DWTS' Chris Jericho Defends Costume: "More Mad Max Than the Gay Biker From the Village People"

Pro-wrestler explains the story behind is leather daddy-esque attire

Dear Chris Jericho,

The Village People called. They'd like their clothes back.

Call me crazy, but when I got a look at the pro-wrestler on last night's season premiere of Dancing With the Stars, I couldn't help but think of the iconic (and tres campy) disco-era singing group.

But no—Jericho insists he was inspired by Mel Gibson...

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Jericho says that after he and his pro-partner Cheryl Burke learned they would be dancing to The Clash classic "Should I Stay or Should I Go," he began thinking of an apocalyptic theme. "I started looking at Mel Gibson in Mad Max," he told me earlier today. "There's that famous picture of him walking down the highway and one of his sleeves is ripped off and one is gone. It was more Mad Max than the gay biker from the Village People."

Not that there's anything wrong with flamboyant costumes. "That's easy for me," Jericho said. "I've been wearing stuff like that for 20 years. So anything with more rhinestones and spandex and sparkles, I'm all for it."

And the show's signature fake tanning, too? Not so much. "I didn't do any spray tan last night," he said. "I just went regular tanning. I'm not really into the whole orangey glow of spray tanning. I'm going to see if I can avoid it for a bit."