– 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.
