Thanks for stopping by. All is good in Oklahoma. On line business is solid but we could always use more especially from you. We appreciate very much all that do shop with us.
WWEShop.com is shipping our Original BBQ Sauce to the UK, Germany and Canada. Right now only Canada can receive our Beef Jerky. If anyone wonders why, all you have to do is ask your local customs people. Nonetheless I hope that we can drum up some new business via WWEShop.com and that those that have indicated that they want to sample our sauce, etc will give it a shot.
For those that live in the USA we ship FREE via Federal Express Ground for virtually every package that's on display in our on line store.
Some of your questions, topics, some that made the cut and some that didn't:
Nope...I don't ski. Water or snow. All you have to do is think one of two things, "Fat man in a little coat," or an inebriated bovine on ice.
Can I change WWE's mind in being a PG product? Not a chance. Wouldn't even try. I like the PG rating for many reasons. Small kids can watch with mom and dad and likely couldn't whey the 'Attitude Era' was blowing and going. Plus, WWE's going to attract many, many more sponsors with BIG money to spend if they are PG rated and not a slice and dice show.
Being PG can create some conflicting scenarios but by and large most parents are not going to be offended or have to explain sensitive things to their kids when they watch a WWE TV show. Plus I firmly believe that if the proper strategy is in place that a PG wrestling show can still very extremely entertaining. To me, and I realize that I'm 'old school' TV wrestling is still about athleticism, personal issues, physicality, and meaningful titles .
No...I'm NEVER going to open an independent wrestling territory and double no if I did would I endorse barbed wire, broken glass, sensationalistic stunts over competitive athletically based wrestling between individuals who have a logical reason for competing against each other.
I agree that Miz and Zach Ryder might make a really good tag team but there is much more money in Miz right now as a singles wrestler which is likely why Miz and Ryder will be tag champions in a couple of weeks.
Bret Hart's promos are fine even if he did inadvertently say WWF instead of WWE on live TV. It's called human error. That's why I still screw up these blogs and I use spell check. Bret is an old school guy who speaks from his heart and via his guts. In today's world of high tech TV it's often times challenging for guys that learned one way of doing things to adapt to new trends. I will now go look in the mirror.
Portions of Steve Austin and my Cauliflower Alley presentations are available via my Facebook page at http://facebook.dj/jrbbq. Just look for the link once you get there. I did o.k. even though I had used all my drink tickets.
Bill Mercer was a good, solid wrestling commentator in the Von Erich days and did what every wrestling announcer who develops tenure does, he knew his role. The role of a wrestling broadcaster is and always has been to embellish the abilities of the competitors and not to highlight anyone's deficiencies. For example, "He's fat but he's slow," wouldn't be a good thing to proclaim.
Gary Hart WAS a genius. Not only was the Chicago native a great manager, top four easily, but he had a brilliant mind and his book is still one of my all time favorite wrestling books. Wrestling managers are likely an endangered species but watching guys like Gary Hart work their magic at ringside or during a promo was a wonderful time in my career.
The Shelf life of an unopened bottle of JR's BBQ Sauce or Chipotle Ketchup is one year. Same for the Jerky. Obviously if one plans on eating it and not having it simply as a souvenir I hope that you order more than once a year or this site will be adiós amigo.
No one from the NXT class has jumped out at me yet but I do think that the second NXT class has some nice prospects. It will all depend on how hard they work AWAY from WWE TV and what info they take back with them to FCW and what info that they discard.
I do wish that none of them wrestled in jewelry or glasses but that's just an observation. Plus, I might put a moratorium on some guys getting another zillion tattoos unless the company goal is to have as many guys as possible with as many tattoos as possible so that they all resemble each other as much as possible. Yes, I am being somewhat facetious.
Please join me on Twitter...I ain't no Ashton Kutcher but we are growing at http://twitter.com/JRsBBQ.
Thought the Strikeforce show Wednesday night was average. Fedor was under promoted as I would surmise that most missed his Rogers' fight that preceded the Live Strikeforce show. If Fedor is Strikeforce's Stone Cold then they did a poor job of making Fedor special to the casual fan.
Same goes for Cris Cyborg who was also under exposed, and I mean that in a nice way Ms. Cyborg. Why not a succinct, kick ass video of her in the show instead of trying to understand what in the hell she was saying to us in the promo with the young lady who seemed out of place? Strikeforce, to the casual fan, has something marketable with the women MMA fighters but I can name you two. Cyborg and Gina Carano. Ironically, Gina sold more tickets in San Jose at the same time as Fedor has for his upcoming fight there. Go figure.
Whether it is the powerful NFL of MMA, UFC, or any other group trying to gain a foothold, it all comes down to the same thing for every group....the creation and monetization of new stars.
Check out www.fighthype.com for an interview that I did for them a few days ago that's being run in multiple parts. Other than my 'look' perhaps that's why I'm no longer on weekly, pro wrestling TV shows....I can't speak in sound bytes any longer. I'm just saying.
I still think that there will be a few more shoes to drop on all this college football conference realignment business. Lots of decisions still to be made especially in the Big 12. I hope that OU does start its own network for somewhat obvious, personal reasons.
We're selling lots of beef jerky by the case and we are elated. Great savings and a great way to enhance one's stash. When I started using our 97% FAT FREE beef jerky as my primary 'snack' it helped me, or so I feel, lose some lbs.
Be well and come back and see us. Remember that the Q&A section is updated as of Thursday late afternoon. I have to go the gym now. I used to just drive by our gym but now I actually go in and get some work done. Hopefully the older lady who likes to walk beside me on the treadmill is already done with her workout as she has this little issue with walking flatulence that sometimes will shorten my cardio work.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
My point is that pro wrestling is what it is, and most people already have their minds made up about it. Watering it down/aiming it at kids will not change their opinions. If you think about it, pro wrestling is not, and/or should never be family friendly. What socially redeeming qualities is there? Telling the little ones to solve their problems through violent means? Beating up someone because they are different, and/or don't agree with you about a subject? Also, I find it hilarious that WWE Wrestlers aren't allowed to choke another wrestler, or even say the word choke, but they are allowed to punch. kick, and even hit each other with steel chairs. But what do I know? I'm actually in the age range of the demo that watches pro wrestling, not a 5 year old child, and if it's one thing I've learned the past several years since The Monday Night Wars ended, Vince and Co. no longer cares what my group thinks....
"That program just a few short years ago used to do between 5.0-6.0 on a regular basis. Now they get elated if they do in the mid 3.0's,(They haven't hit 4.0 in almost a year.)"
I see your point, but it is important to keep in mind that ratings are a percentage number. The value of a rating, in terms of how many viewers it represents, changes constantly as channels, like USA Network, get added to more and more homes.
Here's an example of what I mean: the most watched Raw ever (May 10, 1999 on USA Network) drew an 8.1 cable rating with an average viewership of 9.2 million viewers. If an episode of Raw in June 2010 had 9.2 million viewers watching, the episode's rating would be around a 6.0 or so, not an 8.1.
You never answered my original question; What has The P.G. Rating done business wise for The WWE? Take a look at WWE's flagship show, Raw. That program just a few short years ago used to do between 5.0-6.0 on a regular basis. Now they get elated if they do in the mid 3.0's,(They haven't hit 4.0 in almost a year.) And this comparison to TNA to somehow justify this new direction working is unfair, considering the amount of time TNA has been on the air, compared to the amount of time The WWF/E has been on the air. Lastly, I think it's very interesting that when The WWF/E was in "The Attitude Era", you apparently didn't have a problem with any of it, but now that their targetting the kiddies, your of course all for it. Sort of like how you always said on commentary that Hulk Hogan, Rodey Piper, etc. were old fossils when they were in WCW, but when they came back to The WWE, they were now Iconic Legends....
I am not engaging you or any one else in a debate over the PG rated, WWE TV programs. I have no influence over them but still feel that a well produced, strategic, PG wrestling show can be effective. If you disagree, so be it as I respect your opinion. PG programming will garner much more ad revenue over the long haul than a show that focuses only on males 18-34.
With all due respect J.R., what has The P.G. Direction done business wise for The WWE? It hasn't increased ratings, buyrates, attendence, etc. If anything, it has driven more viewers away than it has brought in. You can't tell me you don't think it looks totally dumb when a match is stopped due to a wrestler having a small cut on his earlobe. This is PRO WRESTLING, NOT ROMPER ROOM! It's no wonder why more viewers are flocking to UFC/MMA right now. Get a clue. Besides, this whole P.G. thing is due to Linda McMahon's stupid campaign bid, not some sense of targeting a broader audience....
I have a clue but I'm not sure that you do on this subject. Your logic is flawed and the campaign cop-out is lame. Many of today's major advertisers are considering WWE for significant financial investments in the near future that creates new monies which is imperative for a public company to grow in dire economic times. If it were all about blood and edgy language like 'assh**e" then why isn't TNA doing significantly better than NXT and the Superstars show? There are lots of content on today's TV wrestling shows that I would not do but that has to do the basic concept and execution not a PG rating.
I just registered to do comments on here. The only reason i did was because of the previous two comments. You guys are so on the money! The limo incident especially. The legends career ENDED because of concussions...so they do the limo spot. But daniel bryans still fired!?!? Lets protect Kevin Dunn! Or whoever flipped to it. Its very disappointing. Bryans so talented.but they keep the talentless on the roster (Kane, vicki guererro, big show). Say what you want but were smart wrestling fans JR. Theres more to this bryan story. Maybe he WILL be at the PPV. Ps i dont wanna hear anyone say vicki gets good "heat". Its not heat when u change the channel. Watched my copy of NWA Future Shock 89 this week. Best ppv ever. What do you think JR? Your commentary was really pullin above and beyond everybody at that point. Sent from my iPhone
I always tried to carry my share of the water. I still think Daniel Bryan will be back in WWE some day and perhaps sooner than later. Today's product is likely better suited for the announce teams of today than they are for me.
JR -
I have said this in a few other places, and I know that you do not have any control over these areas nor do you want any... but I really want to see Daniel Bryan back on WWE TV. He was a true standout, not just for his amazing charisma (the promos he did in the feud with Michael Cole were red hot), but his in ring skills as well. John Cena has already put himself out there on the public record to give him another chance, and the fan momentum behind him is huge. Again, I know it isn't your area of responsibility, but I want as many folks in WWE to know that we want him back. Was I upset when Mickie James was let go? YES. But I wasn't writing letters over it. I am writing letters over the Daniel Bryan situation. I can't beleive that last year, Randy Orton was scripted to violate Stephanie McMahon in one of the most emotionally disturbing scenes that I can imagine, but two seconds of choking gets Bryan fired? How come Kevin Dunn isn't fired for letting it be on the screen in the first place?
J.Ja
Sorry, I still can't get my head around why choking a guy violates some kind of PG standard but letting a guy with a history of concussion and stroke problems get knocked around in the back of a limo isn't. Maybe the "Linda McMahon's campaign got Bryan Danielson fired" is a stupid theory, but so is the fact he was let go for violating some stupid PG standard. I can't wait until the real story comes out.
Hi JR
I've been a long time reader of this blog and never have commented or bought anything so figured it was time to change that.
I really appreciate your honest and straight talking approach when it comes to blogging and it's a very brave approach and extremely refreshing. I am a huge fan and supporter of yours and it's nice to see you still connect with WWE fans (I hate calling them the WWE Universe!)
I'm 19 so when I got into WWE (WWF) it was the Attitude Era so I i've always equated your voice with the programming I so love and it saddens me slightly when you're not around. Just thought i'd tell you that.
Thanks for being so darn cool.
Joey