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Weekend Update..Owen Hart...Macho Man...Flair Wrestling...Changes on the BBQ Front
Sat, 05/23/2009 - 10:46am — J.R.
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Here's hoping everyone who celebrates the Memorial Day Holiday has a safe and fun one. We are entertaining our oldest daughter's family which means the two granddaughters will be here which equates to a great day. I was going to attend a performance of the Lion King with them on Sunday afternoon but instead will be traveling to Los Angeles. Nonetheless, the Mrs will make sure, as she always does, that things go well for all while I travel to work. Saturday's update follows....
Today, May 23, is the 10th Anniversary of the death of Owen Hart. Owen died accidentally when a faulty harness malfunctioned while he was making an entrance from the rafters of Kansas City's Kemper Arena. The PPV event, Over the Edge, is one that I have never watched....since that night a decade ago. I have always said that if I ever write a book about my career in the wrestling biz turned sports entertainment biz turned entertainment biz that I would likely watch Over the Edge so I could adequately address what effect that day had on my life and how I truly felt during those gut wrenching hours. I do remember that I had less than a minute to prepare for an on camera to tell our viewing audience that Owen had died. That wasn't an easy assignment. I could not repeat what I said on that evening today if you held a gun to my head. I have blocked so much of that entire day out of my memory that it all seems like a blur to me today. I do know that if I watch the show again that all those memories will rush back and at that time I will write down my thoughts but until that day comes this PPV will never be viewed in my home.
As so many have accurately stated on many occasions, Owen Hart was a wonderful human being. Not only an extremely talented, perhaps underrated wrestler, but a loving husband, father, son, and brother. Plus, he was quite the character.
As the head of WWE Talent once upon a time, I had to have a "sit down" with a wrestler before a live TV show I was going to broadcast about the individual's alleged drug use. I recall the rumor was that this person was allegedly using cocaine. Nonetheless the word of the meeting spread almost immediately amongst the wrestlers, imagine that (telephone, telegraph, tell a wrestler) and of course word got back to Owen. So later that day he purposely and literally ran into me in the hall way in the locker room area as I was walking with my head down looking at some notes for that night's broadcast. When our bodies collided I looked up and saw it was Owen and he had taken powdered sugar off a donut and put an ample amount of it all under his nose and his eyes were barely open as if he was severely impaired. At that exact moment I did not think it was too funny, but within seconds and after he burst out laughing I easily found the humor in his stunt and it actually allowed me to release some of the stress that I was feeling from the previous "sit down."
I also remember Owen driving a rental car from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh across the street to the downtown Marriott in a vehicle that included Owen, Bret Hart, my wife Jan, me and someone else that I can't recall. Bret was in a hurry to return to the hotel and Owen purposely missed every turn to get us to the Marriott and what should have been a 5 minute, or less, trip took approximately 30 minutes and at the end of the journey I thought Bret was going to assault his younger, prank playing brother. Owen would miss a turn, pass a church or something that resembled a church and then would invoke in the name of Clarke W. Griswold from the film "European Vacation".... "Hey, look kids....Big Ben!" Owen had the ability to take a 5 minute, mundane drive and turn it into a 30 minute odyssey that was filled with laugher. At least for most of us.
Owen was also thrifty and instead of staying at hotel on the road he often times stayed with fans in their homes. He would sleep on the couch or in the spare bedroom of these fans and save the money for lodging and often times food as well. Some of those stories of "sleep overs" at the home of wrestling fans are classically hilarious. The "ribs" Owen played on is "hosts" are worthy of a movie script.
Owen and I also formed a broadcast team on a South African broadcast emanating from Sun City, South Africa in the late 90's. I would love to watch that one again as Owen was excellent as a color analyst.
I miss you Owen and I hope that you have stayed on the good side of God with all those practical jokes that I know you are playing in Heaven.
Here's some feedback to some emails we have received recently:
There are NO plans for EITHER the Undertaker or Shawn Michaels to retire any time soon. Stop the pain and please stop the emails about this matter. When either man does decide to say adiós there will be a HUGE deal made of it. Both men will be back in action in 2009 and no I don't have the exact date and likely no one does as we speak.
Kane is not AWOL. He is simply has not been appearing on TV lately. He, too, will return likely before Undertaker or HBK and is being counted on to contribute to Friday Night SmackDown. Kane is healthy and could return at any time.
Many raise hell about wrestling having no season, I fully understand their point, and then when wrestlers take much deserved and needed time off it becomes a major issue with conspiracy theory implications. Of course these absences could perhaps be better explained on TV but that's simply not the direction that has been set forth.
Yes, I am still friends with Mick Foley even though he wrestles in TNA and as a matter of fact Mick stopped by J.R.'s Family BBQ along with several of his friends Thursday and enjoyed some great food. I did tell him that I was shocked that he had a salad with his "Slobber-Knocker" three meat combo. After visiting with Mrs J.R. and me on Thursday , Mick got to catch up with WWE HOF'er Terry Funk in Amarillo on Friday.
Other questions concerned Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Working with Jesse Ventura was an overall positive experience. Jesse is highly intelligent and extremely opinionated. He certainly understood the wrestling business and how to execute his role as the antagonist, color analyst. I did not agree with all his political views but so what? He did not agree with all mine either. Some of our night before a PPV "meetings" resembled any thing but a strategy session but that's a story for another time. I did tell his Minnesota security detail to in essence to kiss my ass when they told me I had to call him Mr. Governor or Governor Ventura in our pre game meetings when we were broadcasting XFL games together. The governor was "Body" in those meetings and "Jesse" on TV. Sorry officer.
Do wrestles actually order JR's products from this site? Absolutely. Many of wrestling's biggest names are customers of our sauces that they purchase in our on line store. As a matter of fact we just shipped a case of sauce to Bret Hart to his Hawaii residence.
That reminds me that Edge is in need of more sauce. Several guys also carry our Beef Jerky with them as it is a nice, between meal snack that has little or no fat and no carbs. It also has great flavor. Our new, plastic bottles of "J.R.'s Original Sauce" will be in our warehouse this Tuesday and we expect the HOT sauce and the Chipolte Ketchup to follow in a couple of weeks.....hopefully.
Some emails and internet reports have speculated that I am going to be angry for having to tape WWE Superstars matches on Mondays because I will miss some OU football games. Wrong again Oliver Stone diciples....the Sooners play on Saturdays and like last year I do not plan on missing a game, home or away this season.
It's weird how many emails we receive or how many links to other sites others send me where people have the ability to read my mind and declare my moods. Lately I have been described in a variety of moods ranging from "rage" about the Monday schedule, "still angry" over not being on Raw, to having "no self respect" because I continue to go to work to provide for my family in spite of how these folks perceive that I am treated. Wow. These are the types of emails or internet posts that allow casual wrestling fans the cannon fodder to improperly stereotype ALL, die hard wrestling fans as blithering idiots when we know that simply isn't true.
Yes I think Ric Flair will wrestle again but I don't know if it will be for WWE. Ric is getting offers that involve "serious money" as my late father would say which Ric likely won't be able to turn down. Ric has said publically that he pays over $20K per month in alimony so the man has to stay pretty damn busy to keep his legally bound commitments. Nonetheless it is great to see "Naitch" back on TV and this Monday night should be no exception. There will never be another like him.
I also understand that Reid Flair is getting the help that he needs and I am hoping and praying that he succeeds in his quest to become clean and sober. If Reid doesn't come through this program successfully, then I fear for Reid's well being. Just one man's opinion, but the LAST thing Reid needs to concern himself with right now is the wrestling business, his bookings, getting back in the ring, etc. My advice to him would be to go back to school and get educated so that he would not go through life, professionally, one dimensional and could become his own man in another field that interests him.
Reid will always be "Ric Flair's kid" in the pro wrestling world. Being "Ric Flair's kid" is definitely something to be proud of but following the greatest ever in the family business may well be a challenge that no one can meet.
Friday Night Smackdown continues to be WWE's most enjoyable TV program to watch on a week in and week out basis...in my biased opinion. Why, you ask? Two words.
Todd Grisham.
Plus, great young, athletic talents who are getting the much needed TV time to help establish their personas. Every outing should come with a heightened sense of urgency for those men and women.
One final note on Owen Hart and this is just my two cents but Owen and his Dad Stu are both deserving of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. I hope it happens because Owen's fans deserve to see him honored and recognized even though I realize that Owen's widow Martha may not, I don't know for sure, agree with my opinion. Martha has done some amazingly, positive things since Owen's death of which she and her family should be proud, for the record. However, Owen Hart brought smiles to so many faces and Owen being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame would allow many of us to relive the good days with Owen and perhaps facilitate even more closure on this decade old tragedy.
Believe it or not we STILL get emails about Macho Man Randy Savage. And no....I have no idea when or if Randy Savage will ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Yes, Randy is also very deserving. Yes, it would be great to hear his induction speech and to see his highlight video. Nonetheless, please stop those emails as I am simply deleting them as I don't know how to address them any way but how I have for the past two years. I did get a copy of the Macho Man DVD this week and I felt it was really good and renewed many memories of one of WWE's greatest stars.
This coming week we are changing our menu, for the better, at J.R.'s BBQ in Norman, Oklahoma on the east side of I-35 at exit 109. Use our drive thru or call your orders in at 405-360-4227 and we will be open Memorial Day starting at 11 a.m. as usual. We have tweaked how we prepare our Pulled Pork, Brisket and they are amazing. We're also smoking whole chickens which is a healthy, moist and tasty bird. Yes, I'm biased because it is our BBQ joint but I would not be singing its praises if it were an embarrassment to my family and I couldn't be more proud of it. We are currently looking at an Oklahoma City location and I hope to see us open a Tulsa store or two in the future, as well.
Enjoy all the action from Los Angeles this week on Raw, ECW, and Smackdown. I'm just glad that, for Monday night at least, that my name isn't Stanley Kroenke.
I have also updated our Q&A section if you want to check it out but you spending a couple of bucks before you leave would almost put a smile on a face that has had two run in's with Bells palsy. :)
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
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Tomorrow will come.....
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I really miss owen hart.
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JR,
I'm 57 years old and have been following wwwf-wwf-wwe since 1967 and never felt the need to write in until seeing last night's Raw. When is Vince McMahon going to grow up? He thinks he's putting the Nuggets owner down and he's just making himself look like a total ass even though he is in the right. What an embarrassment he is to himself and the entire company.
Hey JR, I heard a rumour today that Raw may become TV-14 again while Smackdown and ECW would remain PG. Is there any truth in this?
RIP Owen Hart
I woke up on saturday morning thinking about Owen. I will never forget the unfortunate responsibility you had when you let the world know what happened on that night JR. I will never forget the moments he left with his fans with the pranks we've all heard about but his in ring performances as well.
My favorite match was with him and his brother in the steel cage at SummerSlam 94. The was an awesome Monday night and they went at it for over 30 minutes and made it look easy.
One of my favorite memories of Owen Hart was back in October 1998. I found out that some of the WWE Superstars were doing an autograph session at the Sheraton in my old hometown in Newark, NJ. I took the bus to the airport but the hotel was on the otherside of the highway and the local bus didnt stop there. I pulled a Mick Foley and hitchhiked my way to the hotel. There were so many of the guys there like Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Dan Severn, Sherri Martel, Ox Baker, Missy Hyatt, Val Venis a very young up and coming superstar by the name of Edge. But there was a crowd of people that were in the restaurant and it was Val Venis eating breakfast with Owen Hart. I know wrestling fan etiquette when it comes to wrestlers when they are eating and when they say no to wanting to sign an autograph...leave them alone.
But Owen and Val invited the fans to crowd around them to ask questions. Owen saw me and I stood out because of my size. I was 6'5' 250 lbs and asked my name and what I was doing with my life. I told him that I was a college student going for my Music Education degree. He then told me to make a muscle for him and I did. He asked why the hell am I not wrestling. I told him that I dream about it everyday wanting to get in the ring but didnt know how to go about doing it. He looked at me and said, " c'mon kid, give it a try someday". He then signed an autograph for FREE and said "Best Wishes, Owen Hart" I still have that autograph on my living room wall because it means that much to me. My tears are still on that thing because I was a crying mess during the next night on RAW. Mark Henry's poem was awesome and you can feel the passion from the boys on how they felt about Owen. One of the greatest wrestlers that was never WWE Champion. In my eyes and in the millions.....and millions of WWE fans eyes, he should be in the Hall of Fame.
I still dream about stepping in to a ring someday and when I do, I'll dedicate my first match to the fomer Tag Team Champion, former Intercontinental Champion, the King of Harts, the 2 time Slammy Award Winning Owen Hart!!!!
Hey J.R., Do you know if the Macho Man..... JUST KIDDING! On the serious side, when I clicked on my computer Sunday night to check my e-mails and saw the message that you posted a new blog entry and saw Owen Hart's name it gave me chills. I swear to God earlier Sunday afternoon, before I knew you wrote about Owen and also not aware of the 10 year anniversery of Owen's passing, Owen popped in my head and the night he passed. I was watching that infamous ppv 10 years ago. At first I thought it was a gimmick until you annouced that Owen died and I could tell by the look in your eye's it was not. I still say shame on Vince for making Owen do this stunt knowing Owen's fear of heights which from what I heard something Vince was well aware of. God Bless Owen and his Family.
Mr. Ross, my name is Kevin, and I'm a fan from the same town as Mr. Percy Pringle: Mobile, Alabama. I am a longtime fan of your work in the sports entertainment business, including both your commentary and writings. I just wanted to emphatically state how much I appreciate you remembering the late Owen Hart here on your website. I hope you don't mind me taking a few moments of your time to elaborate on this last thought, but I will forewarn you: I often wax verbose despite my best efforts not to do so.
I became a fanatic of wrestling and the WWE at a great time: shortly before the birth of what is now known as the Attitude Era. For over two years of my teenage life, I lived, ate, breathed, and slept wrestling. I made many new friends due to wrestling, and I give credit to it for strenthening the fraternity with existing friends who I still have to this day.
WWE didn't come to Mobile at all during my first two years as a fan, and I did not have much disposable income or a vehicle to make a road trip to see a live show. However, it was high on my goal list at age 15. The first opportunity I had to see WWE live was the 1999 Road to Wrestlemania Tour, which came to New Orleans a week or two before Wrestlemania 15. My father offered to drive my good friend and I to watch the show as an early birthday present.
At this point in my fandom, my knowledge of the general workings behind the scenes in pro wrestling were above average for a fan. As a result, I didn't cheer for a wrestler based solely whether he was "good" or "bad" in the story. I developed favorites based on a variety of factors, but it all boiled down to whether they could entertain me. Owen Hart had always been one of my favorite wrestlers as a result, and, by this time, he was my favorite wrestler on the WWE roster.
I did and still do appreciate Owen's in-ring ability that rivaled (if not matched) that of his older brother and my all-time favorite wrestler, Bret, and his ability to get the fans to show whatever emotions he desired when he performed.
I feel so blessed to have had a chance to see him perform with one of his best friends, Jeff Jarrett, just weeks before his passing. I remember wandering around to the various vendors in the arena, missing several prominent matches that evening, in hopes of procuring an "Enough is Enough" or "I am not a Nugget" t-shirt. It was one of the greatest nights for me during a year in my life where not much seemed to be going well.
I did not order Over the Edge on May 23, 1999, but I was still watching the network broadcasts and was planning on reading the results online after the PPV. A good "wrestling buddy" called me while I was doing homework that evening and made sure I was sitting down before laying the news of the tragedy on me.
I couldn't concentrate on much academic work the next day, and few friends and family members seemed to understand why the passing of someone who was "just a wrestler" and "not a main eventer" had me so visibly phased. I found catharsis, however, thanks to the WWE's memorials to Owen. I even got to express my personal feelings on the tragedy as a fan of Owen on the Byte This show that was dedicated to him during the week following the tragedy.
My interest in professional wrestling could best be described as inconsistent over the years since this tragedy, but I have always thought about Owen often, even though I'm just a fan who never had the opportunity to meet him personally. I am very glad that, in my acquisition knowledge about Owen Hart, the man, I have never read a disparaging word about him. And that gives me hope that I might at least meet him if I'm fortunate enough to make it to Heaven.
Mr. Ross, your kind words and stories about Owen bring warm feelings to my heart and help diminish the sadness I have dealt with, as a fan, due to his passing. I recognize that this sadness I have is a miniscule amount compared to those who knew and loved Owen during his time on this earth, however. I had noted in my mind the upcoming anniversary of this tragedy earlier in the week, and I wanted to reflect on my feelings for Owen in writing. I felt horrible for not being able to do so yesterday, as I had planned. However, now I know the reason why, in the grand scheme of things, I was not able to until now. That is to say, in posting this as a response to your blog, I am able to share my appreciation of Owen with someone who knew him for the very first time in ten years. And that means a lot to me.
Thank you for giving me further reason to continue holding the late Owen Hart in high esteem, and thank you for expressing your desire to see his career receive the fitting tribute it deserves. I apologize for waxing verbose, but men of as great character as I believe Owen Hart had deserve to be remembered at every given opportunity, because they are so rare. I'm know you agree with this sentiment.
I will be on the front row at the upcoming PPV in New Orleans, Mr. Ross, and I will be cheering as loudly as I can for you when I see you. Thank you for your work and also for going the extra mile when you interact with fans like me. God bless.
Ten years have past since Owen left us. Time sure does fly. I still miss Owen. I actually just watched his match with Austin from Summerslam '97. God Bless Owen. Thank you for addressing the retirement rumors of Taker, and HBK. I visit PhenomForever, which posts all Taker news annd rumors. These rumors appear all the time, and most of up seasoned Taker fans know he's not retiring. You're the only person who's in the business, who's opinion I fully trust and believe. As for Kane, I hope he's enjoying his vacation. Thanks for addressing the rumors. I hope this finally ends them.
Thank you JR for the HBK comments. I'm so Happy he's NOT retiring. HBK is the reason I started watching wrestling. I can't wait til HBK returns. I Really Miss Him.
I cannot believe it has been 10 years since Owen tragically died. I remember watching live (even though it was around 2am here) and being shocked and stunned.
Owen was a great talent and is sorely missed.
Dear JR,
I was only 13 when Owen died. I remember watching the PPV, and wondering why it was taking so long for owen to make his entrance. My mom told me that there was something wrong. I remember telling her, that if they didnt hurry up i was going to get mad. Well the next night on RAW IS WAR I found out what had happened and i was devastated. I just remember watching all these tough wrestlers cry and so i did to but anyway owen was one of my favorite wrestlers and i will always remember him and his family is always in my prayers. RIP OWEN.
Thanks for the great blog update as usual JR, and remember - don't let the bastards grind you down! The age of the internet has given many fans a feeling of entitlement to any product they consume. No matter what you do, there's gonna be a vocal, unappreciative minority who feel that they know your business better than you do.
And thanks for reminiscing about Owen, he was my absolute favorite when I was just getting into wrestling, and I love reading stories about him.
Timothy Kendrick
As always truly honored and grateful to read your insights. Owen had a term for saving money by sleeping over at fans houses.. I think it was "Heeling a Room" He would torture the maids at hotels when shift change would come and he would say "hey they never brought the roll away bed for me" So instead of 2 people in a room Owen would get a roll away and sleep for free "Heeling a room"
The boyz I speak with say he was "The King Ribber"
P.S. Will you autograph the cookbook I buy to my wife. I know you are busy. It would mean alot to her, Plus justify me getting some great chow and an awesome piece of memorabillia.
I understand your blanking out with the situation at the Kemp Center with Owen.
I did the same with many of my Combat experiences.
Thank you again my brother.
P.S.S. Loving Smackdown!!!!!
I'd be honored to sign a cookbook for your wife. Thanks for the email. One can only imagine what ribs Owen played on some of the folks he "heeled a room from" over the years. Make sure you let the store know you want me to personalize your cookbook.
Good afternoon, Mr. Ross. I know that you probably receive at least 1000 e-mails daily, so i will keep this short. For 22 years, I have listened to you do color commentary, and I want to thank you for entertaining me once a week for the majority of my life. Some of your quotables have brought laughter to the point of tears, and in my humble opinion, there is no one who does a better job on air in the history of professional wrestling. You even rival many of your counterparts in other sports, as well. I admire your dedication to the fans, as well as amazed by how you are able to toss your black hat into so many other ventures, other than wrestling. I will not take any more of your time, but again, thank you, Mr. Ross, for being a class act. Sincerely, Michael A. Medine Charlotte, NC
Thanks for the memories on Owen, J.R.! He truly is missed. I can only imagine the feuds that he could headline with the talent today.
I've added your comments to my myspace (www.myspace.com/bandit2280) blog to pass on the rememberance of Owen to my friends who aren't "in-the-know" about WWE and it's performers, but are interested in the things that I am passionate about. If that's not ok, please let me know and I will promptly remove it.
Thanks again!
Hey JR, have you ever eaten at any of the BBQ resturaunts that GMA Weekend picked in their best BBQ List?