Undisputed_ How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps - Chris Jericho [175]
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The crowd buzzed like a fistful of bees, knowing exactly where this was going, as the 9 began spinning into a 10 and then morphed into a J.
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The wait was over. For the audience and for me.
It had been a long hard road that led me to the WWE the first time, and it had been just as long and hard a road that led me back.
I walked up the stairs to the Gorilla position as the countdown began …
Acknowledgments
I’d like to first thank God and Jesus Christ for allowing me to write another one of these bad boys! Jesus Rocks!
If I included everyone’s name who has been an influence or an ally to me over the last three years in these thank-you’s, the list would take up the entire book and have to be printed microscopically, probably giving everyone who read it cataracts. Besides, nobody except for the people whose names are on the list really care about thank-you lists anyways. So, here’s a froot thumbs-up to all of my family, friends, confidants, band members and business associates who have believed in me!
However, I would like to personally thank Jessica, Ash, Cheyenne, Sierra Irvine, Ted Irvine, Joan Irvine, Chad Holowatuk, Todd Holowatuk, and Dave Spivak for being the best family a guy could have!
I’d also like to thank Pete Fornatale, Ben Greenberg, Bob Castillo, Tanisha Christie, and Flamur Tonuzi for helping me to create another killer book!
Finally, I’d like to thank the following auteurs for taking some of the photos used in this book: Jessica Irvine, Ed Aborn, Ian Nicol, Michael Lacey, Bruno Lauer, Paul Gargano, Ryan Ahoff, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Speewee, Henry Di Rocco, Brian Bird, Glen Butler, John Howarth, and Dan Winters.
Bonus Acknowledgments
There are all kinds of different co-writing setups. In the case of my collaboration with Chris, co-writing isn’t even the right word. Our dynamic is more like that of producer and recording artist: I’m involved from the start, I brainstorm, I organize, I help select material, I edit. But the writing is all his. Chris, it’s been a pure pleasure working with you.
Another note: We know what Vince McMahon’s wrestling company was called in 1999 but for simplicity’s sake, we’re calling it the WWE throughout.
I would like to thank my friend Ron Epstein for his assistance in putting this book together. And thanks to Rich Bienstock for his musical knowledge.
It’s been great working with Benjamin Greenberg and Bob Castillo and all the folks at Grand Central Publishing.
And to my wife, Susan Van Metre, I’d just like to say you are the best.
PTF
The name on the Tron might’ve said Jericho, but backstage it was Mud.
When I barged into Arnold’s dressing room in Baltimore to get a picture with him, his facial expression never changed once. I personally think he was intimidated by my massive guns.
I’ve never actually seen a Jericho ice cream bar. Nor have I seen a Jericho bowling ball or a pair of the Jericho designer eyeglasses that also exist. (Photo © 2010 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.)
I love this poster. But I hate that my gorgeous face was replaced by the rugged good looks of Mick Foley about a month after it was released. Interesting that the numbers on the right are electric blue and resemble the binary codes I used for my second coming seven years later. (Photo © World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.)
Fozzy’s first centerfold, published in Metal Edge magazine. I wish Gargano would’ve taken the picture before the show instead of afterward; Sneap and I look particularly disheveled.
My mom and grandma were so excited and happy to be a part of our wedding. This was one of the last times my mom voluntarily left her house.
Me, Adrian, Todd, and Chad (the wise man on the end), during our first meeting in Chicago. Adrian was amazing and even offered us a piece of pizza, a gesture that Todd still raves about to this day.