Chris Jericho On How Vince McMahon Reacted To His Kenny Omega Match, Has Words For Tetsuya Naito
Chris Jericho was recently a guest on Busted Open Radio to discuss his upcoming match with Kenny Omega at NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 12. During the conversation, Jericho had some words for Tetsuya Naito.
Naito will challenge IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada for his title after Jericho challenges Omega for his IWGP U.S. Championship. Naito took exception to Omega and Jericho calling the event a "double main event" and disputed that claim. Jericho responded by calling Naito a "stupid idiot" and pointing to the increased ticket sales and fan attention attracted by his match with Omega.
"It kind of shows how stupid he is because yes, it is a double main event and if he really believes the Tokyo Dome ticket sales are two-and-a-half times greater than they were last year at this same time, if he truly believes that's because of him and Okada, then he's a real stupid idiot, there's no doubt about it," Jericho said. "And if I went there and I said, 'Oh, for sure it's Omega vs. Jericho, it's Alpha vs. Omega, through the roof is the main event,' I'd be a stupid idiot, but I'm smart, I understand how the business works. You've got the two guys that are two of the greatest performers in the world, the match that nobody thought would happen, that's the main event. Then you've got the world title match of Okada vs. Naito, the two Japanese guys fighting over New Japan's most prestigious title, that's the main event. It is a double main event, that's why the tickets are selling so well, because it's a one-two punch."
.@IAmJericho tells @davidlagreca1 & @LarryDallasSXM that #njwk12 is a "double main-event," told Vince McMahon about the match six weeks before it was announced, Vince was "super excited about it." https://t.co/jzHit55HgF pic.twitter.com/kYxBMmaHLT
? SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) December 6, 2017
Jericho continued throwing barbs at Naito, saying it would be monetarily beneficial for him to admit Wrestle Kingdom 12 is, in fact, a double main event.
"For Naito to say that shows that he's an idiot, because if he was smart he would admit that it's a double main event and say how huge it is and put more money in his pocket," Jericho said. "But you know what? I'll save that money for me and he can go back to doing 'Tranquilito' or 'Despacito' or whatever the hell it is he's doing."
Jericho was asked if Vince McMahon was upset when he heard the news of his match with Omega, and Jericho revealed he told McMahon about the match six weeks prior to the announcement. He said he has a respectful and upfront relationship with McMahon, so he would have never not personally told him about his plan. He said McMahon was surprisingly excited about the match.
"I know he wasn't upset because I called him six weeks before and told him as soon as the deal was done," Jericho said. "I would never surprise him like that. I didn't ask him for his permission, but I didn't have to. I told him what was going on and to be quite frank with you guys, he was super excited about it... Obviously, his mission is to seek and destroy and kill every other company, but I think he secretly likes it when other companies do good, because it just makes it better for his company. And when Chris Jericho goes to New Japan, everyone knows I'm not a New Japan guy, I'm a WWE guy."
Busted Open with Dave Lagreca & co-hosts Bully Ray & Larry Dallas can be heard weekdays from 2p-4p Eastern Time only on SiriusXM Rush Channel 93 and is available any time on demand on the SiriusXM App.
Source: Busted Open Radio