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By Root 1803 0

so, albeit (bitchin’ word) in a different way. He discussed the idea of becoming my bodyguard (or slackey, as he put it), similar to what he did with Shawn Michaels in 1993. I wasn’t sold on it. I was hungry to regain the World Championship, but it seemed there were no plans to go in that direction. I approached Vince a few times to tell him I was ready to be the top guy again, and he humored me, but I could tell he wasn’t into it. He still had a bad taste in his mouth from my first reign. But I was building myself back up and I felt that unless having Nash as my bodyguard was going to lead to another championship reign, it would be better to stay on my own.

My concern was moot, as Vince told me he wasn’t considering the bodyguard idea anyway. A few months later, Hall and Nash were gone, with Hogan following soon after, and that was the end of the NWO in the WWE.

Talk about in like a lion and out like a lamb—brother.

CHAPTER 30

AO Jericho

Raw was coming to Winnipeg for the first time since I’d joined the company. I was excited to be the conquering hero returning home for my first TV taping since I’d wrestled at the Diamond Club for Tony Condello thirteen years earlier. What made things even more exciting was that Benoit had just won the World Championship in one of the greatest matches of all time against HHH and Shawn at WrestleMania XX. (It’s unfortunate that it has been buried forever and technically doesn’t exist anymore.)

So even though we were both babyfaces, I figured it was a no-brainer that I’d get a title shot in my hometown, so Chris and I could tear the house down. We hadn’t wrestled each other since he’d been champion, and I felt we could have a classic with the boisterous Winnipeg fans behind us, but it wasn’t to be. It was decided I’d face Randy Orton for the Intercontinental title instead, and even though I lost that match, I added another accolade to my résumé that night.

I became the first and only WWE Musical Chairs Champion.

Yeahhhhh boyeeee.

The special guest GM that night was Eugene, Bischoff’s mentally challenged nephew. He booked a batch of curious matches for the show and then decided that he wanted to see a game of musical chairs. He corralled Stacy Keibler (still one of the hottest divas to ever grace the WWE), Tyson Tomko, Tajiri, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman, and me and told us that whoever won the game of musical chairs would get a championship match that night. When I was announced and sauntered to the ring in a vintage (sorry, Cole) Jets T-shirt, the Peg faithful blew the roof off the old barn (even when Lilian Garcia announced me as from Winnitoba, Manitoba).

It was such a waste that the astounding crowd reaction was squandered on a kid’s party game and not a match for the world title. But as I learned in WCW, you make the best of what you’re given, and I did.

A cheesy rendition of “Pop Goes the Weasel” began playing and the game was on. Tajiri was quickly eliminated and then spewed his green mist into the Coach’s face, which got rid of him. Lawler failed to take a seat in time, as he was too busy staring at Stacy’s seat. Flair, (who stole the show during the segment), started stylin’ and profilin’ around the ring, then pushed Stacy to the ground the next time the Weasel stopped.

Keep in mind that the whole time the crowd was going berserk and chanting “Y2J” at the top of their lungs.

Tomko and I were the sole survivors, and when the music stopped again I pulled the chair out of the way as he sat down. Then I rammed it into his gut and parked myself, becoming the first ever Musical Chairs Champion. The crowd erupted as if Dale Hawerchuk had just scored the game-winning goal to finally get the Jets into the third round of the playoffs.

It was one of the biggest reactions I received during my entire career and it ended up being a tremendous segment. I apologized to Brian afterwards for being against the idea when he first told me about it—proof once again that you just never know what’s going to work in this business. It’s all in the excellence of the execution.

JR