Chris Jericho has proven that he can't do just one thing. He's wrestled all over the world, toured with his rock band, Fozzy, and even danced with the stars. Somehow, in the midst of all this, he found time to write four books. Across the first three books, A Lion's Tale (2008), Undisputed: How to Become The World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps (2011), and Best in the World (2014), Jericho relays the story of his life, from childhood to WCW, then all the way through his WWE run.
In his fourth book, No is a four-letter word: How I Failed Spelling But Succeeded in Life (2017), Jericho changes things up. Instead of autobiographical, he takes a self-help approach, while still using anecdotes from his illustrious career to strengthen his points. Here are 10 facts you learn about Jericho over the four books.
10 His Father Was A Professional Hockey Player
A fact called out by Cody Rhodes in a recent AEW promo aimed at Jericho. In A Lion's Tale, Jericho writes about how his father, Ted Irvine, was an NHL hockey player for the New York Rangers.
Jericho notes that growing up, he went to charity events with his dad and was excited to meet any famous wrestlers that were going to be there. He recalls one time in particular where he was able to meet Jesse Ventura, and tell him he wanted to be a pro wrestler.
9 His First Ever Match Was Against Lance Storm
In A Lion's Tale, Jericho talks about the difficulty he had becoming a professional wrestler in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After he was rejected from a wrestling school for being too young, then again for being too small, Jericho eventually found his way to the "Hart Brothers' School of Wrestling."
He met and befriended Lance Storm on his first day, and the two were ready for a match after only a couple of months of training. Billed as "The Cowboy" Chris Jericho, he wrestled Storm at an independent show in Ponoka, Alberta, where they went to a ten-minute draw.
8 Fozzy Started Out As A Cover Band
In Undisputed, Jericho reveals that when he joined his rock band "Fozzy," they were a small cover band called "Fozzy Osbourne." He talks about how the band would play any venue, no matter how small, and recounts one time he wrestled a match in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden, only to perform for ten people at a dive bar later that night.
Jericho writes that after only performing for fun for a few years, the band decided to only go by "Fozzy," and to start writing original songs.
7 He Was Fined By The WWE For His Opponent Bleeding, TWICE
In both Undisputed, and Best In The World, Jericho talks a lot about his time in the WWE, and the trials and tribulations that came with it. One instance he notes in detail is a match he had with Batista right as WWE was making it's a shift to a PG rating. Batista wanted to add some extra drama to the match, and, unbeknownst to Jericho decided to cut himself so he would bleed.
Vince was furious and fined everyone involved in the match. Later on in his run, Jericho brings up a match he had with Ric Flair, where Flair did the same thing. Once again, Jericho was fined for something he had no part in.
6 Mick Foley Thought He Was Too Stiff In The Ring
All of Jericho's books at least mention Mick Foley, and the friendship that developed between the two. Foley even wrote the foreword for Undisputed. In the book, Jericho tells a story about how Foley was one of his earliest opponents after being signed to the WWF.
After the match, Foley told him that he hits pretty hard and that while he could take it, some of the guys in the back would be pretty unhappy. If the hardcore legend himself says that Jericho was hitting too hard, he must have been pretty stiff.
5 In His second Week, Jericho Pissed Off Most Of The WWE Locker Room
Another early WWE story from Undisputed explains why Jericho had one of the biggest debuts of all time, only to then linger in the mid-card for a few months. Apparently a lot of the guys in the thought Jericho's cocky persona went too far and disliked him. One moment in particular that Jericho notes, is that in his second-ever promo on television, he called The Undertaker boring.
This led to Jericho's own personal hero, Shawn Michaels, confronting him backstage, saying that he should reconsider before throwing out the names of his colleagues in a promo.
4 The Royal Rumble Return In 2013 Is His Favorite Career Moment
In Best in the World, Jericho mentions his multiple returns to the WWE from 2008 to 2013. He admits that some of his moments didn't get the reactions he wanted and that he felt stale at times, which makes it no surprise that his surprise return in the 2013 Royal Rumble would be his favorite moment.
Jericho came out, unannounced, in the number two spot, sporting a fancy new jacket, and getting one of the loudest WWE reactions in recent memory. Jericho says he worked extra hard to make sure his moment wouldn't be spoiled before the big night, and everything fell perfectly into place.
3 He Calls Himself "Drunkicho" Throughout
Much like Jericho's current AEW persona, he enjoys "a bit of the bubbly." Across all his books, but notably in Best in the World, Jericho acknowledges his drinking, and mentions a few different times when getting too drunk, or being hungover caused him trouble on tours.
After another bad run-in with Shawn Michaels, Jericho set out to discover a drink that wouldn't leave him hungover. He eventually nailed down his drink of choice, being Grey Goose Vodka, poured over ice. Jericho even gave it a name, the "yeah boy!"
2 He May Have Played A Part In Getting James Ellsworth A WWE Contract
In No is a Four-Letter Word, Jericho brings up ultimate underdog and fan-favorite James Ellsworth. Ellsworth appeared in WWE one time, for a short match where he was brutalized by Braun Strowman. Jericho says he saw Ellsworth backstage earlier in the evening and thought he just seemed like "some goofy looking guy," but after watching the match, he saw something more.
He reached out to Ellsworth days later and eventually invited him on his podcast. Ellsworth would go on to be offered a full-time contract with the WWE a few weeks later, partially due to Jericho's support of him.
1 He Believes Confidence Is The Key To Success
Jericho states in No is a Four-Letter Word that he thinks the biggest factor in his successful career is confidence in himself.
He mentions how he was told he was "too small" for his whole career, among other things people wanted to use to hold him back. He never believed a word of it. Jericho says that his motto has become to just always act like whatever place he is at, is "the" place to be. He says that believing himself to be the best in the world has been the thing that has helped him the most in constantly succeeding.