November 05, 2007
Entertainment
Spotlight on Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho has been many things during his career: radio host, rock star, professional wrestler. Now, the first Undisputed WWE Champion just might be adding another title to his already storied list of accomplishments: best-selling author.

With A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex (Grand Central Publishing, MSRP: $25.99), Jericho is following in the footsteps of fellow WWE Superstar-turned-best-selling author Mick Foley by releasing his long overdue memoirs about becoming a WWE Superstar. And while it's easy to label the book just another wrestling autobiography, A Lion's Tale is really so much more.

"This book isn't for wrestling fans; it's for story fans," Jericho, whose real name is Christopher Irvine, told What's On just days before the book's release. "It's a story about following your dreams. My career's one of the last [wrestling careers] of doing things the old way — going overseas, really payin' your dues — and I'm very proud of that. This [book] is something I've always wanted to do."

Despite becoming one of the WWE's most charismatic Superstars, Jericho, who is currently taking a break from the business, admitted he's a pretty private guy by nature, and that the 18 months it took to write A Lion's Tale was a hard and grueling process — one made even more difficult by the untimely death of fellow WWE Superstar Chris Benoit. After the Benoit tragedy made headlines last summer, when the former World Heavyweight Champion hung himself in his home after killing his wife Nancy and their 7-year-old son Daniel, Jericho was allowed to "break the rules" and make a few changes to his autobiography, which was already completed and ready for the printer.

"Majority of the book takes place between 1992 and 1999, and Benoit played a huge part in my life then in a positive way," Jericho explained. "So I was allowed to put the author's note in, so those unfamiliar with the situation didn't read the book and think I was lionizing this person who just committed this crime. Plus, I reread the book and changed a few words here and there, but only things that [in the aftermath] came across in bad taste."

A Lion's Tale follows Jericho's journey from a barn in Alberta, Canada, where he wrestled for a hot dog and a glass of orange juice, to the WWE, where he made his debut as Y2J in the summer of 1999. And while Jerichoholics will enjoy reading stories from the Superstar's past — including meeting some "14-year-old-looking dude named Oscar" (Rey Mysterio) — non-Jerichoholics will simply enjoy one man's humorous and touching coming-of-age story.

"I like to think of this book as a cross between Mick's first book (Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks) and Andy Summers' (The Police) One Train Later," Jericho said. "So far I've received nothing but positive feedback, and if it does well, then perhaps it will warrant a sequel."

Since A Lion's Tale ends with the Countdown to the New Millennium clock striking zero (which heralded Y2J's arrival in the WWE), Jericho said the sequel would more than likely "pick up from the moment this book left off." Whether or not Jericho does end up following in Foley's footsteps (who went on to release two more best-selling autobiographies, 2001's Foley Is Good: And the Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling and this year's The Hardcore Diaries), the real question on every Jerichoholic's mind is when he'll make his return to the squared circle that made him famous. And while most wrestlers spend a lot of time publicizing their books during "Raw," "ECW" and "SmackDown," since Jericho's book is being released independently from the WWE, fans will just have to continue to guess when the Sexy Beast will make his highly anticipated return. But one thing is for certain: Jericho will travel around the world in spandex once again.

"I've never given a time frame [for my return] in the past, but when the time is right, it will be fun," Jericho concluded. "Wrestling was my passion and my dream as a kid and it still is. I still love wrestling and I'm still a fan, and I feel obliged to help the business out through trying times. But above everything else, I'm just looking forward to playing Y2J again. Just like Harrison Ford's doing Indiana Jones, it's not about the money — it's about the character."

A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex is now available in bookstores everywhere. For more information on Chris Jericho, including upcoming promotional appearances, visit chrisjericho.com.

By Heather Turk


Thanks to: Whats-On.com.