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Greetings from the snowy confines of Connecticut..
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 12:14pm — J.R.
I watched Raw Monday night from my room in the Mohegan Sun. Here are my thoughts.
Several elements of the show were especially enjoyable to me.
Firstly for the crowd to be as big and as involved was impressive considering how inclement the weather was and fans could have stayed home and watched the show on cable for free.
Chris Jericho continues to star w/ a mic in his hand. I don’t know where this Legend’s based issue is heading but I am more than interested in it thanks to Winnipeg’s talented Jericho. Who will Y2J offend next week?
The HHH-Orton segment was money. Plain and simple...this piece of business sold PPV’s. Personal issues have always been the foundation of wrestling and this matter is the most personal issue in WWE in years. The challenge will be to build from Monday night but that is certainly doable. This issue also helps HHH’s Friday Night Smackdown broadcast of which I have a vested interest.
I personally enjoyed the old school HBK-Koslov bout. Koslov focusing on HBK’s back worked for me. Loved the closing moments that included a surprise appearance by the Undertaker. The Michaels vs. Undertaker WM25 bout will be special knowing these 2 men as I do. Both have contributed mightily at past ‘Manias and to be able to wrestle each other in Texas will be special for each of them.
Edge retaining the WHC surprised me and that development should also contribute to some interesting Smackdown broadcasts in the upcoming weeks.
Loved the Bill Watts HOF feature which did a great job of introducing Bill to a generation of fans who might not have been familiar with the Big Cowboy. Watts was a main event star in every major American, wrestling territory in the 60’s & 70’s. Watts learned from the masters of the biz and the Dean’s List student at Oklahoma then put together an amazing resume as a promoter and producer of great, episodic TV. Bill also had a great eye for talent and was a legendary taskmaster who always demanded great effort from everyone who worked for him. I know that I would have never have achieved what ever good fortune has come my way in the business without Cowboy’s learning tree. I look forward to inducting Bill in the WWE HOF on April 4. I hope to make it succinct and entertaining.
Surprising to see Divas Champ Maryse on Raw but that has to bode well for Friday nights on MyNetworkTV. Much like Gomez Adams, Tazz loves it when Maryse speaks French.
From what I’m told the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino is close to a sell out as I write this. Tuesday night should be a fun evening.
Don’t forget to checkout my Smackdown blog on WWE.com every Thursday.
Our in store specials featuring some reduced cost shipping elements are doing well.
Big week back in Oklahoma with yours truly participating in OU football head coach Bob Stoops’ charity bowling tournament, attending two college hoops games, and watching the Sooners spring football practice.
Yes, I have a very understanding, sports minded wife.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
P.S. With the weather being an issue Monday in Boston, Jerry Lawler had to fly Monday from snowy Memphis to NYC's LaGuardia and then take a 3 hour plus train ride to Boston.
I spoke with King while he was on his first train ride ever, Monday afternoon. It was quite the travel adventure but the HOF'er did not seem to miss a beat Monday night.
Also, the economy, along w/ a bunch of snow, has certainly affected the Casino business, as the Mohegan Sun was a quiet place on Monday night. Business will pick up Tuesday evening.
- J.R.'s blog
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Hey J.R.
I've been reading and enjoying your blog for the past year or so, but have never commented or posted any questions. Something has been bothering me lately and I was wondering if you had any insight to clear up the matter since you are currently on the Smackdown brand. I always read the Smackdown spoilers on Wrestlezone.com usually because I'm not able to catch Smackdown on Friday nights, but I don't read them unless thats the case.
I look forward every year to the Road to Wrestlemania just because I love watching everything unfold leading into the big show and I also enjoy No Way Out being the last PPV before Mania giving extra time to build storylines. My question is with it being so close to Wrestlemania is there anyway WWE would be able to hold live Smackdown shows in the future during the Road to Wrestlemania because I noticed last night Spoilers were put up for this and next weeks Smackdown broadcast and yes I did refrain myself from reading them, but is it really in WWE's best interest to risk leaking these stories and results so close to the big show or is the real problem just people like myself who read the spoilers?
P.S. I think that with all the current matches set and the storylines going into Mania. The 25th Anniversary is looking to be up there with the best of them
Dan Devine
Hey J.R.:
Avid fan and professional author here...always had a personal dream of being a writer for you guys, but I won't bother pandering to you on a blog post. Anyways, a few thoughts from the past RAW:
I'm with you on the old school feel of the Kozlov/Michaels match. It seems that HBK has been having the best storylines lately...well, maybe not the best (Mr. Jericho is burning it up at the moment), but Michaels is such a showman that he can't help but garner crowd sympathy...that guy will always be over. Anyways, I like the old school heel concept with Kozlov, which is probably in part due to his mic ability, I assume? Of course, if that guy can rip on the mic just well enough, I can see him transforming into something more. Sort of like Angle breaking out of the old-fashioned face into something greater back in the day.
Speaking of Kozlov, I remember you guys trying a similar MMA-bent with Santino BEFORE he was ever Santino and showcasing on the big stage, and that reminds me: Where's Santino? Haven't seen too much of the little guy lately. Maybe backing him off before he gets over as a face? The way I see it, he's so over its inevitable. It seems a heel just can't stay heel when he's so funny. I think you guys have a huge wealth of potential in him, just so long as he keeps polishing his in-ring chops. Get that man a finisher!
You guys surely won't let something with as much putting-over potential as Taker's streak go to HBK, would you? I guess I just see it as a prime way to put over the guy you most want to be the foundation for the future...of course, on the other side of the coin, it seems that only someone of HBK's caliber should do it. I like the older guys putting over the young, but it's almost too much of a gift when it comes to Taker.
I like Edge working a program with Cena. In fact, I hope you guys keep this going for awhile and let some heat build in it. Cena's been sorely missing a proper heel to work with...and I think that's a big part of the reason why he isn't as over as he could be.
The Orton/HHH stuff is good, and I think it was the right time to finally have HHH pop bubble on his marriage and kids. But I hate to say it--its just my opinion, really--but I still don't ever see Orton being all that you guys have put into him. He's just not that charismatic. I'm glad he's stabilized his life enough that you guys can push him safely...and I'm damn glad his in-ring workrate has increased exponentially...but he's just not the heel any of the other great heels have ever been. I think the lawyers and back-up routine is a good idea, but make him that much more sniveling and conniving. Thank god the "legend-killer" nonsense has been given to Jericho...someone who is doing great things with it.
Anyways, sorry for being longwinded. I do, however, have a question to ask that I have been wanting to find out about for YEARS: What the hell was the "JoJo Miller Incident"?
-JMK
JR,
This wrestlemania is shaping up to be an epic one. There isn't a match on the card that I'm not excited about. I agree. The Koslov match with Shawn was intense and old school. I loved the fact that Koslov had to make Shawn regroup and rethink his strategy. Not many people can do Shawn like that. Loved it. Shawn's my favorite wrestler so quite naturally I am excited about the Mark/Shawn match. It will be amazing I'm sure. And though I don't think he will end Taker's streak, I think more 'wrestling' fans are just looking forward to some classic old-school wrestling rather than the whole 'streak' thing. The match alone will be epic in itself. Most fans like myself could care less who wins. The anticipation and the star power alone will be amazing!
Chris Jericho owns. Enough said.
Something I thought about. The 500th episode of SD. You said that you wanted us to mention some moments that were classic. Here are a few that jump out at me.
I will NEVER refer to HBK or any of the WWE Superstars as just mere 'Entertainers'. They are hard working, respectable wrestlers that deserve respect. "I will put on a show like you've never, ever seen before. Why? Because I can"
Hey JR! I remember a blog about 12 weeks ago where we were discussing the fact that Shawn would never wrestle The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25. I was one that commented on your blog pretty much saying that it would be stupid if they got someone other than Shawn to face The Undertaker at this WrestleMania. I am a huge fan of both, and have followed them ever since I can remember. I feel that this will still the show at this years WrestleMania. If it weren't for these two men, who knows where WrestleMania would be right now. It is only fitting that they wrestle each other to really decide who reigns supreme at the biggest stage of them all. If you didn't already realize, you have two unbeaten streaks on the line. The Undertaker has never lost at WrestleMania, but HBK has never lost to The Undertaker. I don't know if you already knew that the match was going to take place and were just trying to get people to stop thinking about it, or if you really thought it wasn't going to happen. Either way, I feel you did a good job trying to keep everyone from mentioning it again. Again, HBK Vs The Undertaker will be the Showstoping event at WrestleMania 25!
I'm glad the WWE is finally announcing the actual matches for Wrestlemania. It's one thing for dirt-sheeters to speculate for weeks on end and smart fans to "just know" what will happen, but the casual fans need to see line-ups that are confirmed. I'm not a casual fan but all the same, good to see they're putting the final pieces of the Wrestlemania puzzle in place!
I agree with Ben Kerr. What's a 25th "anniversary" of Mania without the "Immortal One"? A Hogan/Jericho match makes all the sense in the world and it's what everyone wants to see. Great Raw last night. Only one thing could have made the show better, and that would be JR alongside the King ringside. Maybe you'll get drafted back to Raw!
Cena vs Hogan would be freakin' awesome at Wrestlemania 25, make it happen!
Hi J.R.,
I thought Raw was a solid broadcast and created a lot of interest in WM 25. I like where the Jericho angle is going. I have a feeling Jericho will eventually offend one too many legends including one prone to wearing red and yellow. Triple H and Orton will deliver one helluva match at Mania, that's for damn sure. I was surprised to hear that the Show is the # 1 contender for Edge's WHC. That should be interesting. If Cena is not included in that title match, who would you like to see him face on April 5th? I'm looking forward to all of the shows in the coming weeks. Keep up the great work.
Ben Kerr