Jim Ross Talks SummerSlam Booking

WWE Hall of Famer recently spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard, and below are some highlights:

On how Undertaker vs Lesnar should be booked at SummerSlam:

“A brawl is the only way to go for these two,” said Ross. “What a great story it would be if both guys try to make their opponent submit. Think of what it would mean for a victory if both men were working for a submission–if the Undertaker continued to go for his gogoplata chokehold, and Lesnar was trying to get the kimura, which is a double wrist lock. Getting your opponent to tap out is the most macho of all the ways to win, and I can see that story woven in there by the announcers.”

On The Undertaker nearing the end of his career:

“It’s imminent that ‘Taker’s days are numbered wrestling in the ring,” said Ross. “The obvious decision is to have the Undertaker go over, so it’s one win a piece for ‘Taker and Lesnar, and you can have the rubber match at WrestleMania, but I don’t think that happens. Lesnar will go over. The Undertaker could then take his normal sabbatical, and return with some vignettes announcing his retirement match at WrestleMania 32 in Texas.

“That would be his last match–win, lose, or draw–and the only opponent he’d want to fight is Brock Lesnar. Then you have Undertaker go over in the last match of his career, and that is an emotional story. We’d have to see vignettes of the Undertaker investing so much of his mind, time, and body training for his final match. He’d become even more of a mythical, legendary character than before.”

What is the Divas Revolution in WWE lacking?:

“The Divas feuds are lacking structure and a reason to care,” said Ross. “The emotional investment is not there yet in this rivalry. Who goes over with nine of them fighting? And how much time do they have? They need two good finishes in this match, and then you need to have Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Paige win.

​“But I don’t know where they’re going with this–they haven’t established any real rivalries yet. They’re on the roster, getting some exposure, but it’s inevitable that some of them are going to have to take out some of their repertoire in a match with nine people.”