I’ve found over the years that there are things that a lot of folks feel worthy of induction here at jolly ol’ WrestleCrap that I’ve never touched. In the old days, that was largely due to the fact that I couldn’t find footage (and y’all have no idea how many video stores I ransacked trying to find things). Now though I find it’s more due to differences of opinion, especially in the tribal era to which we are now all unfortunately shackled. And such is the case with today’s subject matter, Le Dinner Debonair featuring Chris Jericho and MJF. I remember watching this when it originally aired and thinking it was pretty funny. But after five years and seemingly ten thousand people telling me I need to induct it, I figured it was high time to give it a second look. Was it actually good or was it bonafide WrestleCrap? Let’s roll it back and find out.
It started out innocently enough with that no good son of a so and so Maxwell Jacob Friedman wanting to join up with the Inner Circle. For those of you not around during the early days of AEW, the Inner Circle was essentially the lead heel faction in the company, headed up by Chris Jericho and featuring the likes of Jake Hager, Sammy Guevera, and Proud and Powerful (Santana and Ortiz). And while it made all the sense in the world on paper for this to happen, it was a challenge for Max to actually come out and admit that he wanted to be part of the crew.
After Jericho confirmed what Max was asking for, Ortiz jumped in and made it very clear: they wanted no part of Max in their select group. I know Santana is now making waves in Impact, but what happened to Ortiz? That guy was awesome (especially when he had that crazy Pampo Firpo style hair)!
Finally it came time for Jericho himself to make the call…and he did by telling Max the only way they could really settle this is by having a STEAK DINNER. No really, that’s what the man said. I know it’s shocking (check out Sammy’s reaction!) but indeed this is how things were going to be decided. So yes, kids, we got a one week build to two guys having a meal together.
Introduced by a Jim Ross who could not have possibly sounded more bored, we caught up with Jericho and MJF at a fine dining establishment. And by “fine dining establishment” I obviously mean “backstage at the wrestling show they were already at.” Seriously, I bet I could slap together a better looking ‘restaurant’ with two hours and a $50 Walmart gift card.
After a brief bit of the bubbly (remember the time when Jericho was shilling champagne??), their waitress Thelma (or maybe Velma) comes to take their order. Max starts off by ordering a steak well done. I mean, I haven’t had a steak in like 15 years but even I know what a horrible idea that is. So Jericho notes he will have his medium well, to which Max counters with medium, Jericho back with medium rare, MJF dropping to rare, and then Jericho triple dog daring all the way to BLUE (extra rare). No joke, they spent nearly a minute just ordering their steak. I know you had to stretch things during the pandemic, but that seems a tad excessive.
With their waitress finally allowed to leave, Jericho tells MJF to cut the crap – why on earth should he let a scumbag like Max into the Inner Circle? MJF explains that they are the two biggest stars in the business, the Demo God and the Ratings Ruler. Even Jericho notes how much that name sucks, noting it has about as much chance as getting over as Orange Cassidy.
Which of course causes them to laugh uproariously. As dumb as this has all been, I will forever love two heel dorks in wrestling laughing at their own horrible jokes. And this moment causes them to realize they’re not so different and maybe they SHOULD work together. Not just in wrestling…
…but in SONG AND DANCE! Seriously, they prance around the table as they smile and sing as the curtain pulls back to reveal…
…well, I think it’s supposed to be a dance hall but looks more like a luxury suite or something. Still, we get dancing girls here to join the boys as they spin and frolic about as if they were on Broadway.
I’m not joking here – these guys are dancing and dancing. This isn’t some five second bit, it goes on for about three minutes straight. And here’s the thing – while the dancing is ridiculous, the singing isn’t that bad. At least when it’s Max. See, while Jericho is more known for being a rock star of sorts in Fozzy, as far as pure vocals go MJF absolutely smokes him here and it’s not particularly close.
While there are a few jokey lines thrown in (including one about how Cody is an ass), it’s mostly a straight number. Heck we even get a Rockettes style kick from the entire crew! Eventually the guys wind up back at the dinner table as the tune wraps up.
And just in time, as their steaks hit the table. I’d say that they sure cooked those steaks fast but they DID order them completely rare so that checks out. Also checking out would be Jericho and Max as they realize that a rare steak is in actuality disgusting. Whether it’s more disgusting than a well done steak is up for debate.
SPEAKING OF UP FOR DEBATE…I honestly am STILL not sure if what I just watched was actually induction worthy. I mean, these two acting like total buffoons who think they are actually cool is right in my wheel house. Then again, was this a great way to determine if two of the company’s biggest stars should actually join forces? Eh, probably not.
While prepping for this, I actually found a Jericho interview discussing this whole thing and it’s actually fairly interesting. Apparently, he and MJF had to do this in something of a scramble as the song they were going to use, “Me and My Shadow”, had a copyright snafu at the last minute. Therefore, they had to come up with something more or less on the fly so they could make it to air in time for Dynamite. Far more interesting is the fact that this was originally not going to be an old school musical, but instead a ‘dream sequence’ set to the Elton John song “Tiny Dancer.” Now THAT would have been WrestleCrap, no questions asked!!