Chris Jericho: The always busy WWE superstar

WWE star and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho spoke to FanSided about his new podcasting network, his band and life as a heel. 

From rockstar to WWE superstar, Chris Jericho has come a long way since his debut in Chicago in 1999. Outside of the ring and off the stage, he has shown he has found success in the world of podcasting. With his show “Talk is Jericho” reaching new subscribers each week, he has decided to take it to the next level, launching his own podcast network.

“The Jericho Network” will feature Jericho’s own show along with new hosts to fully captivate listeners. Chris took some time to talk to FanSided about his new network, his band, Fozzy, and possible stupid idiots merchandise.

Back in 2013 you started your own podcast along the same time Jim Ross began his. Now this month you are debuting the Jericho Network with not only your podcast but others to fill out a well-rounded team. What were your expectations when you first started this adventure?

Well starting my own show and my own network is totally different. But with my show it’s not just a wrestling podcast but it has a little bit of everything. I know a lot of people listen in for the wrestling guests but many also listen in for the other subjects. The show became so big it was an opportunity to expand my horizons. The idea was based off of Adam Carolla’s network. It’s an extension idea of what Talk is Jericho is and the vibe of what I’m all about. I think the network is going to draw a very big diverse and large crowd.

With you being involved in so many projects, what was the timeline for you to get this network organized and finally approved?

It has been a while. I resigned my contract in December/January and this was the idea then. But once you have the idea you have to put everything together into motion. Once the shows start rolling then you can kind of step back a bit and just draw the audience in. I think the toughest parts are behind us but obviously there will be glitches the first couple of weeks.

Mind you anything that has my name attached to it, I am fully involved in. It’s not like I give my name out and I don’t have control over anything. I am figurehead of sorts and I am scouring the Internet looking for people to have podcasts and draw listeners. If they can’t I will find others that can. I have to be very careful on who I pick because I have to use my knowledge and strategy to make sure they hit.

With the WWE Network those are just interviews and not a podcast. Those questions are thought out before hand as they have to match up with the pictures.  It was a lot of fun but it’s not what my show is like. I don’t have questions ready before hand and I just chat. I think that’s one of the best things about what I’m doing.

Your band Fozzy has taken this year off from touring and it was announced you would travel in the latter half of this year. Do you have any updates on a possible new album being released soon?

We are working on recording a new album in September or October then have it released next April. Originally the plan was for the album to come out in April of this year and we decided to push it back and then we decided not to rush it all together. I think taking this time off has people wondering where we are at and that makes them more interested into something we put together when we finally release it.

You came back to the WWE in January of this year and have been a workhorse for the WWE when the injury bug hit right before WrestleMania. What do you do to prepare yourself for another return as you aren’t a full time rostered member?

It’s always a blast coming back. I think the work I’m doing this year has been the best of my career. At least since 2008-2009. It’s fun being heel and being locked into something I haven’t been doing for years. I think it’s really grown on people.

Let me tell you the guys I’m working with that are 10-15 years younger than me are pushing me to that next level. It’s so much fun because my desire level continues to rise and work that much harder. As long as I still can move and feel like I’m at my peak, I will continue to do this. If I ever start feeling like I’m going down the totem pole, ability wise. People say age is just a number and it really is. Psychologically, I feel like I’m at the top of my game.

The world of social media has really taken hold of the wrestling community. When you first began you career there was no Twitter or Facebook or rumor websites. Do you think that social media has helped the progression of professional wrestling?

To me it doesn’t really matter. It’s the way of the world now and you have to adapt. I don’t think the world is better. Growing up in my era things were magical as you didn’t know wrestling wasn’t fully legit. You were watching stories unfold as they were meant to do. Same thing going to a movie. I don’t want to read the plot line before I go because I want to see what the director’s way that he wanted. One of my favorites things to do but also least favorite things to do is look up a band’s set list while they are on tour. But it was sure a lot more fun when you didn’t know if your favorite song was going to play.

I don’t know if social media has hurt wrestling. But I think it has created a certain sense of entitlement to a certain part of the fan base. They think they should know everything and it eliminates that magical sense. Like when I return and nobody knows about it, I like that. I pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes and it’s getting harder and harder to do these days.

Stupid Idiot has been a phrase you have been using more often than not since your return back in January. Will the WWE Shop be releasing the “Stupid Idiot” shirt soon?

I have a real rule that when I’m heel I don’t want the WWE selling my merchandise. I don’t want someone in the crowd wearing a shirt with that phrase and thinking it’s funny when it’s supposed to be an insult. I still have enough old school in me that I don’t want people wearing my slogans or phrases that are supposed to be booing me. Does it really matter? Probably not. But it’s one of those things to me that it does matter. Maybe it will piss you off that there are no shirts out there so it will make you boo or hate me more.