Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho review (DVD) ★★★★

It's been a heck of a long time coming, but the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla finally has his own DVD. Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho is a candid and in-depth look at the 20-year career of one of professional wrestling's brightest stars. It's quite amazing to think that John Morrison got his own DVD released before Y2J, but at least the wait is over at last. Now, is it the best in the world at showing what Jericho has done?

I don't know about that, but it's an excellent set. The over 100-minute main feature chronicles Jericho's life from his youth all the way up to this year's 26th annual WrestleMania, where he successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Edge. Y2J fondly remembers growing up in Canada and dreaming of becoming both a professional wrestler and rockstar. Life ambitions that he was determined to achieve, but never could he have expected to eventually be doing both, let alone winning World Titles at the top of the WWE, writing a New York Times best-seller, DJing on XFM radio, and riff-licking with international success. Jericho is a man who has accomplished exactly what he set out to do. But would all these non-wrestling dreams have come true if it wasn't for his WWE stardom? That is doubtful.

Not only does this DVD take a look behind the walls of Chris Jericho's life and career, it sets you on a journey from the very foundations of those walls to their highest, strongest and most inspiring structure. Having built a legacy over two decades that ensures those walls will never crumble like the countless opponents who he has defeated over the years, this release makes an excellent visual companion to his wonderful book and acts as a bridge adorned with championship gold to the next chapter of Y2J, because I'm sure that we have so much more to look forward to from this future hall of fame great.

The second and third discs feature 19 complete matches, and boy are there some spectacular wrestling classics included. Disc two includes:

SmackDown – Undisputed Championship No Disqualification Match: vs. Hulk Hogan
WrestleMania XIX: vs. Shawn Michaels
RAW – WWE Championship You're Fired Match: vs. John Cena
RAW – Intercontinental Championship: vs. Jeff Hardy
No Mercy 2008 – World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match: vs. Shawn Michaels
Extreme Rules 2009 – Intercontinental Championship No Holds Barred Match: vs. Rey Mysterio
SmackDown: vs. The Undertaker
WrestleMania XXVI – World Heavyweight Championship: vs. Edge

EXTRAS ??? Deleted scenes include: A Young Fanatic: Chris Jericho reminisces about his time as a young fan before entering the business; Jack Action: Y2J discusses the origins of his ring name and his very first match; Leon de Oro: an amusing story about Jericho's time competing in Mexico; The Thrill Seekers Vignette #1; The Thrill Seekers Vignette #2; Have You Heard of Chris Jericho?: Christian tells a road story involving Jericho and the fame he achieved even before WCW and WWE; Paul Heyman's Roommate: Chris looks back at his first communication with the ECW owner; and Mister Salty: Joey Styles remembers the humourous branding he gave to one of Jericho's submission holds in ECW.

The extras also feature the following classic Jericho moments and promos: The Man of 1,004 Holds – Nitro, 30th March, 1998;  Conspiracy Victim – Nitro, 1st June, 1998; Father Knows Best – Thunder, 11th June, 1998; “Hello, Lexington!” - Thunder, 10th September, 1998; Do You Smell What Y2J is Cookin'? - RAW, 30th October, 2000; Sharing a Beer with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – Post-RAW, 25th August, 2003; Chris Jericho vs. The Old Man – Post-SmackDown, 17th November, 2009; Jericho's Junction; the Fozzy music video for Let the Madness Begin; and alternate commentaries with Y2J and Matt Striker on three select matches.