Welcome to J.R.’s Blog

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

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.

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?

Hey JR,

Would you happen to know why didn’t Abdullah the Butcher ever wander over to the WWE? Of all the organizations Abdullah been throughout the world, hes never been in the WWE in the past. Now despite the fact he is in what he’s seventies now, hes still active wandering the world impaling people with forks.

Hey J.R. just a couple of questions. First would you by chance know the name of the song that was playing during the HBK/Cena Pre-match video package at Wrestlemania 23? It was also played during a promo package for Randy Orton before the Royal Rumble. I’ve been looking for it since I have heard it and no luck yet. Also, do you see Wrestlemania ever making around to St. Louis or the Kansas City area? Thank you and keep up the good work on Monday nights

Hey JR,

Is there a chance that we will see Ricky Steamboat, Owen Hart and Arn Anderson inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Hey Jr Whats up? How are things going? Few questions how come Val venis is rarely used? I mean he was hot when he first arrived several years ago, what happened? So do you think Hulk Hogan will even be at Wrestlemania this year at all in some compacity? Thanks Love to hear your thoughts

mike

J.R.?
Howdy and thank you and Jerry for keeping my attention, especially through some story lines that I don’t think too much of (Hornswoggle, the diva stuff). Your certainly great and keep the flow going forward.

My question is in regards to the Hall of Fame.

The Great Muta, who I know you had the fun of calling his matches several times, was an innovater and under rated in my estimation.
DEMOLITION (with Axe and Smash) held the tag team belts longer than any other team in WWE history, especially remarkable when you recall all of the great tag teams in their era, and are my personal favorite team.

Don’t you think it is long over due for their inductions?

(They aren’t getting any younger and it would be great to see them alive and enjoying their induction.)

Peace

JR? On youtube, Kimbo was taken out by an out of shape submission style ex MMA guy. Basically exhausted him, though the guy is strong. You should see his back yard fights on youtube when he first made the scene especially.
I miss the real ECW honestly from the bingo hall days, but realize it is gone. Hope Tommy and Paul do well, they were always so nice to us fans in the little bingo hall. Jerry once showed up and blew the roof off the dump.
Ever see Bishoff and Hervey trying to sell Hogan soft drinks on Hogan Knows Best? Long way away from wrestling and the Wonder Years.
I think Arn and the other Horsemen (even the replacements like Mongo) should all go on stage and intro Ric.
Love to see The Great Muta, DEMOLITION and Owen Hart go in next year.
Funny thing about Cuban/ Vince/ MMA….when Paul E. was trying to get ECW bigger, he made a tentative agreement with Japans FMW. The FMW liked to put grenades on the ropes with a timer….basically if you didn’t pin the opponent by the time allotted = all the grenades would detonate at once…leaving a smoke cloud similar to an h-bomb. Interesting, but I see why Paul never tried it in the little bingo hall. Joey Styles certainly knows the story better than I. Enjoy Rics ceremony JR.

Peace

Hey, J.R.-
What are your thoughts on Paul Burchill? He has solid wrestling skills and even managed to get that pirate gimmick over before being repackaged. I had my doubts when he was reintroduced with his “sister” but his in-ring performances have been solid and last night’s backstage segment in Regal’s office last night where Katie Lea referred to him as his old OVW nickname “The Ripper”, a gimmick I think could catch on, has given me some hope that he might be more than just a mid-carder. Do you think Burchill has what it takes?

Are there any plans for a Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy iron man ladder match to your knowledge? If not, do you think these men would ever agree to do such a match?

Thanks for your time and announcing.

Great job Monday, especially with your rko calls at the beginning of Raw. Which brings me to my suggestion.

I know this isn’t your area, but I thought if you liked the idea and think it could have some legs, you might mention it to the proper person.

A Randy Orton t-shirt with the slogan….did you see that rko? A cool design on the front with that slogan on the back. He’s gotten so good at executing his finisher, it really is fun to watch how well he executes that move, let alone the fact he can hit it from anywhere.

Nobody else puts over their finisher in this fashion, something different that could set him apart from the pack as having “the best” finisher.

Hey JR! Do you think that there is anyone stronger than Lesnar in UFC? How about the WWE? I do remember in a interview that Batista said Brock was stronger than him. He even said that Brock’s strength was inhuman, and Batista is very strong himself! But what do you think?

Hello J.R. I love the website, I have been reading it for a long time now. I was just wondering if you could tell me how much this year’s Platinum Wrestlemania Tickets cost, so I can use that as a baseline for next years event. I have looked around, but keep getting different prices. This will be my first event, so I thought I might as well go all out, any help would be appreciated, even in the form of an internet link. Thankyou, Callum, UK!!

Hey J.R!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Do you ever believe we will see ‘The Great One’ return to the WWE?
For me, it would be unbelievable if he did!

Dear J.R.,

Your blog is one of the most insightful columns that I read regularly on the internet. Reminds me of the old Ross Report I used to read back in the day. I have a question about your opinions on the divas of yesterday and today. Do you think any of the current WWE Divas could ever emulate Missy Hyatt back in your UWF, Mid South Days. Do you think any of them could pull off the “loaded Gucci bag” that missy used to carry around and use in matches or perhaps maybe a modern take on the gucci bag can be used in today’s WWE’s product? Also do you think that any of the wrestlers today would have fit well in the mid-south territory in its prime besides Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels? Thanks J.R.

I know you said Show vs. ‘Money’ won’t be a wrestling match, but whats going on here!?!? i am very interested in this story, but really want to know if this is going to be a boxing match…I heard that boxing was part of the training that got Show back in shape

jr,
who do you want to see Mr. mcmahon feud with next

hi j.r.,did you hear about x-pac’s suicide attempt?i dont know if its true or if its a rumor.

Hey Jr, You never answer my questions. Have you ever seen Ring of Honor yet? If so what do you think of it? Why did the wwe development camp let Ace Steal go? You will miss his match’s. Why was Brent Albright let go? What do you think of Nigel McGuiness and have you ever heard of the golden boy Paul Christy? He was a wrestler in the wwwf days his manager was Miss Bunny Love and there my friends to. You will like Nigel’s action’s in the ring. Has a wrestler ever carried a iron to the ring in the wwe that is. Also I remember you or The King saying that Randy Orton is the only 3rd generation Superstar in the wwe at the time when The Rock is 1 also. When and if the ring of honor ever gets a tv show than they will give the wwe a run for the Money that’s where Jack Evan’s is.

I hear Eddie Colon (Carlito’s brother / son of Carlos Colon) is in Florida Championship Wrestling… and under WWE contract. Although I haven’t seen him wrestle, I’ve heard people say he was talented in the ring and was able to wrestle. Do you think when he gets the call up they will pair him with his brother?

heres somthing that would do excellent with your bbq sauce. My garlic buttered chicken

what you do is take a roasting pan big enough to accomidate how many peieces of chicken you are cooking. put in 1/2 inch of water to keep the chicken tender and use a 1/2 stick of butter or margarine and put a slice on each chicken piece then sprinkle with garlic salt and lemon pepper and bake at 450 degres for at least 1/2 hour

it is a big hit with my family and i hope you like it too

joe

Hey JR, When Butterbean hit Bart Gunn, How close did Gunn’s head come to flying off? , it looked pretty close to me

JR,

For the last few years, I’ve been left shaking my head at the match order for WrestleMania. World Title matches and highly-anticipated contests are happening BEFORE some T&A Playboy match or whatever.

Take the last three Manias for example.

21: Michaels/Angle goes on before that sumo match between Big Show/Akebono?
22: The less-than-10-minute World Title match between Angle/Orton/Mysterio goes on before a Playboy pillow fight?
23: The World Title match between Batista/Taker is only the fourth match out of eight?

I understand that the audience, both in the arena and around the world, needs to be taken on a ride and the action should have highs and lows, but I’ve always felt that you should start with one great opener, have the lowest-impact matches, then go out in a blaze of glory with the featured contests and World Title matches.

Then again, its just my opinion. Any thoughts? And which World Title match do you think should go on last this year, Taker/Edge or HHH/Cena/Orton?

John Cena seems to dominate your site just as Randy Savage has in the past, but I do have a question about him. With all the heat he has from the fans do you think that a “heal” turn would be a good move. Most wrestlers really form their legacy as heals. I always found him more entertaining as heal. I am not a huge fan of his as I have really enjoyed Orton title reign. It is a painful night when the Misses watches the show and Cena’s music hits. I have found the curb to be a called place. But I really believe he could show what he is all about.

SAVE_US_Y2J!!

I know you travel all across the country and world for the WWE but I would just like to know some of your favorite cities/venues to see a wrestling event. A weird theory of mine is that most cities with professional hockey teams seem to make for good wrestling crowds. Any comments?

Hey JR !

Greeting from the great Potato State of Idaho. Couple of things:

1) Thanks to Boise State, we’ve become pretty famous. Any chance of WWE making more live appearances here ? Especially ECW. I remember the “old” ECW in small halls (we have the Big Easy), and they always seem to draw a good crowd here.

2)There have been MANY classic WWE matches, too numerous to list. But one that really sticks out to me was the Victoria vs Lita cage match. Never seen one before or since. So why not put some of the ladies in more gimmick wrestling matches, not the pillow fights, lingerie (not that I’m complaining about them, I ain’t blind ya know !) Something like an women’s ladder match for the belt, an Elimination Chamber, something like that. Be interesting wouldn’t it ? Gotta admit, Lita & Victoria both took their lumps in that match without complaints and managed to look smokin hot doing it.

Dear Mr. Ross,
Im a 20 year old life long wrestling fan. I know in my heart that the only thing I want to do is be involved in the wrestling industry. Unfortunately Im 5′5 and am skinnier than the John Cenas in the world lol. What Im asking is how does someone who wants to be in this business more than anything go about doing so if they know they dont have a chance as an in ring performer. I have been the lead in several Theatrical performances and know that I have the passion and drive to succeed, I just need a direction. Any advice you might have would be GREATLY appreciated. Also I live in Missouri so next time I swing over to Oklahoma I think I might have to pick up some BBQ!

Hi, JR, I’m a big fan of your commentary and King of course, you people really make me laugh. (I especially liked the “King, put your hands on the table” when Triple H was dancing with the girls next door , haha, will never forget that one)

Coming to my questions, although I’m not new to the WWE, I’m pretty new to the internet fan community, and have only just found out that there are millions of people that hate Cena. I couldn’t understand why. I ask them, and they say ‘He can’t wrestle’ but they never explain their comments… Your take on that?

Secondly, I just wanted your thoughts on the new Paul Burchill/Katie Lea angle… I’m already half expecting it to turn out to be the worst angle of the year…

Thirdly, what according to you was perhaps the worst storyline of the previous year? Many fans have voted for the Hornswoggle McMahon thingy, but I actually found it entertaining and comic, although it’s taken a pretty bad turn right now…

And finally, I am from India, and for the past couple of months or so, The Great Khali’s popularity is on the rise here in India, so much so that there were news channels monitoring Khali’s matches at Armageddon and No Way Out… Khali T-Shirts and other merchandise are selling like crazy here…. Does the WWE know of this? If yes, then what’s their (and your) take on that?

Thanks (in advance, heh) for answering my question..

Hi, JR,
One of my all-time favorite matches was the I Quit match between Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA at Starrcade ‘85, The Gathering. They were truly great performers, and it was sad to see Magnum’s career end so abruptly.

When do you see these two being inducted into the WWE HOF?

Hey JR…you’re truly awesome for keeping up with all these questions.

What’s your take on former Sooner coach Kelvin Sampson and his departure from my alma mater, Indiana?

Also, I know Gordon Solie tops your list of wrestling play-by-play guys, but when it comes to sports, who’s your favorite(s)?

In recent years, Ric Flair’s move arsenal has become more confined to chops, perhaps due to age. Do you think at Wrestlemania XXIV, we’ll see some vintage Flair? (Ie: Flair during his NWA / JCP / WCW / WWF Run #1 eras)

Hey Mr. Ross! Love your site!

Something about Jimmy Snuka I’ve wondered for years…

After the Superfly’s incredible legendary first run in the WW”F”, when he feuded with Muraco and Piper, and was arguably the second biggest star behind Hogan, he went away. Right after Wrestlemania I…he mysteriously disappeared from WWE. When he returned five years later at Wrestlemania V, he was never given the push I would have expected for such a legend. He wasn’t that old, yet he was treated as “over-the-hill”. When Sgt Slaughter returned, he was given the title. When Bob Backlund returned, he was given the title. But Snuka was never able to regain his former self. I always felt he was poorly used when he returned. Can you explain why this was?

Also, I was curious if you had any memories of the Dr. D David Schultz situation, when he slapped John Stossel on TV for saying wrestling was fake. Was he really fired for doing that? And was there a genuine concern about news reporters like that trying to “expose” wrestling?

Hi JR

I dont have a question as such but a comment i’d like to make about your site.

I think its great that you now have a Q&A section. Its just a shame people don’t read comments before posting questions. How many times do you have to answer Randy Savage, HOF, title comments?

Anyway, Thanx for all of your feedback

Hey Mr Ross Just Wanted To Ask How Is Sheamus o Shaughnessy
Doing in FCW. Cant get much info on him over here in ireland only his website but theres no info on how he is doing and the FCW site hasnt got much either. Im proud irishman who loves when irish people do so well over
seas.would love to see an irishman headline wrestlemania. Thank You And Keep Up the good work Your a legend. Slan Leath(GOODBYE IN IRISH)

Hey JR, I was just wondering what you thought on the idea of phasing out ECW and having it dedicated to the divisions that dont recieve much air time, such as the Women’s Championship or Cruiserweight championship. I know the chances are slim to none, but i figure you can still keep the divas on the shows they’re currently on, just hire back some of the more seasoned divas like Jacqueline or Gail Kim.

JR you are a McMahon butt kisser no doubt How can you even work for him after what he has done to you in the past like firing you on account of an affliction you have which isnt your fault? you must be hard up for money. I wouldnt have taken that. Dont give me that crap about you had a family to raise either.

Hey Jr,

(1) Since they are both trained wrestlers what are the chances and/or are there any plans for Cherry and Katie Lea to take part in the women’s division? (If the answer is yes as it relates to Cherry I think it would be great if when she has a match she comes to the ring wearing an updated version of the greaser outfit the character of Sandy wore at the climax of the movie Grease, I think it would be also great if her entrance music was either a fifties style music version or an updated version of the eighties hair band hit “She’s my Cherry Pie” by Warrant.)

(2) In your educated opinion which of the female development wrestlers (both in FCW and the ones that are still in OVW) do you think will make it to the main roster and why?

(3) Are there any female wrestlers outside the company the WWE have their eyes on and are considering offering a contract to once they become available?

Alex

Hey JR

I’m from Sydney Australia,

Have you been able to ship food products to australia before? im totally unsure of the customs issues.

I’ve just started out wrestling school here in australia, I wonder if the WWE would ever be interested in funding some of the federations over here to farm talent. There are some very hard working dedicated athletes over here that would be true contenders in the big in the USA

I’ll continue to be a very wishful man and hope that we will someday see a JR’s Bar-B-Q in Sydney Australia! But the thought of the 26 hours or more travelling time to visit your store in the USA has crossed my mind many times…It’s becoming very likely…

I’ve read previously you havent visited Australia, please sir, do make the time to visit

I respect your tireless efforts to give back so much to the fans. thankyou for being such a positive member of the wrestling community

Hello Mr JR,

Just wondering if former WWE Superstars get any pensions or any kind of financial support from the company? What does the WWE Legends contract consist of? I’m assuming some sort of payment for using likenesses on toys, merchandise, etc?

Also, do all former champions get to keep their championship belts? I noticed Mick Foley, The Rock, etc. still have their respective championship belts in their possession. It would be nice for the WWE to let the talent keep the title belts as a recognition of their accomplishment.

JR,
The HBK vs. Flair retirement match for Wrestlemania was just announced. Although I think this will be a fantastic match, wouldnt it be a better to have Flair go out against a younger guy who could use the “rub” of ending Flairs career? Shelton Benjamin, CM Punk, Lance Cade or even DH Smith… could really use the exposure. HBK doesnt need help getting over.
Your thoughts??

Hey J.R. I am a long time wrestling fan. 15 years since thats how old I am. First time writing. When I’m at basketball games I act like I’m doing play-by-play. You inspire me alot. What do you say. Also how do you feel when people say wrestlings fake. Storylines maybe, but you cant really get thrown around and not get sore…can you?

Hey J.R.! Thanks for the opportunity to have our questions answered by a true legend!

I actually have two questions (I hope that’s okay), and my first question is, how do you feel Mike Adamle has done so far now that he has been at it a month. I thought he was a bit nervous at first, but now he’s starting to feel more comfortable. I also think he adds a bit of professionalism (not that you…and I mean you not “the King”(that is a joke by the way)…aren’t professional) to the broadcast.

My second question is what memories do you have of your many trips to Chicago? I mean sure we have great food, but I’m talking about trips to the old Chicago Stadium/United Center and the many great matches that took place there or even where the shows stop now at the Allstate Arena. I always thought Chicago was a great wrestling town with great wrestling fans. Your thoughts?

Thanks again and I can’t wait to get my BBQ sauce!

Hey J.R.

Do You think we’ll see Ricky “the dragon” Steamboat in the hall of fame sometime soon? His feud with Ric Flair brought some of the best matches in history.

Hey JR, love ya, just wanted to ask what do you think about John Cena’s comments towards the Rock in the sun newspaper, does Cena even have the right to bash the rock like he did, its not like he will ever be as big as him..

Hey JR,

First, I really enjoy this blog.

My question is with ECW:

With the roster becoming more and more talented and competitive (i.e. Kingston, Benjamin, and Richards), has there been any consideration to introduce another singles title (such as TV title or European Title)?

I love seeing Richards’ return and think he should be a contender for the ECW title soon. But talent such as Benjamin, Kingston, and everyone else should be given another title to shoot for. This will increase the interest in overall matches and ultimately make the ECW World title seem more prestigious.

Just a thought.
Thanks,
Steve Willis

Hey JR, I know this is a long shot, but do you ever think we’ll see the “American Bad Ass” persona from the Undertaker again? I enjoyed it a great deal more than the Deadman. Just wondering…

Hi JR,

I for one have a burning question about John Cena which will surely fuel endless debate and add to the fire…my controversial question is, does the man prefer JR’s Chipotle Ketchup® or JR’s Jalapeno Honey Mustard®, both of which are not only delicious but also available in the JR’s Family Bar-B-Q® online store which is open 24 hours?

JR- You said Road Dogg was a “talented son of a gun.” Don’t you mean “son of a Bullet?”

Hi JR!
Thanks for adding this great Q&A feature!
I took my girlfriend to the Rumble at MSG (she’s a big Jeff Hardy fan) and it was a real treat to see Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper as surprise guests! There was a wonderful moment where ‘Taker took Snuka’s ‘headbutt’ gimmick; which I thought was a great show of respect on his part and made me think of how the Snuka/Taker match at WM7 really helped the young Dead Man’s career. I really enoy when today’s stars, and the industry in general, give back to the men and women who came before.
My question, however, is in a bit of a different vein! One of the groups I’ve always enjoyed was the Four Horsemen. If the Nature Boy was to assemble this group one more time, who do you think would be the best stars of today for an incarnation of Flair’s legendary group? What team up would intrigue you the most?

JR,
I’m honored to be speaking to a true icon of the squared circle. I’ve still got some of your work from the old UWF show with Michael “P.S” Hayes. It includes the debut of two rookies called the Blade Runners (Sting & Ultimate Warrior)
Always good to watch on occasion.

Here are my questions.
1. I have ALL the wrestling video games that WWE has authorized. They are great. My question is, for us old schoolers (I go back to the days of the WWWF) and todays fans who want to learn, what would be the chances of WWE coming out with an ALL LEGENDS video game? Chief Jay Strongbow, Billy Graham, etc. The list could go on for ages. The graphics of the WWE games would far surpass anything else out there. The time has come, & its overdue

2. When will Time Warner & WWE finally get things done, so us loyal WWE fans who subscribe to Time Warner, can get the WWE 24/7 channel? We are long overdue.

Thanks for your time. Keep the faith, & we hope to see some of your sauce up this way soon.

Best Regards,

Tom Miller
tbrutis1@aol.com

Jr,

No need to respond, but that was a hell of a Q&A you just did! Everyone in this business should be this dedicated to their fan base. Looking forward to trying the sauce and maybe stopping by the restaurant soon.

LP

Hello J.R. I have a couple of questions so I’ll get to them:

- Why don’t we see any more wrestling matches such as the Davy Boy Smith vs Owen Hart one in Germany? Watching that match is like watching a wrestling symphony. Is it because the wrestlers are limited talent wise? Or that they are instructed not to do so for whatever reasons? Matches today are mostly brawls and there’s not a lot of wrestling going on there in my opinion.

- Is there are chance that Steve Austin will ever make a come back? I’m from Kuwait and have been a fan of his since his debate as the Ring Master. Is his neck in better shape than it was in 03?

- What is your favorite Stone Cold match wrestling wise?
And what is your favorite Stone Cold match over all wise?

- Why has WWE gone child friendly?

- What is your favorite match for Triple H that you would point to to show that he truly is the Game?

Note: watching matches without you and King on the mic makes them less special for me. You guys are a great team and I wish you the best. God bless you both.

Hello JR,
I have been a loyal wrestling fan for over 35 years,I got hooked with Wrestling at the Chase,then later the Poffo ran,ICW and from the day my family got Cable in the 80’s I have hardly ever missed a wrestling show,Even ESPN has been running old UWF shows and this week will start running AWA classics,Good stuff,,I have Always been drawn to the monsters in face paint,Demolition tops my list along with L.O.D.,Powers of pain,Warrior,Sting,All the way back to ICW’s Ratamyas,,My question for you is,Does Vince or whoever else have something against this idea,,Today,outside of their size,All the wrestlers other than the Undertaker & Kane seem like just another guy,Save for the boogie man wich I think is cool, there is no mistery,,,I miss the times when Demo’s music hit and everyone from the fans to the guys in the ring would have that ” OH S#@$” look on their faces, How about a new Demolition tandom,,Or Boogieman & Papa Shango,,,What is your takeon it ?

Hey JR

I have noted over time that you seem to be rather sarcastic when it comes to the Hulk.

Let us not forget that he is without any doubt the greatest superstar the business has ever produced, and that he has done more for the recognition of the business in return!!

His longevity and prescence, with business savvy pushes him far beyond your buddy austin, who rode a wave and did it well, but he is not in the league of the Hulk. Now dont compare the money austin did to Hulk, as Austin had a completely different marketing machine behind him than Hulk at his time. I just think you need to give the guy the respect he deserves and save the sarcasm for someone else.

Hey JR!

I’ve been a very hude wrestling fan for many years, and I have enjoyed your commentary week in and week out. The product is good (although I will admit there are some things done with bad taste), and the storylines are fairly well laid out. I have two questions for you today that I hope that you can get around to answering.

First, When do you think Owen Hart will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? He is very deserving of this, and it has been 10 years after his death already. RIP Owen Hart..

Secondly, When it comes to this whole Vicki Guerrero and Edge storyline…I want to know…do you think this is in bad taste, and kind of a ’spit in the face” on the late Eddie Guerrero’s memory? I think it is, but I want your professional opinion and stand on it.

Why does WWE Raw and Smackdown never brodcast live from Scotland. It is always England. Think how great it could be.

Ty and well done in becoming a HOF legend

Hello J.R.!

I am old enough to remember the territory days. Specifically when I lived in Fort Lauderdale the CWF faction of the NWA held a house show at the old War Memorial Auditorum there. Small venue but HUGE action! After the show in the parking lot I got to meet Kevin Sullivan (nice guy and I also met Nancy as they were married at the time) and Butch and Luke with a very young Johnny Ace in tow. Butch and Luke were either not breaking the Sheepherder act or they were like that 24/7! They were tossing beers out the the assembled crowd and I even got one and I was only 15. Ironically the heels were nice and the faces gave us the snub.

I assume that now shows are in huge arenas the possibility of hanging out with the guys in the parking lot is nil these days, but does any of the talent ever make appearances in the back of the arena these days? Those type of interactions are often the only time we can get a photo or autograph of the talent! I have long lost the photos and autographs that Kevin, Butch, Luke and John gave me

At the last RAW in Tacoma WA there was no parking lot joy other than a stretch limo passing us that I assumed contained Mr. McMahon so that was cool! I would not think anyone other than a McMahon would go about in such a vehicle eh?

Oh and I would like to give a huge thumbs up to J2Y! I saw him in Seattle during his book tour and was amazed that he actually talked at length to each fan and did not give us the usual “Thanks for coming..bye!” that most celebs give at events like that. If he writes a second book I would tell everyone here to go and see him if he comes ’round your city.

Lastly thank you J.R. for giving us the treat that this forum is! I will be ordering some Jerky ASAP!

Hi J.R. I enjoy your work with the King. I have a few questions.

1. WWE footage from the late 80’s early 90’s, Would WWE ever consider televising dark matches from tv tapings on WWE 24-7 or DVD?

2. When do you think SNME will return sometime in May or June?

3. Do you think guys like Snitsky and the Boogeyman deserve to have a title like the U.S. title or the IC title?

4. Do you think Ken Patera would be a good candidate for the Hall of Fame, considering what he done in weightlifting and wrestling?

5. Do you think WM 24 will have a dark match big battle royal with all the talent that don’t make it to the big stage on PPV?

Thanks

Hello Mr. Ross. I was wonder what diffenence you see in pay-per-views now and when you first started broadcastin in the WWE. Is the fact that you don’t have to call the whole pay-per-view now give you the oppertunity to sit back and watch the action as a fan more or do you stay in your broadcasting mode for the entire show? I also was wondering what was the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do as a broadcaster? It’s hard to imagine anything harder than the Over The Edge pay-per-view in 1999 or doing Raw the day Eddie died also.

Hey JR!

i have been watching alot of ECW latley and have been very impressed with Kofi Kingston, he has quickly become one of my favorite wrestlers in the WWE. My question is where do you think they will go with he, he is a very fun, talented wrestler who i think could quickly become champion. thanks for readin!

Hey JR,

I have to say I love your work and I’m such a fan of the WWE.. do you get tired of hearing that? lol Well, I am so in love with Steve (as in Stone Cold). Is he seeing anyone? lol I know you won’t answer that, but it’s ok. I can’t wait for his movies to start rolling out!! Alright, I got that off my chest!

To get off wrestling for a change, have you ever heard a doctor of naturopathy? This doctor I went to the other day studies the iris (as in your eyes) called iridology. I highly recommend seeing one, he blew me away. He was on cue with all my health problems and told me everything about my personality. It was awesome, and he gave me some health advice as well. I study nutritional/health stuff like that. Take care!

Thank you for all the insight and information, it must take up a lot of your time to provide us all with your unique perspective of pro-wrestling. Sometimes when fans question how certain performers are portrayed or their characters develope you tell them they are free to turn the channel. As fans don’t we have the right to discuss what we like and don’t like? Isn’t this part of what makes any form of sport or entertainment so much fun? I thought the change the channel responce was cool when it came to cencorship suggestions but to say this to the fans that put food in your mouth seems a bit harsh.
Everybody has their own idea of what they like, I’m quite sure my vision of what pro wrestling in general and WWE in particular more closely resembles yours than say, that of Vince MacMahon’s, and he’s the most successful promoter of all time!!! WWE has been putting out a quality product for a very long time now but it only stands to reason that a passionate fan is going to disagree on some aspects, do you really want us to keep quiet and change the channel? I always thought of J.R as being fan friendly, so why are you so harsh on the products critics? I for 1 do not want to change the channel, I’d like for my voice to be heard cuzz I’ve been a fan all my life and think that maybe, just maybe that I and many other fans could have valuable input as to what makes us watch.
Thank you for your time… I love your work!!!

Hey JR,

i was wondering why all the talented superstars on RAW, never get a chance to become champion. it seems to me like Raw has gone down hill sense Cena’s return at the Royal Rumble because of the “predictablity” on the show. i am not trying to bash Cena i just think that RAW needs a little more surprise in the show not just a main event with Cena which in he will most likly win. Thanks for readin!

Hey J.R.,

I’ve got to say, I’m very disappointed with how Ric Flair’s “you lose, you retire” storyline has been playing out. Granted, I don’t have any experience running a wrestling program, but I figure there’s much more money to be made from the retirement of Ric Flair than what WWE is reaping right now. I read somewhere that Steve Austin pitched the retirement angle with the idea that he would get one last World title shot first. Even at Flair’s age, well past his prime, I think that’s a fantastic idea. I can understand maybe being a little iffy on actually putting the strap on Ric at this stage, but had it been even just Undertaker vs. Flair at Mania, with Taker’s streak vs. Flair’s career, they could have drawn some good money and sent the Nature Boy off with a strong match near the top of the card.

I guess I’m just not sure I understand why Flair has been relegated to a lesser role. The greatest wrestler of all time could hang up his boots at any second but he’s being treated like a side attraction. That said, I’m sure Flair-Michaels will make for a very good match, but there’s not really anything at stake for Michaels and the match feels buried underneath bigger things like the title matches and Show-Mayweather.

My question, I guess, is do you think Flair himself is happy with the way things have been going? Does the Dirtiest Player In The Game seem to mind saying goodbye from the middle of the card?

And should Shawn Michaels retire Ric Flair at Wrestlemania, do you think it’s likely that Flair will still appear at the television tapings in the Carolinas this May? Or might Wrestlemania truly be the last appearance for some time?

JR I am a big fan, but how dare you attack LORD Coe This man has won olympic medals, he has been an mp he has bought the olympics to London and he is a hero in Britain and I respect what he says.

Until the WWE puts in a transparent and world recognised drug testing policy and until Vince stops treating the media as a them and us fued you will get hammered by people

Steve J

Hey JR! First I just wanted to say you and the King do an excellent job calling wrestling.
Sometimes the King sounds “heel” on some wrestlers and “babyface” on others. Is that his own choice or is it scripted?
Now that Flair/Michaels will happen at Wrestlemania, any chance of a Marquis de Kingsbury style stipulation? Or make it submission only? Flair’s patented figure 4 vs Michaels’ new leglock?
Speaking of Michaels’ new leglock, how come there’s no name to it? I miss the days when everyone had a patented set of moves that were called something rather than just “a maneuver”
Speaking of Flair, you mentioned earlier that you liked factions. Please tell me the Nature boy isn’t going off TV when he retires and we will once again see 4 fingers prominently held in the air. Flair = James J. Dillon, Triple H= the Champ,Ken Kennedy the Enforcer, Shawn Michaels in the Tully Blanchard mode, and Big Show, Mike Knox, or Kevin Thorn as the powerhouse? Horsemen ride again!
Thanx for the time JR

Why do you call Jeff Hardy the “Legend Thriller”?
Where does it originate? It doesn’t seem to make sense to me.

J.R, I was just wondering if you have thought of any names for HBK’s new submission finisher. You have come up with some creative nick names and finishers for other wrestlers in the past, and I know you’re a big fan of HBK, so why not try and come up with a name for his new finisher?

In reference to the guy whos friends wont go to wrestling events…. I agree that you should go alone. I went to WM20, WM23 and several RAW and Smackdown tapings by myself and had a blast. You sit with people who are fans, and debate who you like/ hate and why. ITs fun… 2-4 hours of screaming and yelling. WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Do you have any insight as to why the U.S. & IC Titles are NEVER defended? I try to be an understanding fan, and I hope that in the U.S. Title situation that Matt Hardy back soon because I know he’ll jump right on trying to achieve it. However, with the IC Belt it feels like it’s been a couple of months since Jeff Hardy’s been worried about defending it, and in the old days, over 30 days without a defense resulted in a champion losing the belt. I love Jeff Hardy, and when I think of the IC Title I remember loads of great battles surrounding it, and I think with him as champion there can be some amazing matches. But here we are right before Wrestlemania and Jeff’s in the Money In The Bank match, and once again that title will not be defended at ‘Mania. I say Regal should force the IC Belt to be on the line as well.. If nothing else, hang it above the ring with the contract. Either way, I know this is a long question and even if you don’t use it I’d really like to have your opinion and insight into the situation.

Hey J.R.

I have been a wrestling fan pretty much my entire life and one of my all-time favorites was and is still Sting. I was just wondering what you think of him personally and professionally and if theres a chance that somewhere down the road, he may be inducted in the wwe hall of fame even though he’s never been in wwe. i mean i think of the wwe hall of fame as the pro wrestling hall of fame and think he deserves to be in it somewhere down the road.

Hello, JR.

I’ve enjoyed your commentary for years as I’m 24 and have been watching the sport from Watts’ UWF, NWA, WCW, and now the WWE, and have followed your commentary wherever you went.

I believe that commentary and production can make or break an organization (such as TNA) and I believe were it not for you, Joey Styles, and Michael Cole, WWE would be nowhere near as entertaining as it is regardless of talent because commentators completely enhance the situations and action and a good commentator is able to help progress storylines without directly affecting them and able to give insight into characters and giving them something to work with.

Basically, my question is about Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and also a statement about the lack of a real “heel” commentator these days. I’ll be watching Raw or Smackdown or ECW and see situations where a heel could be put over more by being defended or his mindset being defended. I loved when Bobby Heenan would completely side with heels and pull random reasoning from nowhere; and he’d also always put over the heel or less attractive women by professing his immense interest in them.

While King does this to a small extent, what has happened to the sympathetic heel commentators? It seems that these days, everyone is trying to be liked by the crowd instead of hated. When was the last time you heard a non-wrestler get a LOT of heat (other than Mr. McMahon)?

Also, I’ve been looking and I’m having trouble finding any real collaboration between you and The Brain. I know you worked WrestleMania IX together and I have listened to some of your commentary when it was the three-man team and it was wonderful. Especially during a Royal Rumble when the Honky Tonk Man came out, the King got excited, and you said something along the lines of “Gee, King, you’d think you two were cousins or something.” That kind of stuff is so great.

So, any other significant events where you and the Brain were able to work together?

One more thing. I read your comment about JBL. Now, I am by no means a JBL fan (his conservative views and reflections upon his real life just doesn’t allow me to be able to enjoy his character) and have really enjoyed his work with Chris Jericho because of their complete difference in style and personality.

I had no clue that he had been out because of a broken back. I must have missed that. I believe he is in decent shape and am even more impressed with his physical status now that I realize he’s come back from that AND he’s 41!

Good on you for defending a man who puts his life on the line for this crazy circus of a sport that we love.

Howdy J.R.,

I have written in many times and have been fortunate enough to have one of my comments replied to by you, so thank you for that. Also, thanks for putting the time and effort into this great blog of yours; I love reading it! Here’s my question for you: You are quite obviously a big fan of food like I am, so what are your thoughts/feelings on the world of competitive eating? Have you seen any of the televised competitive eating competitions? It truly is a sight to behold if you haven’t. And on a related note, how about a J.R.’s BBQ competitive eating contest on RAW! I’m sure some of the superstars could put away a LOT of Q! Take care!

Doi you think Randy Orton has a chance to become one of(if not the)best heel ever in wrestling if he stays healthy?

Hey JR, ive posted a few comments in the past, love your work, hope someday to be able to travel over to your restaraunt (coming from a uk fan), I just wanted to talk about the “selling” of injuries, and a big reason why cena is hated so much is when he suddenly finds energy from nowhere, an example of this is the many times he has been down and out on the floor to reverse suddenly into an f-u? And also at no way out, where he was down and out, and then suddenly slid into the ring. I think the worst case of this is Batista, who i just cannot like as a wrestler, i can’t take him seriously. I think its a huge shame Rey Mysterio will miss Wrestlemania this year, he seems to be booed nowdays, he was at the royal rumble and i personally can’t understand it as i think hes superb. What do you think on the big show returning in this floyd mayweather angle? Personally i thought the way they did the storyline at no way out was superb, however im still not overexcited at having another “celebrity” match, even though i must admit the storyline has kept me engrossed so far.

I have noticed that you very high on Lance Cade as a singles star, i don’t quite see it and was wondering if you could tell me exactly why. To me Murdoch has more potential as a singles star since he has a more unique look and character plus better mic skills. I do think Cade could be higher on the card then he is, like say in a Chuck Palumbo role, but i just don’t see him ever main eventing.

hi JR. do you think they should just disband the U.S and I.C titles. They seem like an after though to me.

Final Question, Has MVP ever won a match in 2008??

Hi JR,
me and my friends were talking about dream matches that we will never see and some we agreed upon were:

all the old schoolers in their primes of course

Tito Santana vs. Carlito

Mick Foley vs. Randy Savage (one of my friends joked it could be a beard vs. beard match)

The Iron Sheik vs. Kurt Angle

John Morrison vs. Rick Rude

Edge vs. Mr. Perfect

The Dudleys vs. The Blackjacks

and

Bret Hart vs Jeff Hardy

anyway, we were just wondering what you though of those and what are some of your dream matches that you know are impossible

Hi Mr.Ross,

I was just curious as to what you thought of Chris Jericho’s return. When he made his comeback in the late fall, it seemed like he had come back to be in a main-event position. From a fan’s perspective it now seems like he is at the mid-card level. Are you a little surprised that his comeback didn’t generate more buzz?

If Orton doesn’t leave Wrestlemania with the title, where do you see his character going from there? I think if Orton loses the title, Cena and HHH will most likely fued over the title for a while. SD possibly, Hardy fued again? or maybe a face turn?

Hey,
Jr i was wondering why doesnt ECW bring more new faces to the programs and have better feuds then they have now cause the only feud watchable right now is Cm punk vs Chavo.