The world of muscle heads has produced another gift to the world of literature. “A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex” by WWE superstar Chris Jericho (real name Chris Irvine), released in October, is easily the most entertaining, fascinating and inspiring pro wrestling autobiography since Mick Foley’s (a.k.a. Mankind) 1999 “Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks.”
Jericho, known by nicknames such as Y2J, the Lion Heart and the Ayatollah of Rock ‘N’ Rollah, tells of his journey from Winnipeg, Canada, to his arrival in the WWE. Having wrestled in Japan, Germany and Mexico before finally finding success in the United States, Jericho was able to master his craft and overcome the fact that he was much smaller than the prototype professional wrestler. Throughout the book, he remains humble for the chances he receives and the friends he makes, endearing himself so fully to readers that only the most cold-hearted could resist rooting for him on his quest to fulfill his dream of wrestling in the WWE.
Though featuring a co-author, Peter Thomas Fornatale, the book is clearly told in Jericho’s voice, which is apparent to anyone who has seen him perform on TV. There’s a hint of smugness in everything he says, but only enough to be amusing rather than annoying. He looks to slide in jokes and jabs during his prose, referencing stories he told earlier and favorite movies of his, which rewards the reader for paying attention throughout the book. His retellings of his greatest feuds are undeniably funny, such as when he read his list of 1,004 holds on WCW TV (“Hold one … arm drag! Hold two … arm bar! Hold three … the moss-covered three-handled family gredunzle! Hold four… arm bar! Hold five … the Saskatchewan spinning-nerve hold! Hold six … arm bar!”). The stories behind his ideas for matches and interviews are as interesting as they are amusing.
But the appeal of this book goes further than just literate professional wrestling fans (yes, there are some). Jericho goes beyond just recalling amusing anecdotes and how hard it is to be a pro wrestler; he shares his thoughts on the friends who have died over the years, revealing a glimpse of the pain Jericho has been able to overcome in his life. The human side of Jericho – not just the cocky, brash and funny side seen on TV – is what really will pull in readers.
When he hits rough patches in his life in the book, Jericho tells the readers why he is working so hard, the reason being his mother. After a car accident left her paralyzed, Jericho became determined to succeed so his mother could live vicariously through him. His recounting of the last time he saw his mother before she died is heartbreaking, serving as a reminder to him thereafter to not live with regrets and to appreciate what he has as often as he can. That’s a type of moral you can’t find in most books period, let alone ones about pro wrestling.
While his book hasn’t been the instant smash hit Foley’s book was – that can largely be blamed on pro wrestling’s downturn in popularity and quality in recent years – Jericho’s story should not be dismissed as such unnecessary autobiographies as “Edge” Adam Copeland’s or Dave Batista’s books. “A Lion’s Tale” is at once humorous, heartbreaking and uplifting, and unlike the punches he throws on TV, the thoughts and feelings Jericho shares always feel genuine.
