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

Tazz and I arrived at the Manchester Evening News Arena about 3 pm Tuesday for a 7:30 pm start for the taping of two episodes of Smackdown.

The crowd was on fire for the 1st show, without question.

We had to have both shows finished by 11 pm which put everything at a breakneck pace.

Lots of the second show will be done in post production.

I read on the ‘net where the first show was “ok” and the 2nd show was “passable.” I couldn’t disagree more. Firstly, fans who love to get a byline for reporting the results of shows that haven’t aired also love to editorialize about those programs without hearing the commentary or often times seeing or hearing the vignettes.

Nonetheless to each his own as the “spoilers” seem to comprise a competitive element between the major, wrestling websites.

Jeff Hardy had two of the best back to back shows taped in one night that I can remember seeing in years. Jeff’s match vs the Undertaker this Friday night on Smackdown is simply off the page as is the build to the final match of the evening. These two had some nasty physicality near the announce table that more closely resembled felonious assault that a wrestling match. Old school, physicality especially when the “weapons” came out. Without question, on of my favorite bouts I’ve seen in a long time.

Hardy said he was “tired of being sorry” and that he lives on “emotion” and “recklessness” and was on the brink of “insanity” and he more than lived up to those words.

Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin was a non title, champion vs. champion contest that really worked for me. Solid, solid, solid. Two segments worth of a helluva wrestling match. These men will be on opposite teams at the Survivor Series.

Carlito vs THE Brian Kendrick had fine pacing w/ Ezekiel Jackson once again making an impact. Kendrick’s associate (?) will be called Ezekiel Jackson and not “Big Zeke” or “Zeke” going forward and is showing promise.

The WWE Title contract signing was a shocker. Really good, unpredictable content.

MVP’s woes seem to be getting worse. It seems as if some fans are beginning to feel for MVP’s bad luck. I can see better days ahead for MVP after he hits rock bottom which is seemingly in sight.

FYI, I called Ranjin Singh the “Sultan of Sideburns” on this show. Seemed to work. Yes, the Khali Kiss Cam was in full force with a full figured lady named Tulula who came to play.

Can Diva’s have cliques? Oh, hell yeah. I’m just saying.....

They can also be, gasp, jealous types.

I watched more episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Quincy” on this trip than I would have ever predicted. I would have predicted none but it was either that or cricket and no one alive can explain the rules of cricket to a novice in less than, oh say, a couple of days.

Thank goodness for 24 hour room service and NFL complete game replays.

The hotel allowed no fans inside the hotel unless they were registered guests which kept the atmosphere somewhat sane.

The announcers and the hard working TV crew stayed at one hotel while the “VIP’S” and the wrestlers stayed at another.

Technically, when the WWE gets out of their own production truck many things can go wrong. The “World’s Angriest Announcer” and I had serious audio issues. If we seem like we are a little too “hot” or seem to be “yelling” at you Friday night its because we couldn’t hear each other most of the night. It’s a long, technically, boring story that you will be the final judge of come Friday night.

I felt like our call of Jeff-’Taker was stout nonetheless.

I’m doing an interview w/ OKC’s Daily Oklahoma newspaper this week on this Saturday’s Brock Lesnar-Randy Couture UFC PPV. Couture can win obviously but it won’t because Lesnar gets fatigued. I am still perplexed as how the 225 lb Couture will deal with the 280 pound Lesnar at fight time Saturday in Vegas where ticket sales have been sluggish after the original on sale. I would love to attend in person but I plan on watching in “the comfort of my own home.”

I am writing this on the plane ride home as American Airlines is showing “The Devil Wears Prada”.....again on the way to Chicago. Stop my pain.

Our new holiday specials are selling well. Keep them in mind as some feature free shipping.

WM25 tkts are north of 40,000 sold w/ 68% being sold to Texas residents. I think the number I heard was somewhere around $5M sold. Nice start in an extremely sluggish economy. This will sellout in the 65-70,000 range.

My Sooners host #2 ranked Texas Tech the night before the Survivor Series on ABC’s national game of the week. That means a 6 a.m. departure for me Sunday from OKC to Boston. Might be a short nite or a long one depending the outcome of this massive game.

Loved the signs in Manchester as the sign police seemed to be somewhat relaxed.

4 guys sat on the 1st row all wearing black, cowboy hats of which I signed for them after the last show ended.

You won’t see it on TV, perhaps WWE.com, but ref Charles Robinson gave Chavo Guerrero mouth to mouth resuscitation after Smackdown went off the air Tuesday night. I guess you had to be there.

So other than it being an announcer’s production nightmare Tuesday night in Manchester, my take is that we came away with two really solid broadcasts.

The WWE’s string of sellouts and massive grosses continue this week.

Tuesday night was the 3rd million dollar plus gate and sell out in the last two days on this tour.

Be well and thanks for considering our products for a portion of your holiday shopping needs. We appreciate very much.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.