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

Here's hoping that every one had a great New Year's Eve. My late father called December 31 "Amateur Night" which meant the Mrs. and I "laid low" Wednesday night at home. Football and movies were the order of the evening.

I exchanged text messages with Ric Flair and told him that wife Jan and I were "laying low" at home and for him to be careful knowing his proclivity to party especially on a big night like New Year's Eve and he said it was IMPOSSIBLE for the Nature Boy NOT to party on such a big night and ended the text with a giant WHOOO!! Some things never change.

One has to wonder how "Naitch" is feeling today?

Flair, along with HBK,  created my most memorable moment of 2008 with Ric's gut wrenching, memorable match at Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. I am so proud that I was a part of the announce team that called "Naitch's" last match. The King doesn't get too wrapped up in that sort of thing but that was a moment that I will cherish forever. 

When HBK retires, which hopefully won't be any time soon, he told me he wanted me to call his last match too. I asked what if I'm not on the air any longer and he said it didn't matter and that I could come back for one more match. Those may have been some of the nicest words any wrestler has ever said to me. 

Certainly Ric Flair's classy and memorable send off at WM24 and the following night on Raw has essentially reinvented the "Greatest Wrestler of All Time" who will likely have one of the most intriguing and headline grabbing years in the wrestling business in 2009. Knowing many of the projects that Ric is working on leads me to believe that '09 could be a banner year for Ric in many areas. Time will certainly tell.  

After broadcasting two Friday Night Smackdown's in Jersey on Tuesday night I want to tip my hat to the fans in attendance who were a great group and the majority stayed for the production of both broadcasts. I can assure you that broadcasting two Friday Night Smackdown's in one evening is much more challenging than the days of the King and I broadcasting entire PPV's alone. A 4+ hour night is a helluva lot more taxing that is doing a just under 3 hour PPV that has been promoted for weeks and which one is familiar with the content. 

I do think that the Smackdown doubleheaders are a great idea but they need to continue to be refined especially on how the second show is produced. For me, being able to be off the road a couple of extra weeks per month isn't a bad thing plus producing two shows in one night saves the company huge bucks and gives fans in those markets where two shows are produced a bonus and the chance to see a great deal of content produced. 

My biggest professional wish in 2009 is to see many of the second generation and other new wrestlers, new meaning that they have only been in the biz a year or two, step up, become more aggressive, assert themselves in every level of their professional process and thus become new, main event stars. The development of new stars is the most important thing the business has to deal with from my point of view. 

Our new blog is up at the Smackdown site on WWE.com and we should have our college football picks posted on WWE.com at any moment as well.  College football picks with a wrestling flavor as you will see for those of you who are not college football fans. 

We are anxious to join our fellow Sooner fans from around the nation converge on Miami, Florida for the National Championship game on January 8. Not having to tape Smackdown next week has helped facilitate an extended stay in south Florida which is never a bad thing.

Today it is the mandatory meal of black eyed peas and collard greens with represent good health and wealth respectively which has been a staple meal on New Year's Dad at the Ross homestead since I was a youngster which I know many of you find that hard to believe...the part of once being young. 

Have a great day and remember to check out our Q&A's and our new material up at WWE.com. 

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.