Vampiro [Highspots Shoot Interview]

The Good
Billy Jack Haynes, Jamie Dundee, Iron Sheik - what do all these people have in common? Despite the fact they had pretty successful careers despite screwing things up several times over, they have become known as some of the most entertaining shoot interviews because they may, in fact, be insane. Vampiro could easily fit in with that group. I've heard him do some interviews where he seemed a little goofy, but this one with Highspots is over-the-top. He is a walking contradiction. He both rambles and hits the points he wanted to make, he comes across as both bitter and satisfied with his career, he is both self-deprecating and self-promoting, he both buries and puts people over again and again, he states his goal is to both "just have fun" and be deadly serious about his craft and then he hates on workers and fans who take it too seriously. This interview is so impossibly strange that it must be seen or heard to be believed. There is some good stuff about his days in Mexico that if you can decipher them are worth catching.

The Bad
Vampiro is insane and it's hard to overly enjoy listening to a crazy person. This is train-wreck like material as his endless contradictions seems to totally undermine his credibility and sanity. I know there is always the issue with shoot interviews being done when talent is tired and sometimes under the influence, but this is beyond that. Vampiro is all over the place and part of him seems to understand that fact as he repeatedly questions the quality of this shoot interview. People might have a variety of interests when listening to this, but I can assure you that none of your questions or curiosities will be answered.

The Rating: ***1/4

A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex

Author: Chris Jericho, Peter Thomas Fornatale
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: 10/07 


The Good
When it was revealed that Chris Jericho was releasing an autobiography at the age of 36, it seemed strange. Although he had so far had an impressive career, Jericho had never reached that top echelon that everyone thought he would when he jumped to the WWF in 1999. This book attempted to be not a memoir of a storied career, but rather a “dreams come true” story. In that sense, it fulfilled its goal. Jericho had many obstacles to overcome throughout his career and when made his highly touted debut in the WWF, his dream came true and that’s where this book ends. So, if you’re a WWF/WWE fan, you’re going to have to wait. This book talks about his world travels and does so in the most humorous and entertaining manner that a pro-wrestling autobiography has ever done. Jericho did not intend this to be solely for pro-wrestling fans and certainly not WWF/WWE fans, but it certainly helps the enjoyment if you are the former. He breaks it up into several parts: his childhood and years on the Canadian indies, Mexico, Germany, Smoky Mountain, Japan, ECW and WCW. This comprehensive career being captured makes this a great resource. And if you know people like Dr. Luther, Drew McDonald, El Dandy and Bruiser Bedlam, this book has a different level of enjoyment. Personally, this was very enjoyable. I grew up listening to the same music, loving hockey and, of course, marking out for all things pro-wrestling, so Jericho’s references to these in jokes made this a classic for me. This was a fast and addictive read that was well composed, well edited and well organized. This is inarguably a new must-have for pro-wrestling fans.


The Bad
Jericho’s decisions to omit his WWF/WWE run, leave in kind words and photos with Chris Benoit and seek out a non-WWE publisher could all be strikes against this. Ending at August 1999, leaves this open for a follow-up that could be published by the WWE, but the issue of his partnership/rivalry with Chris Benoit is a huge stumbling block to overcome if he decides to write that book. The jokes and references may not harm this, but it certainly caters to a small crowd. Although he has stated this is not just for pro-wrestling fans, it does not seem like a book that non-fans would necessarily enjoy. Perhaps, but this is definitely not as non-fan-friendly as other books. As with any autobiography, Chris Jericho could be knocked for having a big ego or being bitter about some things, but in comparison to some of his peers, he seems like Mr. Positive. Other than those few relatively mild knocks, this book is hard to fault.


The Rating: *****