Confining a conversation with World Wrestling Entertainment's Chris Jericho into 10 minutes is as daunting as escaping the current World Heavyweight Champion's Walls of Jericho or avoiding his Codebreaker.

While the Jerichoholics of the universe know that Jericho defends his title against Edge on Sunday at Wrestlemania XXVI on pay-per-view from Glendale, Ariz., here is what may not be common knowledge:

• The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was born Chris Irvine in Manhasset, N.Y., and is the son of a former National Hockey League player
• Fozzy, the metal band with which Jericho sings, got its start in San Antonio and released its fourth album (second of all-original material) Chasing The Grail on Jan. 26.
• Jericho is up for a Revolver Magazine Golden Gods Award on April 8 for "Most Metal Athlete." He is nominated against the likes of Riot Entertainment label bandmates Free Reign, the band featuring three Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen that will open the 99.5-FM KISS Fest on April 30 at Sunken Garden Theater
• Jericho graces the cover of the March issue of "Men's Fitness," accompanied by the words, "You do what you have to do to keep in shape"
• He has a degree in journalism and is in the midst of writing a new book
• He no longer hosts "Rock is Jericho" on XM Satellite Radio because, well, keep reading

Jericho, 39, will appear today on George Lopez's "Lopez Tonight" at 10 p.m. on TBS. But first, the always entertaining Y2J, Ayatolla of Rock N' Rolla and WWE's first-ever Undisputed Champion chatted by phone. Fortunately, I made it through without being called an ass clown:

Q: You and Edge have had numerous matches as tag-team partners and adversaries over the years. What can fans expect at Wrestlemania?
A: Actually, we haven't had numerous matches (against each other). I don't think I've worked against him in six years or so, and that's one of the reasons this match is so appealing. It's two guys with similar styles and reputations. I think it'll be one of the most anticipated matches on the show.

Q: What does your pre-match routine consist of at Wrestlemania? Do you ever get nervous?
A: Ah, I get nervous for every match to a certain extent. But if you have a great match at Wrestlemania, it's magnified by 100. There's always jitters.

Q: Your favorite Wrestlemania match and why?
A: (San Antonio's) Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle. We stole the show that year. There's only been 25 matches in history that have been voted the greatest in Wrestlemania history, and that was the one that year.

Q: How far in advance do you find out whether you'll win, and how hard is it to gear up for a match when it's been pre-determined that you'll lose?
A: Well, if I told you that, I'd be telling you the tricks of the trade, and it wouldn't be as much fun.

Q: Toughest opponent you've ever faced and why?
A: There are some guys in Mexico that are terrible. It's hard to have matches against guys that sucked. But as far as the best guys I've been in the ring with, guys like Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio. The Rock was great to work with, too.

Q: Your father (Ted Irvine) was an NHL player for the Rangers. Being born in New York, raised in Winnipeg and having dual citizenship, what drew you to wrestling instead of hockey?
A: Yeah, he played for the Rangers, Kings and Blues. But I just love the combination of the athleticism and charisma. I've been a big fan of movies and music and characters, and when you combine that with the athleticism that goes with wrestling, it appealed to me.

Q: Do you get more satisfaction out of your character being a heel?
A: Um, well, I just enjoy when the people get into what I'm doing whether it's as a good or bad guy. Now, having said that, it's easier to have people hate you. But even in movies, guys like Darth Vader or Freddy Krueger eventually become good guys in the way they're viewed by the public because they're entertaining and more fun to watch.

Q: Is becoming the first undisputed champion, on a night when you beat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock, the highlight of your career?
A: Wrestlemania XIX and that match against Shawn Michaels was probably the highlight. But also a big moment to me was the match I had against Shawn Michaels at No Mercy either in 2007 or 2008 because it wasn't supposed to happen. Shawn and I were supposed to work only one month, and it ended up being seven or eight months, and we had this great storyline.

Q: Moving on to Fozzy, how happy are you with Chasing The Grail?
A: It's definitely the best of our career. I know every band says that about their new record. It's a masterpiece to say the least, and it'll be received better than anything we've done. We've put together the right team to promote it, and most importantly of all, they're just good Rock N' Roll songs.

Q: Can you elaborate on how Fozzy was formed here in San Antonio?
A: Not really formed. I just met guitarist Rich Ward, who was doing some WCW work. We met backstage at a WCW show when they were doing music for WCW. San Antonio is definitely where it all got started, though.

Q: Any plans to come here with this tour?
A: We'd love to. It's a great town, great Rock N' Roll town. We're doing as much as we can. We've never been to San Antonio (as a band).

Q: Do you still host "Rock of Jericho" on XM Radio?
A: I stopped doing it two years ago. I got fired for insulting Oprah. I didn't really insult her, I just said that my show was better than hers. And they were like, "Oh my God, you can't insult Oprah. She's the Holy Grail." Come on, man, who cares? It's a heavy metal show.

Q: It seems like you channeled your inner Dream Theater with the 14-minute song "Wormwood" on Chasing The Grail. Can you talk about having guested on the Dream Theater song "Repentance?"
A: Mike Portnoy, the Dream Theater drummer, and I have been really good friends for a long time. He just wanted to get a bunch of guys confessing their sins. Being a big fan of Dream Theater and doing an epic was cool. I wanted to impress the great Mike Portnoy.

Q: On "That Metal Show," you said Bruce Dickinson was the greatest singer ever. So that begs the question -- would you get on a plane piloted by him?
A: Hell yeah. It would be the only way I could get into the cockpit and get those little wings that 5-year-olds get. Most flights, you don't want to hear the captain talking. Just shut up and fly the plane. With Bruce, I'd want a running commentary of the whole flight.
Maybe he could bust out "The Trooper."
(Impersonating an English accent): "And here we go, flying over London . . . "

Q: Do you have a Jeritron 5,000 in your home?
A: No, I have a Jeritron 10,000 that encompasses my entire back wall at my Palacio mansion.

Q: Did you ever take Ralphus into consideration for Fozzy's mascot? Whatever happened to Ralphus?
A: You know, more people ask me about that guy than you would believe. There's never been a guy that was brought on as a joke that made it that big. I don't really know what happened to him. Probably serving fries at a truck stop in Poughkeepsie.

Explain your quote on the cover of March's "Men's Fitness."
A: That was in reference to me training in a barn when I was 21 years old. Using wooden beams and all that, but yeah, you gotta make time when you're on the road a lot and make sure you get the training in. Lift bales of hay, do whatever it takes.

Q: Where did you get your journalism degree from, and do you plan on becoming the next Jim Ross or Eddie Trunk when your careers are over?
A: Red River College in Winnipeg. I already was the next Eddie Trunk on XM Radio and better than him (laughs). I don't know about commentating though.