in the chest instead, I screamed in pain instinctively. A second later I started laughing when I realized that was all he’d done. Note Rocky’s mom, Ata, behind Bruce.
Talk about a misquote! I didn’t say that ALL Indians were assholes, just the ones in the arena that night. Surprisingly, the office didn’t say a word to me about this. Maybe they will now.
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty reunited for one night only in Atlanta in 2004, and I was thrilled. I’d always dreamed of being the third Rocker when I was in high school, and sixteen years later my dream came true.
This pic screams “ROCK AND ROLL!” I scoured the shops of London to find the perfect pair of pants to fit the occasion. I only wore ’em once, at the Astoria gig that night. My shirt mysteriously disappeared when Kelly Osbourne and her entourage visited our dressing room after the show.
Australia 2005: This is what happens if you don’t wash your hair whilst on a Fozzy tour.
Ash was very wrinkly when he was a baby, but I figured out the solution.
Backstage with Dr. Death at Sai-tama Super Arena, 2005. Even though I was totally hungover and Benoit split me open with a headbutt, our submission match was voted match of the month by WWE Magazine. I slept in the training room for most of the day.
Little-known fact: Vince loves babies more than he loves apes. He’s also the best boss I’ve ever had and a big influence on my life. Besides my own dad, there’s not a man on the planet I respect more. Maybe someday Ash will work for Vince too.
Backstage in Washington D.C. after my last match in 2005. The four of us were so happy for each other, and it was a magical moment. It was also the last time we were ever together.
Fozzy rocks Canada’s Wonderland on the banks of Lake Ontario. My plane was delayed by hurricanes and Rich almost had to sing lead vocals for the gig. But I made it just in time and waltzed straight from the car to the stage like a true prima donna.
Okay, I’ll say it: Damn my mom was hot! Sweet Loretta Modern always wore the latest fashions and had the trendiest hairstyles. She also always wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. She would’ve kicked ass at it too, just like she did doing everything else she tackled in her life.
Telling my dad to take his time and work the crowd as the MSG brethren go nuts with anticipation to see father and son throw hands. The Baby-Faced Assassin won the fight, by the way.
Peter Frampton is a great guy and an awesome storyteller. We talked for an hour earlier that day about his time playing with Ringo Starr and his experiences recording All Things Must Pass with George Harrison. Plus he rules cos he’s FRAMPTON!
I’ve been blessed with three happy, healthy children and I thank God for them every day. They love Spongebob, Scooby Doo and … Justin Bieber, and for that I curse God every day. There are some punishments coming for sure.
We got hooked up to do promotion for Opening Night with the Toronto Argonauts. This ad appeared on the giant Tron about thirty times during the team’s 2006 season opener. The owner promised to bring the whole team to the play, but the actual number of Argonauts who showed up was zero.
I would’ve used this picture (above) of the Hart Brothers Class of 1990 in A Lion’s Tale, but I didn’t know Lance had it. For those of you who’ve read ALT, the middle row is Vic DeWilde, me, Wilf, Lance T, and Deb. The bottom picture is the Storm Acad
emy Class of ’07. Fighting Action Guy is over my right shoulder; he quit the camp the next day.
Copyright
An Orion ebook
First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Orion Books
This ebook first published in 2011 by Orion Books
© Chris Jericho 2011
The right of Chris Jericho to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 9781409111504
Typeset by Input Data Services Ltd, Bridgwater, Somerset
Orion Books
An imprint of the Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane
London WC2H 9EA
An Hachette UK Company
www.orionbooks.co.uk
* I just found out as I’m writing this that the lyric is actually “Sweet Loretta Martin.” I don’t care, it’ll always be “Sweet Loretta Modern ” to me.