Chris Jericho Discusses How His Match in NJPW Helped Prove the Product as a Viable Alternative Product

– The Wrestling Observer Radio recently interviewed former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho, who discussed his upcoming Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea set for October. Below are some highlights (transcript WrestlingInc.com).

Chris Jericho on his matches in NJPW helping to see the promotion be seen as a viable wrestling alternative: “Maybe it took a guy like Jericho to do this match and open up all these doors to where now it’s starting to go through the roof. And I think all of the pieces were in place for that, to where now you have New Japan as a viable secondary choice in the United States.”

Jericho on NJPW having a different vibe and style: “The thing that’s different about [New Japan] is that it’s a different style, it’s a different vibe to it. And that’s a how you can truly make it as a secondary choice and a secondary option behind the WWE. You don’t want to be WWE lite. We’ve seen that happen with old TNA and all these other promotions. They’re just trying to provide what WWE provides. New Japan provides something completely different, and that’s why it’s working. That’s why it has become, like I said, a secondary option if you’re a hardcore wrestling fan.”

Jericho on why he doens’t wear his light-up jacket in NJPW: “Even like when I did the Naito thing with the make-up and stuff. When I worked with Kenny [Omega], he’s such a crazy character, I thought like these shorts with sparkles and rhinestones on them, it doesn’t match this anymore. A light-up jacket, I don’t feel this anymore. And when I went to do the Naito match in Osaka, New Japan wanted me to wear the light-up jacket, and I was like, ‘I can’t. I don’t feel it anymore.’ And [they were] like, ‘we really want you to do it.’ I was like, ‘I’m sorry. It doesn’t feel right.’ And what felt right was having long, black pants and, you know, putting some makeup on and a frickin’ fedora. I don’t know why, it’s just what I felt like at the time.”