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

Back from cheese country safe and sound and hitting the ground running with plenty to do on the BBQ front not to mention prep time for this Sunday's "Bash." BBQ'ed random thoughts..... 

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Gerald Brisco is feeling much better and after a "false start" regarding his lab work looks as if he will have his "valve job" for his ticker next week. In order words, Jerry Brisco is scheduled, as I write this, to have the small hole in his heart and the faulty heart valve repaired in Tampa next week. Jerry seems to have made a positive turn from the affects of his multiple strokes. The Brisco's are tough and have always been winners and I can feel Jerry attacking this matter with the competitive edge with which he was born. Recovery time for all the native Okie's health issues will likely be a couple of months, maybe a little more, but what some folks wouldn't give to have a couple of months off and get away from the challenging,  weekly travel schedule.  

Not a bad trip this week as I flew into Chicago and then rode to Milwaukee Sunday night and hooked up with Todd Grisham on Monday for the short haul up to Green Bay for our one match. The SD bout ended up being a solid one considering it was a 6 man tag featuring 3 different issues in one contest. The SD crew will accept all "thanks" from the Raw team for helping Raw pop a nice TV rating Monday night. That was a joke, by the way. 

I thought HHH vs. Orton was one helluva match Monday night for the record. Big time execution and physicality. Love the physical nature of the business but that's easy for me to say as I only have to try and describe it.....BROTHER!!  

Monday was fun and I want to say that Donald Trump and his traveling party are as professional and friendly as any of the celeb's that have ever visited WWE. I always enjoying talking with Mr. Trump and he's actually been watching the programming as he had a few J.R. quotes from previous shows. I thought that was pretty cool.

BTW....years ago if someone told an old time wrestler that they  "enjoyed the show tonight" the old timer would usually curse out the fan and threaten them with bodily harm for implying that the event was a "show."

Speaking of old timers, I got a Crusher reference in the Smackdown show Friday night in Milwaukee, the city the late Crusher, Reggie Lisowski, made famous in his AWA days.   

This week's Friday Night Smackdown show is a really solid,  two hour effort with lots of wrestling and some extremely entertaining interaction between Mr. McMahon and Theodore Long. You can judge for yourself Friday night but I think you will agree that the SD team created an awareness for The Bash PPV which it needed. With so many PPV's makes it challenging to give all of them the time and TLC that they need to fully engage the consumer in buying them. I think that this Sunday's PPV has a chance to be really good especially if the match times allow for compelling stories to be told.  

Speaking of California, The Bash, etc, this is a long trip as I leave Saturday for Sacramento and don't return until the following Thursday afternoon after the Bakersfield SD/ECW taping. That's likely to mean a trip to Stamford the following week for voice overs of the Bakersfield Smackdown. 

I was really sad to hear of Billy "Red" Lyons passing. I first met Billy when he would attend the every 3 week, WWE TV tapings always traveling with Jack Tunney and always dressed like a pro with coat and tie. Billy told great stories including when he was Cowboy Bill Watts' tag partner not long after Watts had made his in ring debut. Billy "Red" Lyons was a class act who made significant, long term contributions to the business that he loved and will be missed by so many. My condolences to all of Billy's friends and family. I'll assure you that Billy has some of "the boys" cornered in Heaven and they are all laughing at one of Billy Red's stories as you read this. 

The Jeff Hardy challenge to World's Champ C.M. Punk is really gathering steam. I actually like the deliberate evolution of Punk's persona and his subtleties are on point in my view because they are not being rushed along. This first ever one on one meeting and with it being on PPV should encourage these two natural performers to raise the bar this Sunday and I expect this match to rock. I love the contrast in styles, Hardy's high flying and Punk's strikes ala those brain rattling knee shots, which can help make for a great bout.

John Morrison is starting to separate himself from the pack of young talents who want to elevate to the next level and Morrison's bout this Friday night against C.M. Punk is a damn good one.  

Growing up in the wrestling territories, the Mask vs. the IC Title bout has me emotionally vested. Some younger fans may not connect with the heritage of Rey's mask and other fans may simply want to lament what was once done in WCW and that's cool but I am in a role where I have to deal in "today" and come Sunday I look for these two pro's to make their match hard to follow. 

SD has four bouts at The Bash which also includes Melina defending the WWE Women's Title against Michelle McCool, this one will be physical if my instincts are accurate, and the Ziggler vs. Khali bout which might surprise us. I'm not saying it will be Brisco-Funk or HHH-HBK but still, Dick, I mean Dolph Ziggler vs. The Great Khali might offer a surprise. Or not.

Yes, ladies but sorry to confirm that my young, broadcast partner Todd Grisham, a rising star in WWE, has become engaged to be married. Congrats to Todd who is 33 and has never been hitched. Smart man....there's no reason to rush into martial bliss. Of course, the Mrs. and I have been invited to the wedding but it, unfortunately,  takes place on Saturday October 17 in the Northeast and I will be in Dallas that day for the Oklahoma vs. Texas college football game. Hey, a man has to have his priorities and Todd and his new bride will receive a nice gift from the Ross'. Nonetheless I wouldn't miss an OU-UT game to attend the wedding of one of my own family members.

Chris Jericho was telling the story in Milwaukee Tuesday night of the locker room altercation he had with Goldberg on Goldberg's first night in WWE. I saw the incident and it was essentially over in the blink of an eye as Jericho grabbed a tight, front face lock on his larger adversary and then the mêlée was broken up. Jericho smiled when remembering that moment and many of the young guys seemed to enjoy hearing the story. 

Take it from me, no one in Green Bay wants to talk about Bret Favre. Sore subject. The #4 ship has sailed in Cheeseland. 

We are presently looking at the possibility of opening one or two more J.R.'s Family BBQ'S and are doing our due diligence on these projects. Both will be in Oklahoma so we can properly manage them. Stay tuned. 

Thanks for stopping by. More blogs and Q&A's updated soon. 

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.