C. Rodgers- The Undertaker is THE man without question, and the fact that he wrestles on a network television show, Smackdown, doesn’t make Taker’s status any less. I personally believe that Monday Night Raw is the WWE’s flagship program, not because I am on it for goodness sakes, but because of its tenure on the air and the fact that more PPV’s are successfully promoted off of cable than off of network TV. With all that said, The Undertaker being one of the cornerstones of Friday Night Smackdown is a good thing for their brand and WWE in general. You indicated you enjoy Smackdown better than Raw, so what’s your issue? I too enjoy Smackdown a great deal, as they usually feature more actual in ring wrestling than Monday Night Raw.
Joseph- If I had an opportunity to step in the ring for 5 minutes with anyone I have crossed paths with over my career it would most likely be Stone Cold and we would have a few cold ones together. Or Trish Stratus if it were a “closed workout”… (: Nonetheless, no violence, thank you very much.
Matt- The ECW brand is not going up in flames. Sci Fi has renewed the TV contract of the show and if one studies closely the ratings that ECW delivers to Sci Fi based on the other Sci Fi shows, one can see that ECW is an evolving asset to the cable network. When some of the ECW talents “get hot,” which will happen in time, then the Tuesday night show will indeed be considered much more “must see TV” than perhaps some perceive it to be now.
ACE- I assume the WWE will return to Japan at some point in time, as Japan has always been a great host for WWE events. The WWE’s international growth is fascinating and will continue to grow as their TV’s in international territories matures and builds audiences. To my knowledge, the WWE has no affiliation with any Japanese wrestling office. (more…)
Greetings from under the 200X, black, Resistol hat from your resident barbecue lovin’ Sooner who always enjoys traveling to our nation’s capital as will occur this weekend when WWE presents Cyber Sunday in Washington, D.C.
My selection for Raw Superstar of the Week is the lovely, hard-working and lucky Candice Michelle. Candice is luckier than Rick Solomon (who allegedly married Pam Anderson recently in Las Vegas) that she didn’t sustain a devastating, life-changing injury Monday night. She fell while standing on the top turnbuckle and landed dangerously on her head and shoulder. The beautiful young woman originally from Milwaukee must have drank her milk and ate plenty of cheese as a young lass because she was strong enough to endure the fall without breaking her neck. The Good Lord works in mysterious ways. Hey, He gave Britney Spears children, didn’t He? Thank goodness Candice is only going to be out of action 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone as this ordeal could have been a horrific tragedy.
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After traveling and visiting such illustrious airports the past 7 days or so including Oklahoma City, Chicago O’Hare, Manchester, England, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, and Memphis it is good to be back in Norman, Oklahoma….the original home of J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q.
Last week started with 23 robust hours in the UK which saw the King and yours truly spend more time traveling to get to the Birmingham Raw than the total time we spent in the UK. A helluva trip to say the least but that’s just the way it is when one attempts to balance OU Football and international travel all in the same weekend. Thank goodness I have no issues “napping” on an airplane.
Last Friday morning started at 4 a.m. with me heading to the OKC Airport for a flight to DFW connecting to another flight to LAX for a THQ video game appearance, which was a great time…..while it lasted, which was 2 whole hours and then it was back to LAX. That flight on Friday afternoon took me to Minneapolis and on to Des Moines, where I stayed Friday night and traveled to Ames, Iowa for the OU-Iowa State college football game on Saturday. Luckily for me, one of my friends took his plane to Ames and gave me a ride back to Oklahoma after the game which was a real blessing.
Then, Monday morning I was up at 4 again and off to DFW from OKC and then back north to Omaha for Monday’s final Raw, prior to this Sunday’s PPV, Cyber Sunday. Another 4 a.m. wake up call had me on a 6:30 a.m. flight out of Omaha Tuesday morning thru Memphis to OKC. Glamorous life, eh? (more…)
I was asked what place “3rd Party Wrestling Journalists” have in the biz and my answer is that they have a right to earn a living the same as any one else. They are not doing anything illegal or immoral and I am sure at times on certain subjects, keep the fans updated in more detail on the general state of the business than individual, company owned sites do. My issue, if one wants to call it an issue, is that many sites report things as fact, when in actuality, they are reporting rumors. I have been the “victim” of rumors reported as fact on numerous occasions, especially when I was head of the WWE Talent Relations Department. Nonetheless, just as virtually any other site one can name covering any genre, there will be times when things one reads proves to be false, but that’s not a revelation.
Anthony- Sounds like you have a “thing” for Trish…nothing wrong with that mind you. Michelle McCool reminds me of Trish in that Michelle is highly intelligent, like Trish, is naturally athletic, like Trish, and has a strong, competitive desire to improve her in-ring skills, just as Trish did when she was in the WWE. That’s why Michelle McCool reminds me of Trish Stratus, whether it “irks you” or not.
Chris- Will Jeff Hardy ever win the “big one?” Can’t say for sure, but never in The Rainbow Haired Warrior’s career has his chances of winning “the big one” been better. His star is shining brighter than ever.
Darren- I agree that Harry Smith looked good in his non televised match Monday night in Birmingham. I have no idea when he will debut on TV, but Harry is definitely a “keeper.” One would have to assume that Harry’s father, The British Bulldog Davyboy Smith, certainly has the credentials to be honored in the WWE HOF some day.
Randy- Thanks for ordering the autographed shirt and the bags of Beef Jerky and I am pleased that you are happy with your purchase. That’s always the bottom line with us….happy customers. I do have a Sooner ringtone on my cell phone. No surprise there, huh? (more…)
Greetings from under the black, 200X Resistol hat from your resident barbecue-lovin’ Okie who enjoyed my 24 hours in the United Kingdom for Monday Night Raw as we continue to count down the days until Cyber Sunday on pay-per-view.
Jerry “The King” Lawler and I will be out in L.A. this Friday for the big electronic show in town representing THQ who has developed the awesome WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 Nintendo game. I had more fun working on this video game project than any other I can recall, and I am sure all you “gamers” will love playing this game. The storyline elements are unique and offer many options for you to enjoy. This video game is a must-have for sure.
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After beating a feisty and talented Mizzou team last Saturday night in a bowling shoe ugly game, the Oklahoma travels north this weekend to take on the seemingly benign Iowa State Cyclones, and let’s hope the Sooners pack differently than they did for their road trip to Boulder a few weeks ago when, as heavy favorites, OU left their focus in Norman.
Oklahoma is in a simple, albeit it challenging, situation in as much as they must run the table to have any chance of playing for the National Championship. That’s it…win ‘em all or any chance to play for the Sooners’ 8th National Title can wait until the 2008 season. I prefer not to wait.
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What busy times we are in the midst of these days. First there was the OU-Mizzou game in Norman on Saturday evening and then a noon flight to Chicago from OKC Sunday that connected to a late afternoon flight to Manchester arriving there at approximately 9 a.m. on Monday morning. Then it was close to a 2 hour car ride down to Birmingham to get ready to broadcast Monday Night Raw. After a quick breakfast and a siesta it was on to the arena and on the air for Raw in front of an enthusiastic and lively crowd in Birmingham. As soon as the show was over, it was back in a car and back to Manchester for a very short night of sleep and on to the airport for a morning flight to Chicago connecting to OKC putting me back in Norman around 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. Whew.
This week will somewhat resemble last week’s schedule as I fly Today from OKC to Los Angeles for an appearance at the electronic show in L.A. for THQ which is this afternoon. After that two hour appearance, I am on a plane from LAX to Omaha where I will base out of as I attend the OU-Iowa State college football game on Saturday in Ames and then back to Omaha to layover for the Monday Night Raw in Omaha a couple of days later.
No worries here, as I am doing things I love to do and the travel, albeit challenging, isn’t like driving from New Orleans to OKC to referee an entire card alone and make a whopping $40, like I did back in the day. That also included me driving 2 or 3 snoring wrestlers the entire trip and then usually getting my rear chewed out by the Big Cowboy for something I did. That’s when I learned how much of a sycophant-like business I was in, as many individuals love to throw people under the bus for a variety of lame-ass reasons, including feathering one’s own nest and for the sheer sake of creating chaos. Indeed, only the strong survived back in the wild west days of the business. (more…)
…and the feedback just keeps on Smokin’ just like the ribs and brisket at J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q!
Mason- I don’t have the info on autograph signings at live events domestically or abroad, but if you check out www.wwe.com or with the arena they can probably provide you better info. Even though Cena will not be wrestling in Australia in November I am sure you will still enjoy the live event.
James- I have had the opportunity to call so many matches that I really enjoyed, so I can’t name one that stands out as “the best” but the ‘89 Flair-Funk “I Quit” bout was memorable because of the two wrestlers and that I worked with Gordon Solie. The Wrestlemania 22 match between HBK-Mr. McMahon was special inasmuch as I had been essentially turned out to pasture and never thought I would call another ‘Mania and did not know if WM 22 would be my last one, so there was a little extra fuel in my tank on that one. You selected some good ones, nonetheless.
Christopher- The Undertaker is a HOFer now it’s just that he hasn’t been officially inducted. Your guess is as good as mine as to when ‘Taker gets the official nod, but I hope it isn’t for a while, as I still enjoy watching him wrestle.
James- Will MVP be the next Rock? Too early in MVP’s game to be comparing him to the Rock. Those are rather large shoes to fill for MVP. MVP just needs to continue to work hard and be the best MVP he can be and not be concerned about being anyone but himself. (more…)
Feedback time….Bar-B-Q Style!!
Dizzy- I do not consider Chris Jericho’s title reign as undisputed champ a disappointment whatsoever. Chris has never done anything to disappoint me in the ring and is one of the classiest individuals I have ever worked with in wrestling. Those that may unwisely think that Chris’ run as undisputed champ was less than it should have been need counseling.
Evan- Your long scenario involving a Flair-Hogan match at Wrestlemania 24 is an interesting read, but it will never happen. Yes, I said never. I would love to be proved wrong.
Mandy- C.M. Punk is a uniquely talented wrestler and is one of the primary reasons I watch ECW every Tuesday night. Some day I hope he is a part of the Raw roster.
CycloneFan- As you are an Iowa State fan I will see you in Ames later this month on the Sooner sideline. I have enjoyed many WWE DVDs and think that department does a terrific job with their productions. The 4 Horseman DVD was super and so was the Dusty Rhodes DVD. Perhaps some day old J.R. will be able to tell his story on DVD, but I won’t hold my breath on that pipe dream. (more…)
A great win for the Sooners last Saturday in Dallas’ Cotton Bowl which, by the way, is still the ONLY place to play the Red River Showdown on the second Saturday of October every year. By most accounts, Texas played their best game of the year against OU and the Sooners didn’t, but played well enough to win a physical, smashmouth game wrought with emotion and effort.
The victory sent Texas reeling and Oklahoma back into the hunt for another Big 12 Title, a BCS Bowl game and an outside chance for the National Title. The key word here regarding the latter is “outside”, but a “chance” nonetheless. That’s all any Sooner fan can ask for after losing at Colorado two weeks ago.
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