Jericho was – and is – a fantastic worker. Great on the mic. and in the ring. He was a full time pro wrestler for a long time, and working on WCW’s, and even more so, the WWF’s schedule, is no easy task.
Lots of top dogs take/have taken time off to either pursue other interests, or just plain relax – Taker, HBK, Hogan, Piper, Rock, Austin, etc., and they all still get problems that catch up with them eventually.
It’s not an easy life.
I knew two indy guys who turned down tryouts with WWE simply because they wanted no parts of that scene because they understand what it’s like.
Probably a little harsh to say Y2J has no heart for the business. I doubt he would have developed that kind of skill and stuck around for as long as he has if he didn’t – especially when he was working for peanuts in SMW, ECW, and even smaller venues.
I can’t blame anyone for trying to pursue outside interests, particularly later in their lives (Jericho’s no spring chicken).
He tried and didn’t get the results he was hoping for, so he came back.
Who knows? He may have set some kind of deadline for himself where, if he didn’t make it in Hollywood or whatever, he would return to the ring.
Many careers in wrestling are short. Jericho’s time will eventually run out regardless of how much of his heart is in it.
Every man has the right to look to and plan for his future.
Life is business.
