Fandango was pleased to get an upset win at WrestleMania 29 in 2013, but was more focused on earning the respect of his opponent Chris Jericho.
On a recent edition of the “Wrestling with Johners” podcast, Fandango recalled working with Jericho and his worries going into the bout. He said,
“My biggest thing was I just wanted him to respect me and I just didn’t want to let him down because I looked up to him so much as a performer. Honestly, I was comfortable with the match prior, the most nervewracking aspect of that whole thing was remembering the dance routine for me, I just remember being really stressed out about that.
“I knew once we get in the ring, I’m in there with Chris and it’s not like it was a super difficult match, it was a little schmoz match — it was like six minutes. But the freaking dance routine had me really shook. I was like, ‘F***, man.’ I had been wrestling at that time for years so I was comfortable in the ring, but the dancing thing was two, three, four months new to me.”
In the years since, Jericho has had a negative outlook on the match and has even said he thought the idea for the match was a rib when it was first presented to him.
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Fandango’s Upset Win at WrestleMania 29 and His Focus on Earning Chris Jericho’s Respect
In the world of professional wrestling, WrestleMania is the grandest stage of them all. It is where dreams are made, legacies are cemented, and upsets can happen. One such upset occurred at WrestleMania 29 in 2013 when Fandango, a relatively unknown wrestler at the time, defeated the legendary Chris Jericho. However, for Fandango, the win was not the most important thing; it was earning the respect of his opponent.
Recently, Fandango appeared on the “Wrestling with Johners” podcast, where he reminisced about his match with Chris Jericho and the nerves he felt leading up to it. He expressed his desire to gain Jericho’s respect and not let him down. Fandango looked up to Jericho as a performer and wanted to prove himself in the ring.
Interestingly, Fandango revealed that the most nerve-wracking aspect of the match was not the wrestling itself but rather remembering the dance routine that was part of his character. Fandango’s gimmick involved a flamboyant dancer persona, and he had to incorporate dance moves into his matches. This added pressure made him feel stressed out, as dancing was a relatively new skill for him compared to his years of experience in wrestling.
Despite Fandango’s worries, the match itself was not overly difficult. It was a short six-minute affair with some comedic elements. However, the dancing routine had him on edge. This behind-the-scenes insight sheds light on the challenges wrestlers face beyond their in-ring abilities.
In the years following their match, Chris Jericho has been vocal about his negative outlook on the bout. He even stated that he initially thought the idea for the match was a practical joke when it was presented to him. Jericho’s perspective adds an interesting layer to the story, as it shows how different wrestlers can have contrasting experiences and opinions about the same match.
To get a glimpse of Jericho’s thoughts on the match, one can watch a video titled “Chris Jericho offers his pronunciations of Fandango: Raw, March 18, 2013.” In the video, Jericho playfully mocks Fandango’s character and name pronunciation, further highlighting the lighthearted nature of their feud.
Overall, Fandango’s upset win over Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29 was a significant moment in his career. It showcased his potential and allowed him to gain the respect he so desperately sought from his opponent. While the match may not have been highly regarded by Jericho, it remains a memorable moment in wrestling history.
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