Chris Jericho, renowned wrestler and host of the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, recently revealed an interesting tidbit about his “Chris Jericho Cruise” events during a recent episode. Jericho had initially approached WWE’s Triple H with a unique proposal to bring NXT talent on board for his cruise, but was met with rejection in “classic fashion.”
In the podcast, Jericho explained his thought process behind reaching out to NXT talent, stating, “I’m not a promoter. I don’t know where to pull guys from Indies. If I can work with a company and then they can send whoever they want. I don’t have to worry about that part of it. They can book the matches. They can have whatever they wanna do.” Jericho had hoped that partnering with NXT would not only ease his responsibilities as a promoter but also provide the talent with exposure through his cruise.
However, WWE’s response was unexpected. Jericho shared, “So, I talked with NXT for a while and then in classic WWF fashion, they finally called me in a group call with about seven people on it, and [took] 45 minutes to tell me that they weren’t interested.” Jericho was taken aback by the lengthy call just to hear a rejection, stating, “I was like, you could have just said ‘Hey guys, we’re not interested. Bye.’ 45 minutes.”
The reason for WWE’s refusal was revealed to be Vince McMahon’s dislike for cruises. Jericho explained, “Vince [McMahon] doesn’t like cruises. Because he had just seen the news, where I guess there was a cruise where a bunch of people got food poisoning.” Jericho tried to assure WWE that his cruise would be safe, stating, “It’s not gonna happen on this cruise. I guarantee that.” But McMahon’s concerns about potential problems with the ship, including hitting an iceberg, left Jericho baffled.
Undeterred by the rejection, Jericho quickly turned to other options. He contacted Cody Rhodes, a fellow wrestler and promoter, who connected him with Ring of Honor (ROH). Jericho revealed, “As soon as that 45-minute waste of time call was done, I picked up the phone and called Cody who connected me with Hunter Delirious who connected me with Joe Koff of Ring of Honor. We had the Ring of Honor deal done in about 10 minutes. That quick.”
Jericho’s experience with WWE may not have gone as planned, but it didn’t hinder his determination to make his “Chris Jericho Cruise” a success. The cruise, which combines wrestling and music, has gained popularity among fans and is known for its unique and exciting atmosphere. As Jericho continues to innovate and push boundaries in the wrestling industry, fans can expect more surprises from the legendary wrestler in the future.
In conclusion, despite WWE’s rejection, Chris Jericho’s “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea” cruise continues to thrive with Ring of Honor as its partner. Jericho’s perseverance and ability to quickly adapt to unexpected situations showcase his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to providing fans with unparalleled experiences. As he continues to prove himself as a trailblazer in the wrestling world, fans eagerly anticipate what Jericho has in store next.
