Chris Jericho Network Podcast w/John Cena

With Austin doing his Broken Skull Ranch vids instead of WWE programming, they’ve given the live podcast on the Network to Chris Jericho! Part of WWE’s attempt to bring new non-ring-based content to the Network (chronicled here!) . Cena came off as quite humble and grateful for his position. Jericho only threw softballs and expected questions (save for steroids) and didn’t press any answers. Y2J’s quite positive/easy going but comes off as more of a WWE shill and very non-confrontational. This comes after his repeated twitter/podcast rants coming to WWE’s aid, like defending Bill DeMott against abuse allegations, promoting Roman Reigns and blasting obnoxious fans during the Hall of Fame. After doing a quick summary of his career (bodybuilding to thuganomics) it got a bit rambly but was overall an enjoyable conversation but nothing can’t-miss. Here’s the scoop, milkshakes!

• The 5 Moves of Doom are: two shoulder tackles, whirlybird special (aka the Protobomb), fist and fireman’s carry. I loved how two moves were the same!
• His first riding partners “Team Stay Cheap” : Funaki, Bashams, Tadgers and Ultimo Dragon, 6 guys in a minivan & stayed in the cheapest hotels.
• His debut vs Kurt Angle: Kurt was supposed to wrestle Taker but he couldn’t make it, so he got the nod. When Vince & Hayes saw his hair (shaved sides and grown-out top, dyed blonde) he was made cut his hair before going on TV!
• Nicely criticises the locker-room about being afraid/”won’t put themselves out there” and agrees with Vince’s brass ring statement. Jericho didn’t push or prod this point.
• Y2J nicknamed Cena “whacky roll-up guy” due to his repeated variants of roll-ups (hilarious)
• Name-drops Regal and Funlee, after seeing him wrestle, Fit sighingly said “at least get a pair of boots so you look the part”. Cena then bought 75 sets of boots and 150 sets of tights. Cena then mixes up the Winnipeg Jets colours with the Edmonton Oilers and pretends not to notice/bites his tongue.
• Thuganomics White rapper gimmick: Before this, he didn’t look unique and his promos didn’t work. (He was in awe of the surrounding talent in OVW too). He drives home the need for an identity to stand out. This came about by joining the Freestyling group at the back of the tour bus: Rikishi, Palumbo, Jindrak, Ron-Ron, Eddie & Jimmy Korderas. (In another interview he specifically mentions Stephanie overhearing and proving it wasn’t learnt by rapping about her can she was holding)
• He’s the “1st Reverse 2nd Gen wrestler”: His dad (“Johnny Fabulous”) got into the wrestling business a few years after he did.
• Jericho directly asks if he took PEDs or steroids (due to his constant large size & fast mutant healing powers) He responds “no, I’ve been lucky to always be around motivated individuals.” Get the boat! He makes the solid point that he’s always been around the same size.
• They touch on his pre-wrestling career as a bodybuilder, his insane physique, and show a bodybuilding pic from the Max Muscle Naturals. (Not the WCW wrestler!)
• Who’s the next face of the company? Fans will always disapprove of a company-approved guy, then puts over Roman.
• They kayfabe “actual heat” between Rock & Cena and labour it for an ice-age. It was hard being kayfabed in this type of interview…especially when Rock post-Rock/Cena II said it was a multi-year carefully laid out plan.
• RE: Fans booing: He doesn’t know what fans want but gives his all.
• JBL is Poopy aka “Poopy Cena”: Brushes it off saying he tried being versatile, trying something different
• Heel turn? After a casual conversation with Vince about it, he recorded new theme music & got gear made. He’d be happy to do it but doesn’t want to let the kids down. He loves being inspirational for that 8 year old in the front row. Then they show make a wish photos incl. Connor Michalek.
• His hand signals: “HLR” was originally between Cena, Mark Curano (Senior Director of Talent Relations) and Michael Cole; it’s the “ok” hand sign for ‘the three losers’ as they called themselves. “You Can’t See Me” gesture was a joke with his brother.

And that’s about it! Definitely nothing special, unlike Austin w/Aitch and McMahon. I can’t ever see Jericho getting anything more out of them beside some friendly road stories. — Jay

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