J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q

Thanks for checking out our site and here's hoping everyone is having a great holiday season. We are staying busy as we can be in our online store and our shipping folks are working over time to get everyone's orders out and to you as quickly as possible. I hope you will take a moment and visit our store and take a look especially at our "Big Nuts" merchandise and our "Redneck Gift Buckets," which are autographed and make super gifts for birthday or any occasion. When you are finished reading the latest feedback, click on the link below (it will open in a different window) to see this article about J.R. written by Robert Przybylo that appeared in the Dec. 9th edition of the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. I certainly appreciate the write up, Robert! Click here » I have received a LOT of feedback in the last week concerning the 15th Anniversary shows with LOTS of questions. We are going to post questions with the answers. Today is Part 1 of Updated Feedback answers... Now on to your feedback... Bar-B-Qed style! Hi JR, Just wanted to send my thanks to you and everyone else involved in Raw XV. I sat 4 rows behind you for Monday's show. It was great to see all the old faces there, especially Barry Darsow. I was also exceptionally lucky to have CM Punk and Gerry Brisco give me thumbs up at the end of the night for having a "Bring out Ricky Steamboat" sign. The work that went into that show was astonishing. The high school students I teach went absolutely crazy for all the pictures from the show that I brought into school today. Just wondering what your own favorite memory of the show was? Thanks! Bryan Keep up the good work educating our youth. Bryan. I too, am a Steamboat fan and am happy he is working with the WWE. Ricky is a class act who is a great teacher. Darsow, as Repo Man, was classic stuff and Barry, more importantly, had a great time. Jr, There are a few rumors going around that CM Punk was drinking a beer at the end of RAW this week? Is it true? I would believe that he didn't, but there's a side of me that has to know for sure. Alyssa Ah, more rumors... Punk drank no beer at all - and neither did a few others. Hi JR, You touch on Hogan being on RAW, but still make no mention of Hogan's strange Savage reference on the show, even though several people have questioned you regarding it. What gives? Adam Piatt I addressed this question on the last blog. As best I know it was simply a Hogan adlib. As best I know it means zilch as it relates to a future match between Hulk and Savage. Have you had your J.R.'s Bar-B-Q Sauce today? Dear J.R., How did Vince McMahon feel about the Macho Man reference by Hogan on Raw? Filacio I never heard it mentioned by any one at the event and have only heard it mentioned in the internet world. Most likely, no one had any significant reaction to it, because it was simply Hogan saying something to get a rise out of folks, like it did you. This answer is to all the other messages I received about this. Subject closed, as it is non-news. Hey JR, Great blog this week dude, love all the updates about the past WWE superstars. Monday night's Raw was the best show I've ever seen, it was amazing from start to finish! I can't wait for the 20yr. anniversary of the show. Have a Merry Christmas, God bless you and your family. Kenny Glad you enjoyed the show, Kenny. It is hard for me to think of the 20th Anniversary of Raw at this particular time, but I too hope to be a part of that milestone event. Hello JR: Yes, the 15th anniversary RAW was a real treat. Of course people will focus on who wasn't there, but I was pleased to see who WAS there. I'd love to see Sunny do more with the WWE. I never expected to see RVD in any wrestling ring again, and he's one of my all-time favorites. The battle royal was a hoot! Was that Matt Bourne in the Doink suit? He and his dad, Tough Tony Bourne, used to wreak havoc here in Don Owen's PNW territory. Oops, just showed my age. And yes, I caught the crack about Pat Patterson; it sounded friendly to me. James R JR, I want to make a point about the Rock thing. We have not seen the Rock at a W.W.E. event in over 2 years. all we have gotten was a video tape from him at wrestlemania last year. I do not want to rant, as you say, but I wish he would try to come back once or twice a year. Is that too much to ask? Just come visit the fans that made you a star in the first place. i do not want to sound mean as I loved the rock, but i cannot help but feel a little snubbed by him not at least visiting once in a while. I love Austin, Foley and all the other legends that came to visit. It is great to see some of the older guys (I have been a fan since 1978) come back and for us to let them know we did not forget and still love them for all the hard work they put in to become legends. Okay, I am done for now. God bless J.R. Dave Point received, Dave. The Rock still cares about the wrestling fans, I assure you, but is on a totally different kind of schedule now. I also hope one day to see Duane come onto the show in some capacity in the future. Read the next letter... Hi J.R., I know this is late and probably no one is paying attention, but I just wanted to add something representing the "sane wrestling fans," who get it. All of you who are whining that the Rock "owes you something" really need to get a life and lighten up. Trust me, I am as big a Rock fan as any of you and have been since the beginning of his career. I would have loved to have seen him last Monday, or at any other point in the last few years, but the fact that he didn't show up doesn't offend my delicate sensibilities either. Rocky has worked an absolutely insane schedule in Hollywood. Also, to suggest he should have shown up to provide "closure to his career" is asinine, because he's only in his mid 30's, has plenty of time left to return whenever he chooses, and is not dead the last I checked. Grow up and quit accusing him of selling out, because he's third-generation familiar with the business and cares much more deeply about wrestling than some dork sitting at a computer. In short, lighten up FRANCIS. MP Amen, MP! And who said that we will "never" see Rock again involved with the WWE? Thanks MP for making some sense out of this ridiculous matter. Hey JR, I heard that Matt Borne played Doink at the 15th anniversary show. Is this true? I loved the evil Doink character. Paul G Paul G and James R - Matt Borne, the original and evil Doink the Clown, was there and he looked great. Matt was a great in-ring performer in his day, without question. Good Day Mr. Ross, I would like to inquire about Randy Savage. I am under the impression that he is not on speaking terms with Hulk, however, is there anyone at WWE that he does converse with? I ask this because I'd love to see him in the HOF one day. He was and still is my favorite Superstar. Randy P I speak with no one that speaks with Savage or if they do, they do not share their conversations with me. However I do know that J.R.'s Beef Jerky blows "Slim Jim's" away! That's my story and I am sticking to it. Hey J.R, Quick question....have you read Bret Harts book? If so what did you think? Just wondering. Adam Piatt No, I haven't read it yet, Adam. My schedule has been hellacious the past few weeks and I have yet to get a copy of Bret's book, but my plans are to definitely read it. My friends that have read it have raved about it. Speaking of books, have you purchased your autographed copy of "J.R.'s Cookbook" that we have available here in our store?? Hey JR I heard on a couple of web sites that at the legends round table Foley and Hayes got into a really bad argument to the point of bad cussing. Is this just internet B.S.? Paul T. I must have missed it and I was there, Paul. I don't recall anything out of the ordinary, but a little cussing on that show isn't that unusual. But surely one would not assume that any wrestling website could be wrong or perpetuate a rumor, would they? Hi JR! Thanks for many years of great commentary! RAW seems to be the show where the most focus goes these days; but Smackdown has some very impressive young superstars in addition to greats Undertaker and Kane. In your opinion, who are the up-and-coming performers from Smackdown that have what it takes to bring that show to the next level and match RAW's huge young personalities like John Cena, Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy? Dan Smackdown has many promising, younger wrestlers including MVP, who has been improving rapidly the past few months. No one can be anointed until they have proven themselves over a long period of time and have the ability to headline more than one successful pay per view event. Hi J.R., What constitutes a "southern draw"? Jordan Womble Jordan, that would be a southern "drawl," not draw. A "Southern drawl" is simply a unique way of pronouncing certain words that has been described by some linguists as a "lazy way of talking." It obviously and simply is an accent. Being from the South and living in the NE area for ten years taught me a lot about different accents, that's for sure! Even in the South, the accents are different from state to state. Texans are the ones who typically have a strong drawl, y'all. You can usually tell if someone's from Texas. Others down here have "Southern accents," not drawls. Cajun South Louisianans, like Justin Wilson, had a drawl too, but totally different from Texas. J.R.-Happy Holidays to you & yours! What are your thoughts on JBL coming back to feud with Y2J? How do you view the Fiesta Bowl with Oklahoma vs. West Virginia? Do you think the recent actions in W.V. will play into the game? Mikey Lamont Thanks, Mikey. JBL is a colorful, talented individual who will add a "spark" to Monday Night Raw. Hopefully, JBL can physically hold up to the grind of his physical in ring style. The verbal interaction between Y2J and JBL was entertaining in Buffalo. I will be attending the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, unlike last year where I had to be in Miami for the Cena vs. K-Fed match when OU lost to Boise State in a thriller. WVU is a talented team and even though their head coach has bolted for Michigan, the players remain and will be playing for their own pride and the pride of their school. I fully expect the Mountaineers to play inspired football and give the Sooners all OU will want, in what may be the best bowl game of the LONG, bowl season. Hey JR, With JBL going to RAW, who do you think has the qualities to be an announcer on Smackdown with Michael Cole?And, with the Royal Rumble a little more than a month away, do you think you will get to call the Royal Rumble match or will they give it to Michael Cole, like last year? I really can't listen to a Rumble match without JR's voice, so I hope the WWE take the correct decision this time around. Take Care. Tazz seems to be the best candidate to replace JBL and to work with Michael Cole on Smackdown. That's just an opinion. Davinder (England) Tazz would then have to be replaced on ECW, but there are some potentially good talkers who might mesh nicely with the talented Joey Styles. As far as who broadcasts the Royal Rumble, I have not heard, nor is it an issue with me who does it. It is the most challenging event of the year to broadcast. Hi J.R., I was wondering, at the end of Raw last Monday with Mankind, then Undertaker and then Stone Cold Steve Austin coming out to do their trademark moves on V.K.M. (was that) a subliminal way of showing the three best superstars of Raw history? I just thought it was due to him announcing himself as the greatest, which was obviously a satirical ploy. Just wondering what your thoughts on that was, or if it is true or not? C.Rodgers I have no idea, but that theory sounds pretty "deep" to me. Nonetheless, all three men you mentioned could have been named as The Greatest Superstar on Raw and many fans would have been fine with it. Hey JR Have there been any wrestlers, past or present, that have been on this site? Paul T Most likely, but I can't say for 100% sure who. Wrestlers love to read about themselves and also love to hear what fans are saying. Who doesn't? Hey J.R, How's the home and business holding up with all that ice and snow? Hope you and your family are doing well. Jesselee We never lost our power, but over 600,000 homes in Oklahoma did. We did have some tree damage, but we are not complaining whatsoever, as our family came through the ice storm better than many. Thanks for the thoughts. J.R., I have to say that the 15th Anniversary Raw will undoubtedly go down in my top ten personal favorite episodes of Raw. Do you have any idea how many of the returning superstars from this past Monday might be staying around on a more permanent basis? I would welcome a full time return from any of them, especially Sunny and Jim Neidhart, even The Goon. I fail to understand why Eugene wasn't asked to appear, as he was responsible for many great Raw moments in his own right. Planet Stasiak also would have been a welcome return. Still, good job to all involved and thank you all so much for taking my mind off of my hellish job, global politics and girl troubles for three hours and fourteen minutes! Theo I am happy you loved the Raw Anniversary show as much as I did, being a small part of it. I don't question, nor do I ask, who or why a particular talent doesn't appear as a rule, and I felt that the alums that did appear were well received and had a fun time. "Global politics".... yeck. Hey JR. I read you guys are heading to Buffalo on Monday. I live north of Buffalo. Make sure you leave early and I know you are on a schedule but take your time! That is the best secret to surviving Buffalo snow, and yes, while we do get a lot of snow, there are cities who get much worse but not the jokes! I heard it will be over by then, so the only problem you should have is not being able to see over the 20 foot high snow banks on the sides of the Thruway. IF YOU DO have trouble, do what we do, find a car that looks like it seems to know where it's going, drive slow, watch his tail lights and follow his tracks. If his butt wobbles and the lights go side to side, slam on the brakes and enjoy the 360 view. This is where those snow banks come in handy, they are the equivalent to a stuntman's cardboard boxes. They provide good padding, fire suppression and a place to stick your smoking head when you lose your temper after enjoying the view and calling the tow truck. Be safe and Merry Christmas! Lisa Thanks Lisa. We got in and out of Buffalo with no major problems. Hey J.R., First and foremost, allow me the honor of thanking you for years of entertainment. You truly are the standard by which play-by-play men will be held for years to come (with no disrespect meant to the late Gordon Solie... I just believe you took what he did and brought it to another level). I would like to get your opinions on Demolition. In my humble opinion, I think that the Barry Darsow/Bill Eadie version was the greatest tag team in the history of the WWE, but for some reason when names get thrown around for the greatest tag team of all time, we hear about The Road Warriors, The Steiner Brothers and the Midnight Express, but no one seems to mention the Ax and The Smasher...any thoughts? Dr. G Thanks, Dr G. I worked alongside of Gordon many times in WCW and we had the opportunity to travel and spend much time together and talk. Gordon Solie was a master at what he did and it was so much fun and such a great experience working with true legendary and seasoned wrestling announcers like Gordon Solie, Lance Russell and Bob Caudle back then. I liked Demolition, but the knock on them by some, is that they were too close in personas to the Road Warriors. Nonetheless, Demolition was a helluva talented team. J.R., I think that Bret Hart, Mick Foley, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold, and others are great in their own rights and definitely deserving of greatest Raw superstar nods, but The Undertaker has been a consistent figure throughout the years and constantly reinvents himself, staying ahead of the game. Would you agree J.R., that he more than anybody deserves the moniker of Greatest Raw Superstar Ever? I rarely do "best evers" in this blog, and will not start now, Shawn, but Taker is as good a nominee as anyone to be the Greatest Superstar ever on Raw, simply because of his long tenure and the high quality of matches The Undertaker has competed in for over a decade and a half. Also J.R, throughout the years, no matter what, you can always depend on Hulk Hogan getting the biggest pop from the crowd. Do you think that one of the reasons Stone Cold doesn't want to step in the ring with Hogan is due to the fact that he doesn't want his fan loveable character dwarfed by a world icon? As seen when the fans rooted for Hogan against The Rock, even when he tried to kill him with an 18 wheeler, or when the babyface Shawn Michaels instantly became a heel for challenging Hogan? Shawn Phillips Uh, no. I think it has to do more with match quality than anything else, Brother! JR, Raw was great this week! I loved the Battle Royal especially, cause it reminded me of the one from Wrestlemania X-7 which was also pretty cool. I too can't wait to see what WWE will do for the 20th anniversary of Raw, or even better, if WWE will do an anniversary special for all of the WWE, which has been around for what, 40+ years? Bryan (Canada) Whatever WWE does for the 20th anniversary Raw show, it should be a lot of fun for everybody - and interesting to see who's there, how they are doing and who still wants to wrestle. I hope I'm there with King to call it! Hey JR, I was just wondering where the Big Show was at the 15th Anniversary? What are the chances of him ever coming back? I see him coming back similar to the way Chris Jericho did.... after he has recharged his batteries. Keep up the great work. - Justin I assume a return for the Big Show is always possible, but I don't know why he wasn't at the Anniversary Raw. Perhaps he was simply not available. I saw Show in November in Miami and he looked to be in excellent shape, as he has been preparing for a boxing career that doesn't seem to have taken off for whatever reasons. Hi JR, last Monday's Raw was one of my favorite of all time. I had taped it and it quickly became THE tape at work and has been passed around all week, with fans who have tuned out even loving it. I think it really did a lot to help the wwe. I work in airport security, so you remarks about knowing the regulations really hits home. I'm glad some people think ahead. Again thanks for all the great work you do, i shudder to think of the day Raw doesn't have you calling the action. I would also like to throw my hat into the ring for a Monday Night Wars dvd set, i think there are many great wcw/wwe matches from that era that could really be given a spotlight. Thanks again, Nic Thank you for the important work that you do, Nic. J.R. Awesome blog on the 15th Anniv. RAW show. I was standing watch over the barracks with the Navy while it was on, so I only got to see bits and pieces of it, but from what I saw, it was a quality show, just like always. Keep up the incredible work, and long live Monday Night RAW! Jon Thank you, Jon, for your service to our country. Hey JR. I just watched Shawn Michaels & Mr.Kennedy go at it at Armageddon. The match, in my opinion, was the perfect balance of aggression and psychology. I was just wondering if you thought anyone else who has debuted in the 21st century wrestles with as much science as Ken Kennedy does? I'm not sure how the storytelling of a match is pre-arranged, and how much say the performers get in it, but it seems like he has the whole thing down. Great on the mic, but tells an even better story in between the ropes. Kennedy does have potential, but he still has a long way to go before he reaches the proverbial Promised Land. But Kennedy is seemingly improving on a regular basis and his match with HBK was an indication of such. JR, I wrote you a week or so ago about the Fiesta Bowl. I'm sure you have heard that Coach Rodriguez has betrayed WVU and quit. I understand that he was offered a better job at Michigan but leaving just a couple weeks before a bowl game is ridiculous. I'm sure that WVU is going to have an extremely difficult time in the Fiesta Bowl without a coach. I was just wondering, how do you feel about this situation? Thanks. -Nathan I don't feel sorry for WVU as they have great players who will be playing the game and not going to Michigan. Rodriquez needed to do what he thought was best for his family long term, but leaving a team he built so abruptly is a tough pill to swallow. I assure all Mountaineer fans that your team will be fired up and will play with a chip on their shoulder on January 2 and I will be there to see it! Hey JR, how's my favorite Oklahoman doing? I know you've been asked about TNA Wrestling before, but now they're gonna have a house show in Oklahoma City on January the 12th ... You Gonna go? I Know I am! Brennan Epperson Have fun, Brennan. I will most likely be at J.R.'s BBQ in Norman. Have you been here? Hey J.R. I LOVE the Legends of Wrestling series that you host on 24/7. You guys do an awesome job giving insight to some behind the scene topics that wrestling fans do not usually get a chance to learn about. I wanted to know if there was any talk of releasing these on DVD, perhaps as full season sets, it is certainly something I could see myself watching over and over again. If not could you pass the idea along? Also is there anywhere that fans could send suggestions for topics? Thanks, Tim This suggestion has been made before and seems to be a good one. Perhaps someone from the WWE will read your idea and consider it. However, I don't know if anyone at the WWE reads this site as no one has ever mentiond it. Thanks to everyone for their feedback (and their orders). I'll answer more questions in a couple of days. We've also got some surprises we're working on for next year that you will surely enjoy! Drive safe and get ready for a Happy Holiday season. J.R.