We are still enjoying Orlando and the Wrestlemania weekend "hangover" is prominent. It’s been a memorable weekend, to put it mildly, as I have spent a great deal of time with Ric Flair and his family.
There will never be another "Nature Boy," for the record.
The DVD of the 2008 WWE HOF induction ceremony will be a "must have" as all the speeches will air in their entirety, plus the WWE had cameras everywhere.
My speech inducting Gordon Solie had to be significantly shortened due to the show running long. I consider inducting "The Dean" into the WWE HOF a big time honor. Gordon earned my respect in 1964 when I was 12. (more…)
Please note: These questions are accumulated over time and some of the answers may be dated by the time we are able to post them, but we are getting to all your questions that we can as quickly as we can. The volume of questions J.R. receives is overwhelming.
Webmaster
Manders
TNA featured on WWE.com under “industry news”? WWE publicly acknowledging TNA? That almost looks like an olive branch. Or is my naivity showing? I may just be talking crazy here, but could the 2 biggest promotions in wrestling today actually *gasp* get along? Batista and AJ Styles notwithstanding, of course. Or is seeing Steve Austin AND Shark Boy “Stun” Vince or The Motor City Machine Guns VS Paul London and Brian Kendrick a bit too much to ask for? What’s next? Scott Hall at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony? looking forward to loving some of that BBQ sauce on a slab of ribs! I wanted to get your thoughts on the new “industry news” section on WWE.com. I think it’s an interesting move and was wondering if you had any idea of what is behind their decision to make such an offering including TNA news and results. I personally think it’s a brilliant display of how secure WWE is with their position in sports entertainment. This tells me that even with WWE helping to publicize TNA news, we still won’t be seeing another Monday night war anytime too soon. happy that Raw is coming back to Oklahoma City but I dont see it on the WWE schedule and didnt know when tickets went on sale so I was wondering if you could tell Me? I went to My first Raw 2 years ago and had a blast besides the lights going out. How much will you be in the resturaunt when you come down. I hope to see you soon. Boomer Sooner Chris
Yes your naivety is showing as no olive branch is necessary because there is no "wrestling war". The WWE website is just trying to become more multi-faceted and provide info on the entire business. I look at it as an experiment and it may or may not last. I don’t know when the OKC tickets go on sale but it is usually 6 weeks or so prior to the event. Have you contacted the Ford Center?
J.R. Says
Bill
Here in central Iowa I grew up watching Bob Geigal and Harley Race’s Central States Wrestling, I’ve read the wonderful compliments you’ve given to wrestlers I watched as child like Race, Ted Dibiase and Buck Robly. I was wondering if you ever crossed paths with some other heroes of my youth such as Bulldog Bob Brown, Rufus R. Jones, Pat O’Connor and Mike George, if so what are thoughts or memories of these men? I believe only George is still with us. Thank you for your time and keep up the great work on Monday Nights. Bill Norwalk, Iowa
My first match as a referee was Mike George vs. Treach Phillips, so yes I knew Mike way back in the day. O’Connor was a funny guy who inadvertently always got in one’s face while conversing and usually smelled of garlic. Pat was a helluva wrestler. Brown and Rufus were acquaintances but I did not know them well.
J.R. Says
Bruce from Minneapolis
Hi JR, the Wahoo/Flair story with the Rental Car is priceless!!! A book by you/with others would be a great read with those “road stories”. When will Raw come back to the Twin Cities?
Check with the Target Center. I don’t have the long term calendars.
J.R. Says
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Please note: These questions are accumulated over time and some of the answers may be dated by the time we are able to post them, but we are getting to all your questions that we can as quickly as we can. The volume of questions J.R. receives is overwhelming.
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HoosierJim500
JR, please tell Ric Flair that I am currently reading his autobiography for the fifth time. I truly enjoy all the stories he tells about wrestling in the golden years. I have no comments, good or bad, about your bbq, you have no sites in the South Bend Indiana area, but, you might consider putting one up near the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend.
Sounds like you are a loyal Flair fan of which there are thousands. I am happy that the WWE realizes how big a part of the fabric of the business that "Naitch" still is.
J.R. Says
keith
Jr. It’s an honor to be able to communicate with you. I think it’s great that Ric Flair is being inducted into the hall of fame. What is your thoughts about the great super groups. Most notably the “Fabulous Freebirds” entering the Hall Of Fame. Maybe the Von Erichs I know there are many worthy candidates but when do you foresee the Birds making it into the hall!!
With Terry Gordy already deceased it would be great if the Freebirds could enter while Hayes and Roberts are still alive and can appreciate it. Perhaps in 2009.
J.R. Says
Mark Smart
Hi Mr Ross, I was just wondering if you still keep in touch with your old mentor ‘Cowboy’ Bill Watts at all?
We talk by phone occasionally and he emails many of us daily. I have been a guest on his radio show on the TulsaSports Animal occasionally as well. He seems to be in good health, is single and living in Bixby, Oklahoma.
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This travel thing is getting old. I arose at 3 a.m. central time Tuesday morning to catch the first flight out of Columbia, S.C. to OKC via Dallas and then went right to work on our website, on www.wwe.com, selling a little Bar-B-Q, and hopefully working in one OU Football practice before Mrs. J.R. and I leave on Thursday for Orlando.
When I am too tired to go to happy hour with my pals, you know I am feeling like a beaten, government mule. Missing a happy hour with friends probably has "the Dean," Gordon Solie, spinning in his grave. More on my inspiration to become a wrestling broadcaster after this….WHOO!!
Was Ric Flair in vintage form Monday night or what? Where has that rendition of "the greatest in ring performer ever" been? Of course, "Naitch" has never left, has always been with us, and I am being a wise ass, but Monday night Flair went "old school" and was able to completely be his unedited, incomparable self. When talents are allowed to be extensions of their natural personalities sometimes one gets great results like we saw Monday night when Ric confronted HBK. (more…)
Please note: These questions are accumulated over time and some of the answers may be dated by the time we are able to post them, but we are getting to all your questions that we can as quickly as we can. The volume of questions J.R. receives is overwhelming.
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david1978
Hi jr
Is it just me or does the upcoming wrestlemania match between floyd merryweather and big show sound like it could be a disaster of brawl for all proportions. Its also good to see big show back in the wwe looking slimer then he has ever done in the past i realy thought when he left that he would never grace a wwe ring again im glad i was wrong maybe he could give the fatso’s big daddy v and mark henry diet tips
Show is taking his conditioning seriously. He’s lost over 100 pounds. Show can also create quite the name for himself if he is able to manhandle and to humble Mayweather, Jr.
J.R. Says
Rob Seiple
JR,
What do you think of the payday Floyd Mayweather is making for Wrestlemania. $20 is a lot of money to pay a guy who could possibly greatly affect buyrates. I realize he’s a big deal in the boxing ring and will get publicity but do you see WWE making all that money back? I’d almost wish you all would have thrown a ton of money to the Rock and see if that would have made him have interest in appearing. Just a thought as these type of gimmick matches with celebs and non-wrestling atheletes always seem to leave the fans disappointed. I’d rather see the Big Show wrestle anyone on the roster rather than a boxer.
20M is a ton of bread no doubt but I don’t think 20M would have interested the Rock who is happy and content making movies. Rock no longer wrestling, isn’t about earning another wrestling payday, he’s simply moved on.
J.R. Says
Brian
I am proud to say I have watched Ric Flair’s career since the beginning. (I had to sneak into the TV room to watch wrestling and not get caught…not easy to do in the pre-remote control days) I look forward to seeing his induction into the HOF. I am not sure if WWE is aware of this, but Jack Nicholson, yes THE Jack Nicholson has said he has an interest in inducting Ric Flair. Please check Mr. Nicholson’s bio at http://www.imdb.com as my source. Any idea if this will actually happen?
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Greetings from your barbecue-selling, Oklahoma football loving, road warrior who took 14 hours to get from Lafayette, La. to Norman, Okla., thanks to Mother Nature (who can be colder than a mother-in-law’s hug) as the countdown is seriously on for WrestleMania XXIV.
This week’s Monday Night Raw Superstar of the Week is really an easy choice when one stops and thinks about it. Monday’s Raw was a “unique broadcast” to say the least, and many individuals had their “moments.” But my choice as the Superstar of the Week may never get the opportunity to attain this recognition again. This week’s winner has been a winner in my eyes for years, but more importantly he has been my friend – “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. (more…)
Due to the increase in your comments, which we really appreciate, we are going to turn off commenting this week in order to get closer to catching up on answering them and to get our new website in place. The new website will have a better system of handling the comments and should help alleviate the overload. We will continue to post J.R.’s Q&A through the week along with blogs from J.R.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but we really need to do this now before it gets too crazy. If you have questions you would like to ask J.R., please hang on to them until the new system rolls out. Thanks for your patience and thank you for continuing your support of J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q.
Webmaster
Please note: These questions are accumulated over time and some of the answers may be dated by the time we are able to post them, but we are getting to all your questions that we can as quickly as we can. The volume of questions J.R. receives is overwhelming.
Webmaster
Matt Chilutti
It’s awesome to see you addressing all the latest rumors & news.
The Big Show/Mayweather thing is stupid. Mayweather looks like a punk right now. If it does turn out to be a legit boxing contest, Big Show will kick his ass. If it’s a wrestling match, Big Show will kick his ass. I don’t see Mayweather accepting a boxing contest with Show. And I can’t see Big Show putting over Mayweather in a wrestling match. I’m definitely interested in seeing where this goes though.
It is a helluva opportunity for Big Show to make a lasting impression on the media if he chooses to. I think Mayweather is crazy for doing this no matter what he’s getting paid. Oscar De La Hoya must be loving Floyd’s foray into wrestling.
J.R. Says
Sam S.
Hey J.R. I live over in Connecticut, and how come there are barely any events in WWE’S home state?
We were at the Mohegan Sun in December and play Bridgeport about twice a year. Does Hartford have a new arena?
J.R. Says
Rosa Zieman
Hello Mr. Ross,
I love your Blog. I’m a long time WWE viewer & also admire your dedication to the Business. I have a question & hopefully you can answer it. I noticed The Undertaker was scheduled to be @ the WM Press Conference on Monday, Feb. 25th. But for some reason his name was taken off. Why was that? Taker is such a big part of WM, he is 15-0, that is his Legacy. He should be part of the Conference as us Wrestling fans believe he should have been included.
Thank you for your time & have a wonderful & safe weekend. God Bless.
Regards,
Rosa
Taker usually doesn’t have much to say in those particular environments. Perhaps his name was listed erroneously.
J.R. Says
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Of all the men and women who have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, without question, no one that I have ever interacted with is as excited about the honor as Ric Flair. "Naitch" and I have had several conversations about Wrestlemania weekend and, as he should, Ric is approaching March 29-30 in Orlando as truly a memorable and career defining moment. One might ask, "well, why wouldn’t he?" which is a logical question, but believe it or not I have seen HOFers who were not overwhelmed, perhaps taking the honor for granted or not seriously, about being inducted which I personally cannot fathom. I have also seen wrestlers who seem, at least outwardly, to approach Wrestlemania as just another "day at the office". I would love to be wrong on either of these observations, but I am not, unfortunately, however if a wrestler or any other participant in Wrestlemania doesn’t approach that day and the event with a little extra zip in their step then it is likely that these individuals have chosen the wrong line of work.
Being in the wrestling business has to be about more than simply the money that one can earn if one is both lucky and good. There are too many bumps in the road within the wrestling business, whether it be injuries or illness, creative differences or deficiencies, the never ending challenges of a season-less business that has overwhelming travel demands, and the never ending sagas that many athletes and entertainers have who, all of the sudden, start to make big money and are not emotionally or intellectually prepared to handle their financial affairs. (more…)
What a helluva travel day for yours truly Tuesday getting back to Norman, Oklahoma from Lafayette, LA after Monday Night Raw in the Cajundome. Tuesday morning started with a 4 a.m. wake up call for a 6 a.m. flight to Dallas-Ft. Worth and after arriving at DFW on time, Mother Nature started kicking ass and taking names with some Texas sized thunderstorms. I could have played the part of the charismatic Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel and stood out in the rain and lightning and filed a first person report on the airport-closing weather, but I forgot to pack my rain slicker and baseball cap. Nonetheless, after finally obtaining a rental car, I drove from Dallas to Oklahoma City, where I had left my truck Sunday when I began this travel odyssey. All in all, a 14 hour, door to door travel day in the glamorous world of sports entertainment.
Wrestlemania 24 is upon us and with the card finalized, as best I know, what will the line-up be for the WWE’s biggest event of the year? The big question, or is it, is what bout will close the show this year?
Theoretically, 4 matches would seem to be candidates to go on last, but one has to surmise that only two bouts, the WWE Title Bout or the World’s Heavyweight Title Bout, has any viable shot at occupying the all important show closing spot at WM24. (more…)
