Chris Jericho Talks Success of Cruise, Fozzy and NJPW Run

Chris Jericho sat down with fantastic independent interviewer Alicia Atout and AMBY Interviews to discuss his hectic year with the recently concluded Jericho wrestling cruise, the success of his band Fozzy and touring with them as well as the shows he’s done with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 
Interestingly enough, Y2J said that his cruise took three years to set up, and that it went over really well. Here’s what he had to say:
“It was one of those things that no one really knew what to expect, I don’t think. Then, once it happened, it’s just like, ‘Wow, this was so much fun.’ And the reason for that was because it has never been done before, a lot of it. You know, I wanted to put together the cruise so that there was so many things to do that you couldn’t possibly handle them all. You couldn’t go to everything you wanted to see. And then, of course, the matches on the ship, in the middle of the ocean, that’s never been done before. So, I think it was something where people were like, ‘Aw, okay, sounds alright.’ Then after it they were like, ‘Oh, my gosh. This is going to be like a destination vacation for me for years to come.’ And that was always the plan, for it to be an annual occurrence.”

When asked if there will be another cruise, here’s what Jericho had to say: 
“We’re working on it. I think even the cruise company didn’t know what to expect. As it stands right now, we’re in deep discussions to do another one.”
Jericho was also asked if he was surprised about the success of Fozzy’s album, Judas, and wrestling fans being surprised by its success. Here’s what the G.O.A.T. had to say: 
“I don’t think it surprised me. It’s just we’ve kinda been waiting for this for awhile. We knew eventually it would happen for us, for us to have a breakout and go to the next level. It just so happened it was this album and “Judas” the song itself. It’s almost like it was the right song at the right place at the right time, in that when it come out, you know, right off the bat it did a million views on YouTube in one week.

In one week, to get that, 150,000 views a day, it just blew my mind. I think that there was a lot of people who had never listened to Fozzy before or given us a chance or a shot. I think I was really hot in WWE at the time when I left to go to Fozzy. I think people were like, ‘Okay, he’s leaving to go to Fozzy at this point and time, I’ll check it out.’ And they did. It was one of the best songs we’ve ever recorded. Then, all of a sudden, we have this career-making song. It really did completely change everything for the band.” 
In another key takeaway, Atout asked Jericho about his faces of Jericho shirt and if he has a favorite run in his career. Y2J mentioned a few different memorable runs, but said the main thing that he loved to keep evolving and that is why he is so in love with his current role with NJPW. Here is what he had to say:
“Some haven’t been as favorite as others. But I think the initial Y2J coming into [WWE] was great. The suit-and-tie Jericho/Shawn Michaels feud, the List Jericho and then the current Clockwork Orange, whatever people are calling it, Jericho just more evolving and, you know, constantly changing and keeping things different and fresh. That’s what I’m all about. I hate to say it, but if I go back to the WWE there won’t be a list. It doesn’t feel right anymore.

I mean to walk out there with a list and put somebody on it, that’s like so 2016. Which, it was huge. I think people want to see it, but I just can’t allow myself to not continue to be creative. That’s why I love working with New Japan. I love that character. I don’t really know how it started. There’s a definite lineage that I could tell you, step-by-step. I didn’t just show up and go, ‘Okay, I’m going to wear a hat and makeup on my face to be completely crazy.’ It was an evolve, and a change of doing this so over-the-top, brutal character, these brutal beatdowns of Kenny Omega and Naito, wearing a scarf and sparkly underwear didn’t seem to fit anymore.” 
To watch the full interview, you can check out the video below and you may want to subscribe to Atout’s YouTube channel because she does a lot of great interviews with different wrestlers all over the world. Here’s the video: