Chris Jericho Returns

The professional wrestling ring wasn't big enough for what he truly wanted to play. It now includes the rock band Fozzy and three best selling books. From the I Heart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Chris Jericho The Best in the World: At What I Have No Idea (Gotham Books, October 14, 2014, hardcover & eBook) begins with Chris Jericho’s return to wrestling in 2007—a letdown for himself and his fans. His new short hair and same old frat-guy insults fell on deaf ears. But despite his sluggish return to the WWE, Jericho refused to give up. He ditched the big talker persona, taking cues from cold, closed-mouth on-screen villains and hard asses. No more autographs, no more baby-faced interviews, and no more boisterous monologues: Jericho was done talking. It was time to shut-up and do whatever it took to be The Best in the World. What followed from 2007 to 2010 were arguably the best years of Jericho’s noteworthy career to date, with three world title reigns and being named the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON) ‘Wrestler of the Year’ two years in a row. THE BEST IN THE WORLD chronicles some of the incredible and often preposterous highlights of those three years, including: • Scaring off Mickey Rourke • His feud with Shawn Michaels • An escape from the 2010 Icelandic volcanoes in a broken down rental car shuttle • As well as stories with Bob Barker, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Al Sharpton, and Mike Tyson. With contributions from his adoring 'Jerichoholics', Chris catalogues various antics of his long and lustrous career. He tells of the origins of catchphrases, finishing moves, his venture into music, rivalries with fellow wrestlers, and turn to acting. With his one-of-a-kind comedic voice, Chris explains his wrestling reinvention with entertaining detail. His knack for getting himself into screwball situations (both in and out of the ring), make for great storytelling. ABOUT CHRIS JERICHO Chris Jericho, author of NYT bestselling A Lion’s Tale and Undisputed, is the son of NHL hockey player Ted Irvine. He has been named one of the top ten wrestlers in the world and one of the top five talkers by the WWE. He performs with the band, Fozzy, which critics have called “larger than life and wildly entertaining.” Chris splits his time between Los Angeles and Tampa, where he lives with his wife and three children. A REVIEW OF THE BOOK FROM KIRKUS REVIEW : The WWE wrestler and entertainer chronicles his latest alcohol-fueled adventures and his push to become a bigger celebrity. Jericho (Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps) is back to regale us with tales from a life filled with drunken nights on the pro-wrestling circuit, performances with his heavy-metal band, Fozzy, and, increasingly, appearances on network TV. Along the way, we get to know Jericho's informal storytelling style, with its self-deprecating humor and many pop-culture references. Pro-wrestling fans, casual and hard-core alike, will have their interest piqued by the volatile relationship between Jericho and WWE's head honcho, Vince McMahon. Jericho also devotes plenty of space to the ways in which he carefully planned his wrestling feuds with recent icons like Shawn Michaels and older legends like Ricky Steamboat. The confrontations have never been limited to fellow wrestlers: Jericho took a punch from Mike Tyson, endured a tongue lashing from Bob Barker and narrowly escaped an all-out brawl with Mickey Rourke (and his crew of bone-breakers). Metalheads will certainly appreciate Jericho's encyclopedic knowledge of hard-core rock bands and his childlike anxiety when meeting stars like Ozzy Osbourne and the members of Metallica. Jericho also recounts his experiences on Dancing with the Stars, which allowed him to showcase his personality as an entertainer, not just a pro wrestler. Laced with deadpan comedic quips and diabolical schemes to further his position as a wrestling villain, this book makes a strong case for Jericho's extensive skill set as a performer. A rollicking ride through a large swath of the entertainment industry.