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

Waking up at 4 a.m. two mornings in a row...I know, poor me...reminded me of why I resisted becoming a dairy farmer in Eastern Oklahoma instead of going to college before running off to “join the circus” aka the wrestling biz as my late father once told me. Over the years Dad eased up considerably on my chosen profession and I think he was actually proud of my accomplishments toward the end of his life. Good Lord, this is beginning to sound like an episode of “Dr. Phil” which was not my intent. Let’s move along there’s nothing left to see here.

Monday Night Raw was an interesting show from ‘Nawlins and certainly had its share of verbalizing. I really enjoyed the HBK-Y2J interaction and if any one wants to bet that those two don’t steal the show at the Bash let me know and perhaps we can bet some J.R.’s Beef Jerky...you know, the 97% fat free jerky. The program’s ending was intriguing to me involving Kane, who looks to be in line for more prominent exposure, along with The King and Michael Cole. Welcome to Raw, Michael. I am curious to see how this Kane business is followed up next Monday in Raleigh. I talked to King after Raw and he was still woozy after Kane pounded him that Jerry actually got lost in downtown New Orleans looking for the “team hotel” which was the Marriott on Canal Street, not exactly an obscure locale. I hope the King will be able to find Raleigh on Monday and can avoid Kane’s big right hand. :)

Speaking of North Carolina, Smackdown is taped next Tuesday in Charlotte and does any one else find it strange that Ric Flair is not “officially” a part of either of the proceedings in Raleigh or Charlotte? Perhaps we will get a Nature Boy surprise “drive by” at one of the events. With or without “The Naitch” present, there will be many “Whoo’s” in North Carolina next Monday and Tuesday. Ric’s awesome DVD is out now and, again, after watching it over the 4th of July weekend, I strongly suggest you check it out. It would also make a great gift for the wrestling fan in your life. WWE Home Video hit a grand slam on this production. It is one of the best wrestling DVDs I have ever watched.

Yours truly recorded a feature on Terry Funk while in Baton Rouge for WWE 24/7’s “The Film Room with Gordon Solie” which features some really cool film footage largely from the 1970’s that includes a tag match featuring Dory, Jr. and Terry Funk vs. the Jack and Jerry Brisco and a one on one match for the NWA Title between Terry and Jack Brisco. This should really be a fun feature to watch when it is finished. As I have said here before, WWE 24/7 may be the best bang for a wrestling fan’s buck out there today.

Another WWE 24/7 match I was interviewed for in Baton Rouge was the Hart Foundation vs. The Brain Busters tag team rivalry which featured some text book, tag team competition that any young wrestler would benefit from watching.

Final note on Baton Rouge....it is hard to describe to the uninformed just how big the Junkyard Dog was in that part of the world in Dog’s heyday. Former Freebird Michael Hayes and I discussed JYD’s Mid South Wrestling “run” that featured many, many attendance records in the state of Louisiana. JYD was more popular to a large degree than Saints QB Archie Manning, yeah that Manning who sired Peyton and Eli, and hoops great Pistol Pete Maravich. Also, this was the state where many elected officials were on the Mid South payroll, unofficially, and where the cash money often times flowed like gumbo in plain, brown bags.

There will be lots of wrestling on Friday Night Smackdown this week. In my humble and biased opinion, SD features the best wrestling of any WWE program this week. Edge had another memorable night of TV and is simply on top of his game and doing what he does better than any one in the WWE. I especially enjoyed the HHH-Chavo, Matt Hardy-Benjamin, and Edge-Big Show bouts in particular. Plus, the continued slow, steady growth of the “Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov is encouraging when one looks long term. Every match on the program seemed to accomplish their goals which is always fun of which to be a part.

Interesting pairing of Tony Atlas and ECW Champ Mark Henry this Tuesday on Sci Fi. Henry traveling with Atlas will allow Mark to sit under a veteran’s learning tree and talk wrestling and the many nuances of the business. I am pulling for Atlas, a WWE HOF’er, who has had some challenging times in recent years including being homeless for a time. I am a big believer in “mentoring” and every successful wrestler I can think of had a mentor in their professional life.

Uncle Bret Hart will likely be proud of niece Natalya Neidhart on Friday Night Smackdown especially with Nattie’s utilization of “The Hitman’s” vaunted “Sharp Shooter”. I am very high on Ms. Neidhart’s potential and her approach to her work.

The C.M. Punk vs. Batista World Title Bout at the Great American Bash will be one of the most analyzed matches of 2008. Punk has a loyal, passionate fan base which somewhat reminds me of the original ECW fan base. I am truly anxious to watch this Raw contest on July 20 and I think the fans in Long Island will favor Punk over “The Animal”, not that it matters. A victory by Punk certainly allows him to take a giant step forward in validating his title win over Edge in OKC but what does a loss do to Batista’s career? Perhaps nothing, or perhaps it would positively lead elsewhere. What does a hard fought loss do to Punk? Again, perhaps nothing as some guys can elevate themselves in a losing effort. Point being in all this rhetoric is that this is an intriguing match, that will bring out the passion in both athlete’s fans and will certainly be thoroughly discussed no matter the outcome. I kinda like it.

The chemistry between the new Smackdown announce duo of Mick Foley and yours truly is still a work in progress but I think we show growth, no jokes please as both of us are very sensitive, with each broadcast. I know the effort is there to get better and that goal will never change whether it be short term or long term. I like that we are able to work in some wrestling nostalgia on most weeks along with a little humor to go along with calling the bouts. Bottom line for me is that I am having a blast working with Mick who, by the way, was named after my boyhood hero the great #7 of the N.Y. Yankees, Mickey Mantle.

The WWE’s recent international tour of Chile, Peru, and Panama grossed over $2.2M in ticket sales last week.

Circle Wednesday July 16 down on your calendars as that is the day that the new J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q opens its doors at 11 a.m. at exit 116 on the west side of I-35 in fast growing Moore, Oklahoma. I will most likely go straight there after arriving back from Charlotte next Wednesday morning. We are looking to add new memorabilia from DX, Stone Cold, Bret Hart and a just arrived, signed LeBron James jersey to our walls in the new place.

Thanks for your business and for checking out our blogs....BROTHER!!
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.