By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Chris Jericho returned to WWE just over a year ago on November 19, 2007. After spending his adult life in wrestling until the summer of 2005, he says he had to get away when the time was right.

"You have to know when it's your time and be ready for it. Otherwise, you'll fail," Jericho told the Knoxville News Sentinel. "I knew when it was time to go back that I'd be mentally prepared and better than ever. That plays a lot into it."

Early in his wrestling career wrestling for Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling in Tennessee, Chris Jericho survived the long days in between wrestling by hanging out at 24/7 Walmart in Morristown, Tenn.

Jericho also spent plenty of time at Sizzler at the local movie theater, he says. Not exactly glamorous, but Jericho says it kept him sane when his only job was being a pro wrestler.

"It was weird because I was 22 years old, and I was living in a dry county," he said. "There were no bars, nothing going on."

Link: Jericho interview.

Caldwell's Analysis: Good perspective from Jericho on knowing when it was time to walk away for a break, then be prepared to return with a new outlook. Wrestlers often times hold on and hold on, looking at the short-term, but Jericho figured he could have more success in the long-term if he took a break, then came back refreshed for a second run.

RELATED STORY at PWTorch.com: Jericho interview on playing heel in Canada.

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