Chris Jericho is arguably the G.O.A.T. of pro wrestling. There are only a handful of stars in wrestling who are as loved as he is, despite spending most of his career being the bad guy. The current AEW and former WWE star is a treasure trove of incredible stories during his time in multiple promotions. One such story is about his scorecard with former boss Vince McMahon.

Jericho debuted in the WWE in 1999 and soon became a fan favorite thanks to his mic skills. During the Attitude Era, he gained prominence for being a great wrestler and an incredible heel. However, he was never able to tie the score with Mr. McMahon.

Chris Jericho recounts Vince McMahon going to the gym at 4 AM

Chris Jericho is a pro wrestling veteran, as he’s been in the industry since 1991. Over the years, he has wrestled for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Wrestling and Romance/WAR, ECW, WCW, and finally the WWE. Despite numerous victories over hundreds of wrestlers, he’s still 0-1 with Vince McMahon. 

On the September 2023 episode of the Busted Open podcast, Jericho sat down with hosts Dave LaGreca and Bully Ray. Jericho recounted a story from back in the day that showcased how much of a gym lover Vince McMahon was. For casual wrestling fans, Mr. McMahon loves bodybuilding and has devoted vigorous commitment to the craft.

Jericho started off the story by setting the scene. Mr. McMahon and Jericho were on a flight after taping an episode of Tough Enough. Jericho hosted the show and got a ride back with his boss from Orlando to White Plains. “We landed at 4 AM and he goes, ‘Let’s go to the gym,” Jericho recollected McMahon telling him this. This was a weird request for Jericho, and he told McMahon that he had a press meeting at 7 a.m. To this, McMahon replied, “Well, I’ve got to be at the office at 6:30, let’s go to the gym.”

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Not taking McMahon too seriously, Jericho headed to his hotel. However, according to Jericho, it took only two and a half hours before he woke up to a surprising message on his phone. “I’ve got a message on my phone and a picture of Vince in the gym, and he wrote, ‘Vince 1 – 0 Jericho,” Jericho said. This showcased McMahon’s commitment to working out and achieving his bodybuilding goals. 

Despite fueling an ardent passion for bodybuilding, it didn’t always result in positive gains for the 78-year-old.

Vince McMahon’s love for bodybuilding yielded negative consequences

Listening to Jericho’s story, you get an idea of what kind of fitness freak Mr. McMahon was back in the day. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Even today, he maintains his physique and loves to lift weights. The Undertaker, who is considered one of McMahon’s closest friends, explained on the Joe Rogan podcast back in 2021 how much McMahon loved to stay in shape. Even at 70+ in age, McMahon’s physique shocked Rogan. “His love is working out. He is phenomenal, man,” Taker said regarding McMahon.

Despite his love for staying in shape, McMahon’s love for weightlifting was not kind to his body. In July 2023, he underwent a spinal operation, which put him on indefinite leave from the WWE. According to Dave Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the surgery resulted from McMahon’s heavy lifting over the years. Close friends have cited McMahon’s love for squatting longer than recommended, which takes a toll on the hip and back. Despite the surgery, McMahon still lifts to the best of his ability.

What do you make of Jericho’s fascinating story? Let us know in the comments section below.

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