WWE legend and AEW star Chris Jericho has outlined why he is a supporter of West Ham United.
The 51-year-old Canadian, who was one of the stars of global wrestling company World Wrestling Entertainment during their glory years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is now one of the biggest names in recently formed rival company All Elite Wrestling, owned by Tony Khan, son of Fulham owner Shahid Khan.
Despite never seeing a match in person, Jericho has revealed that he supports the Hammers due to Iron Maiden bass guitarist Steve Harris and his love for the east London club.
READ MORE: Three ways West Ham can line-up vs Nottingham Forest with Maxwel Cornet in two different roles
Seeing Harris don West Ham merchandise on stage led Jericho to becoming a supporter, explaining that being such a big fan of Iron Maiden led to his love of the Irons.
“The reason why I have always been attracted to West Ham is because of Steve Harris from Iron Maiden,” Jericho told the club’s YouTube channel, speaking in an interview with ex-Hammers striker Carlton Cole.
“Steve Harris always had either a West Ham sweatband on his wrist or, more importantly, he had a West Ham guitar strap. It was big, cushioned because he played the guitar for so long, but it was thick and it had West Ham on it.
“I was always like: ‘What is West Ham? What is this?’ I remember asking my dad and finally finding out that it’s an English soccer team, as we call it in the States. I was then like: ‘I love West Ham, West Ham is my favourite soccer team.’
“How are they playing this year? I don’t know. Have I seen any games? No. Why do I love West Ham? Because of Iron Maiden.”
While Jericho has said that he has never seen a game in person yet, he stated in the interview that he is planning on attending a first ever game later this year on his next visit to the United Kingdom, with his band Fozzy doing a tour of the UK at the start of November.
Fozzy are playing seven shows in Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Glasgow and London between Friday, November 4 and Monday, November 14 this year.
READ NEXT:
The Newcastle United template West Ham can emulate in Nottingham Forest fixture
Issa Diop adds insult to West Ham’s injury crisis as Gianluca Scamacca provides glimmer of hope
David Moyes explains Craig Dawson and Issa Diop's absences and provides Lukasz Fabianski update
Nottingham Forest to miss £10m former Bayern Munich man for West Ham clash
Every word David Moyes said on West Ham's Man City loss, Erling Haaland, Issa Diop and injuries
