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WWE News: Chris Jericho Dissects Asylum Match & Reveals What Surprised Him The Most About The ‘Extreme Rules’ Encounter

By Andy Slawecki
Published on: 03:33 PST, Jun 1, 2016

Reactions to the WWE’s first-ever Asylum Match at Extreme Rules were mixed at best. Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose were locked in what was essentially a steel cage, decorated with various weapons that could be used at their discretion. There was no escaping the asylum, either through the door or by climbing out. The only way to win was by pinfall or submission. In the end, it was Ambrose who scored the victory, his second straight pay-per-view win over Jericho. The Lunatic Fringe did it the old fashioned way three weeks prior at Payback.

Jericho and Ambrose were awarded the most time on the card, as the Asylum Match went over 26 minutes in total. Critics of the match mostly agreed that it went too long. Dave Meltzer noted in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the match “didn’t have much heat for a long time” and was “hurt following such a great” four-way. Kenny Herzog of Rolling Stone called the match a “prop-comedy disaster” that was “unsurprisingly, utterly inane.”

On Jericho’s latest Talk is Jericho podcast, Y2J actually seemed to agree with the criticism that the match seemed dead at the onset. But he eventually argued that they were able to tell a story in a sufficient amount of time, which is sometimes a rarity in today’s product when it isn’t the main event (Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription).

“We had kind of a dead crowd though because we had that amazing four-way match right in front of us, but you still got to work the match and we built it. We built it well. [It was] a great match in a different way from the four-way. The fans were going bonkers at the end and that’s what it’s all about. Sometimes, you’ve got a quiet crowd and you build it. It’s like ‘Stairway To Heaven’. It starts out slow and quiet and it ends up with a crashing guitar crescendo and that’s what you want, so a great weekend.”

The four-way that Meltzer and Jericho were alluding to was the fatal four way match for the Intercontinental Championship between The Miz, Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Ambrose and Jericho had the unenviable task of following that match, which was largely considered the best of the night, or at least a close second to the main event. What was especially surprising to both competitors in the match was Vince McMahon’s approval of all the weapons, including the tacks. It’s worth noting because of Vince’s rejection to Ambrose’s request to get more extreme with his match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

“We were really surprised, Ambrose and I, because we came up with the idea for the Ambrose Asylum. We were surprised that Vince allowed us to use the tacks! It hasn’t been done in 10 years. It [has] been that long between tack bumps. And when the finish came in and Ambrose is going over, I have to take the bump on the tacks. I have to. He can’t take the bump on the tacks and then go on and win. It just doesn’t make sense. I think we have to protect this crazy bump because, in my opinion, no one really knows what a bodyslam feels like or a suplex. But everyone knows what it’s like to get poked with a needle or get a thumbtack stuck in you. We’ve all had that happen, so people know when it happens, it hurts! And you can actually feel that and empathize with it, [or] relate to it, so I was like, ‘you know what, man? We have to use these tacks and make it like it’s a pit of fire, like it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to you is that you fall into these tacks and you’re done’.”

Jericho admitted that the tease to the tack spot was more nerve-wracking the actual bump itself, and that the three that ended up in his hand hurt worse than any of those in his back or arms. Chris revealed that that will be the last time he does a tack bump, and he wants to keep the WWE Universe guessing as it pertains to his time remaining in WWE.

“69 tacks pulled out of my body taking my one, and I’ll tell you this, only, tack bump. And worth every penny of it. Worth every moment. I’m really enjoying this run. Probably one of my favorites that I’ve had, probably since 2009, I’d say. So for everyone who still thinks that I’m going to be leaving next week, I’m not going to tell you how long I’m staying in the WWE, but as you see, I’m going to be in the Money In The Bank match, so there you go. I’m very excited to be here in the WWE and pulling tacks out of my ass. Doing it for you, so great time, great weekend.”

[Image via WWE]

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