*Official Jim Ross Blog Thread*

Source: JRsBarBQ.com

Jim Ross is back with a new blog over on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights:
- @TheRock says that he 'might' have wrestled his last match. I say its not the season for 'mights' and that a performer/athlete like Dwayne Johnson goes out on his terms and not because of a fixable injury.

- If I were the NXT talents I'd add a little sauce to my meal this Thursday night at Full Sail University for the TV tapings. The next call ups should be all that those kids should be thinking about and more specifically, am I on that list?

- I'm not planning on doing a podcast at this time but will be a guest on @steveaustinBSR podcast in the future.

- Some fans still believe that a TV rating, specifically TV14, is what makes a wrestling show either good or not. Some fans continue to clamor for WWE to return to a TV14 rating but I don't see it happening. What made the Attitude Era successful was the talent roster that was dotted with main event level, hungry, competitive athletes who had no issue pushing a peer out of the way to get to the main event level and then fight like hell to stay there. I contend that great talents can make PG rated TV be ultra successful over the long haul if the presentation is smart and strategic.

- I see @RealJackSwagger stepping up his game, especially lately, and @WWEZeb deserves much of the credit. Even a pet coon goofy blind man can see that Swagger is a great athlete but there is more to becoming a star in ring performer than just athleticism of which many of us covet. It's the intangibles such as in ring psychology that must also be in place. The veteran Zeb looks to be an excellent tutor for the former Sooner wrestling all American.

Sun, 04/28/2013 - 11:22am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
After storms destroyed our home's roof, guttering, etc a few days a go, we are now bracing for a sunny, 80 degree day or two here in the bipolar weather center of the universe, Norman, Oklahoma. Let's grill....

Enjoyed UFC 159 last night on PPV from Newark headlined by the incomparable @jonnybones aka Jon Jones first round defeat of Chael Sonnen. Jones has upped his game and his long, athletic frame is problematic for any one who can't match up with Bones physically. The former amateur wrestling star prospect, at least for the present time, is his own worst opponent as I don't see any one on the current UFC map that can handle him including the legendary Anderson Silva.

If Jonny Jones doesn't allow out of Octagon issues to adversely affect his game he has the @UFC world by the Spauldings. A major, stadium event vs. Silva seems doable in the future and I feel that it will be highly successful. I'd love to see it in Cowboys Stadium as that would be a drive for me to be able to attend in person.

BTW....I don't think that Silva can beat Jones.

For those asking, No I do not think that @sonnench aka Chael Sonnen will be migrating to WWE any time soon. Could I see a 'one off' type of performance by the talkative and talented Sonnen in WWE? Possibly. But Chael has too much to offer UFC as a broadcaster notwithstanding who said that Sonnen was definitively done as a fighter? Sonnen is a UFC guy and I see him contributing to the brand's continued growth for year's to come.

Enjoyed @JoeRogan candor when it came to the officiating and the issue of inadvertent eye pokes during UFC159. Rarely is a broadcaster given the latitude to be open and honest about a subject that likely many fans are thinking about as well. @DanaWhite is street smart and certainly has his finger on the pulse of the UFC fanbase to allow the talented Rogan to be so honest with Joe's opinion.

Thought the booking of UFC159 was on the money especially with how the PPV kicked off. The importance of a great start on a PPV whether it be in the sports world of UFC or the entertainment side of WWE, can't be stressed enough. It sets the stage for the event that the fans paid good money to see and engages, hopefully, the live audience to verbally embrace the presentation.

WWE.com reporting that WWE Champion John Cena has sustained an injury while on the European Tour. The report states that Cena has issues with his right, Achilles tendon which can be a dicey matter. Achilles injuries can be puzzling especially if they aren't torn and don't require surgery. In other words these types of injuries can linger if one doesn't get the proper rest and allow the tendon to heal. The injury is legit as Cena has been suffering through this matter for several days even though he hasn't missed any bookings. Always said the man has the work ethic and toughness of an offensive lineman which is a good thing.

Imagine being gone for close to two weeks, away of one's home country, visiting several other countries a few hours at a time and then, on the last night of your long, odyssey, having to take a two hour bus ride to catch a flight from Warsaw, Poland to get to Columbus, Ohio...yeah...non stops are scare...just to get to work Monday night. Critics of the sports entertainment genre can blow all the smoke that they want but when it comes right down to it, the work, sacrifice and dedication hat it takes to be successful these days in WWE is amazing. It's so much harder than in the territory days of wrestling when the vast majority of trips were made via car and were more comparable to a weekly or bi-weekly route where airplane trips were infrequent.

Based on my previous experience with some talents, that will remain nameless, after a long, albeit successful, European tour here's what I suggest that some do with their gear....BURN IT! Not even the strongest Febreze application can cure what ails some of the tights, ETC that have visited several countries the past several days.

Second suggestion, if you have multiple pairs of any thing 'black' in your travel wardrobe, replace it. It's likely toxic.

One of the reasons that the former 202 pound QB Lane Johnson grew to become a 6'6"-303 pound offensive lineman at Oklahoma University and become the 4th overall pick of the NFL Draft by Philadelphia was the work that Lane did in the weight room under expert supervision and the athletic training table where the proper foods were provided the athletes. Yes, I Know that genetics has a hand in this matter too. This is the same, basic theory of having a full time strength and conditioning coach at the new, WWE Performance Center along with a world class weight room. NXT prospects will be provided the opportunity to get bigger, stronger and faster the right way under trained, expert supervision. The results will, ideally, result in a better developed level of athlete in WWE rings as time moves forward.

After 8 years, we are buying a new grill. Having a tricked out Weber Grill delivered Monday. Business just picked up in our backyard!

Another cookbook idea is being discussed but it's far from a done deal. The concept that we've come up with, nonetheless, would be a blast to write. Do you think that a cook book entitled "Flatulence Foods" is a little coarse? I'm kidding...

Hard to believe that the great Lou Thesz passed away on this date in 2002 at the age of 86. Meeting Lou Thesz was one of my greatest thrills as a professional which I assume is much akin to a baseball broadcaster finally meeting Babe Ruth. Without question, Lou Thesz belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame. Lou's stories of having 90 minute draws with Dan Hodge kept me on the edge of my seat as he had amazing recall and could remember the smallest of details. If memory serves me correctly the last time I ever saw Lou and Gordon Solie alive they were standing together at the hotel bar at a Cauliflower Alley function back in the day in New Jersey. I have the snapshot in my mind but which that I had a camera phone then to memorialize the moment.

The Q&A's are updated here on the site. Check them out and leave your own questions if you choose.

Business has picked up with the online shopping aspect of JR's family of products both at http://www.wweshop.com and in Manchester, England with http://www.americansoda.co.uk. American Soda does a great job shipping door to door within the UK, Ireland and Europe. Of course, the folks at WWEShop.com get you your JR's within a matter of days, as a rule, in the USA, Canada and far beyond.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter as we are approaching 800,000 followers @JRsBBQ

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Mon, 04/29/2013 - 10:35am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Here's hoping that everyone has a great week and enjoys the live, Monday Night RAW tonight from Columbus, Ohio at 8/7 central. Let's see how the weary travelers respond live for the world to see. Until then...let's grill

Monday Night Raw emanates from Columbus, Ohio tonight for another 3 hour broadcast that finds the talents just returning in the past few hours after an exhaustive tour of Europe.

As The King always says, "one can't grieve forever" and the show must go on and go on it will as the adrenaline of the live audience will always push the pros to deliver in their respective segments.

Perhaps Time Tebow will show up and do a "run in" as he's looking for work. Perhaps trying WWE would be a nice fit for Tebow who would undoubtedly be an antagonist in today's defiant world. Of course, I jest regarding Tebow in WWE but stranger things have happened.

Anxious to hear more info on the condition of John Cena's Achilles injury and what it means, if any thing, to his WWE Title defense at Extreme Rules vs. Ryback. Got a feeling that Ryback won't be too sympathetic regarding @JohnCena medical ills.

Cena worked through his injury while in Europe which many would not have done but I'm under the impression that he's pushed it about as far as he can at this point in the process.

Amused by the 'hate emails' that I receive at our Q&A section regarding how WWE cannot be successful being a PG rated show versus being TV14 and how stupid that I am for believing such. I read, cringe and delete while respecting the opinion's of others. However, being successful in this genre has every thing to do with compelling and 'must see' talents who are embroiled in long arcing, smart, creative storylines.

Some one asked if I thought an all womens promotion could be successful on a national basis. It all depends on the business model, I suppose, including the TV deal and the talent pool from which to select but my gut instinct would be a polite, "no."

Was asked on Twitter @JRsBBQ if I had issues personally with Bart Gunn after he KO'ed Steve "Dr. Death" Williams in the ill fated Brawl for it All, the answer is a resounding no. Was I disappointed that Doc tore his quad which essentially ended his career? Absolutely. Did I embrace the fact that many in the locker room found it amusing that "JR's boy" got his lights turned out by the powerful punching of Bart Gunn. Nope. However, that's where it ended and any speculation that I held a grudge or didn't respect Bart Gunn is simply not accurate but makes for a nice tale.

Yes, we had hoped that the late, Dr Death would win the contest to help us launch a new antagonist but Bart Gunn was simply the better man on that occasion and especially under the circumstances.

The best man won in what was an ill fated idea to begin with and the booking of Butterbean to face the winner of the Brawl for it All was something that was planned all along. 'Bean' wanted to do more business with WWE and that was to be an entree to other appearances that simply did not work out as we all had hoped.

Looks as if the trio of @MichaelCole @JerryLawler @JCLayfield will be the permanent, Monday Night Raw broadcast team or so it seems. I think that's a good idea with the flagship broadcast now being three hours long. Guest color commentators also don't hurt the presentation as it provides talents the opportunity to expose their personalities in a different forum.

I'm anxious to work with the young announcers, by the way, none of the three, aforementioned broadcasters qualify as "young", this week at NXT. We expect great things to go down at Full Sail University.

Buying a new grill today. Excited about that as we grill several times per week and got about 8 years worth of use out of our old grill. Going the Weber route this go around. @WeberGrills is rated the top of the line and if they need a spokesman, I'm available.

JR's All Purpose Seasoning/Rub can be your secret weapon when grilling or seasoning dishes in the kitchen. My wife made a 15 Bean Stew using Turkey Sausage, onions, tomatoes, and our Seasoning which made a super, one dish meal Sunday night. She soaked the beans overnight and then cooked them for several hours Sunday with the Turkey and it ended up being a protein heavy, healthy meal. I added some JR's Chipotle Ketchup to my piping hot dish and it enhanced the flavor up another level.

Working on a new and improved "JR's Onion Burger" that includes chopped onion and JR's BBQ Sauce mixed into the bulk 80/20 ground beef. I also have made this recipe with smaller patties and placed a slice of cheese between patties to make one main event level burger that includes cheese, onion and JR's BBQ sauce all inside the burger. Working with Turkey Burgers too.

Order JR's now for grilling season from http://www.wweshop.com or http://www.americansoda.co.uk if you are in the UK, Ireland or Europe.

Join me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

The Q&A's are updated here on the site and I must say that the questions are getting better but they still need to be somewhat succinct. I don't need to know how to make the watch just tell me what time it is.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

I hope that everyone is having a great weekend and I appreciate you stopping by our site. Let's grill!!

Random Thoughts:

Great trip to Orlando for the NXT tapings Thursday night. Sell out, turn away crowd was thoroughly entertained. Four, one hour broadcasts were taped. The first one airs next weekend for the record. No, I don't know when NXT is going to air in the USA but efforts are being made to make that happen. Stay tuned and be patient in the USA. NXT has developed a great international following and there are multiple suitors for the brand in the USA.

NXT Divas are evolving nicely under the coaching of Sara Del Rey. Emma and Paige are on the road this weekend on the main tour to see how they do. Sara is a great coach.

Several kids stood out this past week in Orlando including Aiden Neville, Bo Dallas, The Bray Wyatt Family, Sami Zayn, Kassius Ohno, Summer Rae (Yep, the same long legged young lady who is now with Fandango), Curt Hawkins, Big E Langston, and Damien Sandow among others. This is not a compete list but I'm simply going off my aged memory. Some newcomers and a couple of new tag teams stuck their toe in the water plus I saw some talents who have viable verbal skills in an organic delivery which is always best.

Every talent is seemingly giving it their all. If they are not, they will be discovered and be wished well in their future endeavors. I do love their overall attitudes and work ethic. Some new individuals are being rapidly prepared to start doing significant things on NXT TV when it returns to Full Sail on Thursday May 23 highlighted by a visit by @Ryback22.

The coaching staff at NXT led by Bill DeMott are also doing great work serving as not only coaches/teachers but also as role models for the impressionable kids who are in the pressure cooker. Mentoring NXT athletes today, in my estimation, is damn near as important as teaching one the proper way to apply a headlock.

The announce teams of William Regal/Tony Dawson and Tom Phillips/Brad Maddox had their best night to date at NXT. @MichaelCole and I both enjoy working with them in pre show prep and during the broadcasts.

NXT personnel expect to be in the new, Performance Center by July if all continues to go well with the contractors. This facility will be for NXT talents AND regular WWE talents who are presently touring on RAW and Smackdown. The new strength and conditioning coach is already on the job and making a positive impact.

Once the new facility opens my plan is to be there on a semi regular basis.

Don't be surprised if Nattie Neidhart and the Bella's don't steal the new WWE Divas show when it comes to E. Natalya is a valuable asset to WWE on so many fronts as are Nikki and Brea.

Amazing TV bout Wednesday night on ION featuring US Champ Kofi Kingston and Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro is an amazing performer and along with guys like Daniel Bryan is one of the best in ring performers in the world. Bar none.

Mason Ryan has made some significant improvement since being back in NXT and I look for him to be able to contribute on the next level if he continues to push himself and receive his coaching as he has been. There's no substitute for hard work in the ring and through study out of it. To be great can't be accomplished simply while a prospect is "on the clock" but takes extra effort including studying the game.

Long car trips with one's peers has been replaced, somewhat, by individual DVD study of the business. That's not a fair trade but that's the way of the world and one either adapts and changes or one becomes irrelevant and missing in action.

Check out this podcast from earlier today...yahoosportsradio.com/?p=47294. Or if this doesn't work just hit the http://www.yahoosportsradio.com website and listen to Saturday morning's show with @SeanPendergast.

@OKCThunder caught a break against an overachieving Houston team in the first round of the NBA playoffs but my favorite NBA team has their work cut out for them against a physical, Memphis Grizzly outfit. No...I have no wagers with the King, @JerryLawler, on this series that OKC will be fortunate to escape victorious. Why? Jerry's too thrifty. I'd venture to say that I follow the NBA closer than my former broadcast partner. Losing Russell Westbrook hurt the OKC squad on the floor in multiple ways but Russ was the 'DAWG' of the team which now Kevin Durant has to assume and it's not a role that naturally fits KD. The lack of strong, inside offense and defensive presence in the paint against a big, physical Memphis team is an area of concern for OKC fans.

Our new @WeberGrills is amazing. Grilled steaks last night using JR's All Purpose seasoning, some hickory flavored liquid smoke and a hint of Worcester sauce. Home run!

@TripleH and his lovely wife Stephanie are attending the @FloydMayweather fight on PPV tonight (Saturday).

Enjoyed doing some recent work on the new, 2K WWE video game but I'm keeping the creative under wraps. Had a blast, however, I must say.

I updated the Q&A section of the site so please take a look and submit your questions if you choose.

Follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ as I actually attempt to interact with my followers as best that I can.

Remember that you can easily order JR's products online with quick delivery from http://www.wweshop.com and from Manchester, England online at http://www.americansoda.co.uk.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon for another visit.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Credit: JRSBARBQ.com

Jim Ross posted a new blog entry today. Here are the highlights…

On The Possibility of Tim Tebow to WWE: My idea that Tim Tebow might find success in WWE apparently struck a chord with some media types. It’s not the worst idea I’ve ever spewed. Tebow is young, 25, big and athletic, enjoys working with charitable organizations ala Make a Wish Foundation, etc and is coachable. Tim could be a positive role model in the ring and touch lives around the world via the WWE’s global footprint. (Of course, being a positive role model in the ring in today’s world often times means getting booed out of the building.) Is Tebow to WWE a long shot? Absolutely. I doubt, but don’t know, that it’s ever been seriously discussed within the WWE. But it’s certainly an intriguing idea if for nothing else for a well constructed, long-term storyline that could culminate at WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans. The headlines an offer would garner, if formally made to the former Heisman Trophy winner, would be widespread. ESPN’s Skip Bayless would likely be appalled. Oh, the humanity….

On WWE Pre & Post Game PPV Shows: For those that have asked, I am unaware of when WWE will have another on-site, pre and post game show for a PPV. If I had to simply guess, I’d assume it would be at Summer Slam but that’s far from official. I’m also not aware of what talents would appear on said show if one does air. Personally, I had a great time participating in the last one but I’m not sure that many fans were aware of it or even watched it nor do I know if it will be on the WM29 DVD.

On NXT’s Enzo Amore: Keep an eye on Enzo Amore in NXT as he made a great, first impression on yours truly last Thursday night at the NXT taping at Full Sail. Significant, verbal upside. Not that familiar with his in ring work yet.

Thanks for stopping by for a quick visit...always appreciated. The Q&A's are updated as of midday Tuesday. Check them out too. Grilling with JR's season is upon us so...let's grill!

Really enjoyed the guest commentator's interaction on RAW Monday night featuring Zeb and Mark Henry joining the RAW team of Cole, Layfield, and Lawler. The contrast entertained me and it sparked some fun debate and opinion. Occasional, verbal fireworks at the announce table, when well timed, can really add to a show especially one that is three hours in length.

Paul Heyman seemed to enjoy himself a little too much while watching Brock Lesnar ransack, intimidate and destroy WWE property all captured by @HeymanHustle himself. At one time I used to office in that same space after leaving Talent Relations and working in Business Strategies.

Did you catch the photo of the JR's Cookbook laying on the floor in the wake of the "Psycho Viking" figurative F5 tore through the office?

Mark Henry is one of the most intimidating and legit beasts in all of WWE and he "feels" it without question. The stout Texan isn't playing a role. The World's Strongest Man is who he says he is. Mark Henry is who we thought he was...thanks Denny Green.

The aftermath of a strap..Country Whipping..type match can be long lasting. I stumbled through two of them ala a cow on ice once upon a time and enjoyed not a single minute of either. One has to swing for the fences with a leather strap for the integrity of the bout. The most sadistic guys that wielded a strap in my memory were the Freebirds who might have just liked the pain...just a little too much.

Any one who can conclusively say who out of the Shield is going to spin out the trio and become THE top, singles star is zooming themselves. There are too many uncontrollable variables to factor into that equation to put all one's cash on one talent.

Why can't all three become top, singles hands in time? I think that might be the goal. :) But let's not rush the process.

Regarding the Shield, some wrestling fans have the patience of a 5 year old or maybe it's just that there are 5 year old's on Twitter bitching about every phase of creative.

Loved the tale of the tape WWE used to tease the Ryback vs. Kane match. Nice nuance.

Thought Jack Swagger had a beastly appearance on RAW in Roanoke. Perry, Oklahoma's second toughest man is nasty with a ladder in his hands.

I'm working on 2-3 pretty exciting new projects and will inform you when the time is right.

Scheduled to go hog hunting with @ShawnMichaels next week on his Texas ranch. This will be taped for a future episode of HBK's Outdoor Network TV show. I might end up being a cross between Si on @DuckDynastyAE and the patriarch of the family on American Hoggers. I'm going to use a cross bow to 'harvest' some feral hogs. Yep, a BBQ is being planned as well.

We're counting on your support throughout the summer especially when allowing JR's products to be a part of your grilling experiences. Shop efficiently and safely online at either http://www.wweshop.com which carries EVERY product that we make including our amazing, JR's Beef Jerky which comes in 5 flavors. OR, check out http://www.americansoda.co.uk which is based in Manchester, England and they ship quickly throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Read online that @JerryLawler is returning to the ring for Dory Funk, Jr promotion in Ocala, Florida on May 25. I haven't talked to Jerry in a good while but wish him well if this is what he wants to do. Obviously, King's cardiologist has been consulted one would assume on this matter. Jerry had much rather wrestle than announce any day and he's getting back in the ring north of 60 years of age because he loves it and not because he needs the cash. I wish him the best as always.

Enjoyed talking to Cowboy Bill Watts recently who just turned 74. He's excited that WWE is going to be marketing some of the Mid South content that WWE owns after the acquisition of the Watts Family video library. The multi disc set comes out in September which is exciting. Certainly some of the bouts on the DVD will have to come with a warning because they are intensely graphic in nature.

Some ECW enthusiasts might not agree with this statement but Mid South was 'Extreme' long before it became a marketing slogan and mantra for ECW of which I was a fan.

Thanks for the visit. Come back soon.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 10:16am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Our online, family business continues to grow at http://www.wweshop.com which carries everything that we produce and for our UK, Irish and European fans at http://www.americansoda.co.uk. The only place to purchase JR's, retail wise, is still the four, Norman, Oklahoma @HomelandStores. Thanks for everyone's support and now...
LET'S GRILL!.

WWE World Champion Dolph Ziggler has a serious concussion which may be a redundant statement because what concussion isn't serious? There's no timeline as to Ziggler's return as WWE will be particularly cautious in dealing with any injury but especially a head injury.

Scary thought is that years ago, in the territory days specifically, wrestlers worked through a litany of injuries including concussions because if they didn't wrestle they didn't get paid. For those that constantly love to embrace the "good, old days" as the be all, end all, keep that in mind. I miss many aspects of yesteryear as much as any lifelong fan but how talents were medically treated back in the day is unsettling.

Certainly the same can be said of the NFL as the horror stories as told by former players and coaches of the "good, old days" sound similar to pro wrestling in previous generations.

The medical advances in WWE are extremely understated. A team doctor is at every WWE event including a licensed, certified athletic trainer. Medical evaluations done on an annual basis and to all who enter the developmental program are extensive and through.

Jerry Lawler would be dead today if it had not been for the medical procedures that WWE has in place.

It worries me to think of the issues that many independent wrestlers face as it relates to injuries in today's world because many of them do not have affordable access to needed medical care and many of the promotions and promoters can't afford it either.

The new, WWE Performance Center will always have a full time trainer on hand, ready access to medical personnel and a full time Strength and Conditioning coach who will help the athletes get stronger and more fit as that will help prevent some injuries.

New talents coming to WWE go through a through, extensive process including through medical evaluation before they are allowed to report to work.

Hard to debate that anyone on WWE TV this week was MORE effective than @TheMarkHenry as he and @Sheamus prepared for what appears to be a Leather Strap match at the Extreme Rules PPV. Mark has come into his own over the past couple of years and his "realness" resonates through the TV screen. Sheamus' very white skin will be marred with painful images when these two men finish with one another at the next WWE PPV. In my opinion, Henry has slowly evolved into a franchise type antagonist and his facials and promo skills as as authentic as one could ask for.

My two experiences in a Strap Match or Country Whipping Match as a 'clumsy as a cow on ice, why in the hell am I in a wrestling match' came against Jonathan Coachman on RAW from Chicago and in a tag with @JerryLawler vs. @MichaeCole & @RealJackSwagger on PPV. There is just no way to go through that process without significant pain being a part of the presentation.

If there is, then I didn't get the memo.

The Fabulous Freebirds were the most memorable guys that I recall who made the leather strap matches really standout as they brought it in those 'not for the weak at heart' bouts.

@WWEBrayWyatt and Corey Graves @WWEGraves will be on the next WWE, live event tout this weekend as the NXT representatives get the opportunity to gain more experience with the main roster. Both men are keepers and Wyatt especially has some special traits that one cannot teach. He's a near 300 pounder who has the valued and rare, second gear and has a natural gift of gab much like his grandfather, the legendary Blackjack Mulligan, WWE HOFer.

Graves is a Pittsburgh kid who sort of reminds me of a young, @CMPunk at times. Very bright and very aggressive.

@JakeSnakeDDT is earning remarkable success in his battle to gain sobriety and change his life. It will be a daily battle until the day that he dies that I pray he will endure and succeed and the same for @ScottHallNWO. Even though I truly believe that both men can add value to ANY creative process and have the skills to help many young talents, the focus of them regaining their health has to remain their top priority which it seems to be.

Too many of Jake and Scott's fans only see their return to the ring as the ultimate end game of which I totally disagree. Those returns, it they ever occur, are only going to be a by product of the success that they achieve through their efforts to become clean and sober. @DDPYoga is to be commended for his role in this effort.

If you have questions for me please utilize the Q&A section of this site. It's free, no obligations to use it and I read every question even though I don't answer all of them as some are, well, pet coon goofy.

I am not a devout, learned European football fan but I can appreciate the accomplishments of Sir Alex Ferguson. Funny how I got lambasted on Twitter @JRsBBQ for even mentioning it by some of Sir Alex's detractors and by his fans for calling it a "news item." Can't win for losing sometimes.

Too much bitching about sports officiating on @ESPN, etc. It's a part of the game and has ceased to become a compelling topic of which to hear talking heads and others pontificate. The beauty of sports is that the game is played and largely governed by humans and no humans are perfect or infallible. MLB umpires and NBA officials make mistakes...just like the coaches and players. Get over it.

Raw is in Tulsa on Monday night and tickets are moving briskly and are still available. It's going to be a big night in 'T Town.' Sorry I'll miss it as I will be hunting feral hogs with @ShawnMichaels. There will be no taking the hogs down and hobbling them for me, as we will be using crossbows and...I hope...side arms. We're also going to have a big BBQ which will be documented for HBK's TV show and will air later this year.

I will be in Salt Lake City to host "Shawn Michaels Appreciation Night" on Friday May 24. Will fly there from NXT the night before in Orlando. Really excited to meet some great fans in SLC and to be a part of a special night honoring the WWE HOFer. Hopefully we will have a big, loud crowd.

The @steveaustinBSR podcast is money. Check it out.

Also, highly suggest you check out the @MichaelCole and @JCLayfield show online. That's significant praise from an Okie to two men with Texas roots. Download the @Layfield Report. Very handy for news, opinion and more.

Loving our new, @WeberGrills. Wife Jan aced this purchase as she got the S-330 model and I've used it several times already and we've only had it a few days. Last night 85/15 burgers seasoned only with JR's All Purpose seasoning and then Pepper Jack Cheese the final minute or so of the grilling process. Home run...or as the beloved Nancy Grace would shout..."BOMBSHELL!!"

Thanks for dropping by...please tell a friend about our site...and follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

BTW...great day to order JR's online.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 11:04am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
The weekend is upon and we hope everyone enjoys their's. It's always a good weekend to go online and order JR's products from http://www.wweshop.com or from our British friends in Manchester at http://www.americansoda.co.uk. If you are in the Norman, Oklahoma area you can get JR's at the four, Norman @HomelandStores and save on shipping and handling. We are still attempting to make a variety of deals to get JR's products into grocery stores and as soon as something positive occurs I will let everyone know. With that said.....Let's Grill!

I'm getting hammered by SEC football fans on Twitter @JRsBBQ over comments that were casually made by my friend and OU head football coach Bob Stoops this week where he acknowledged the SEC's dominance in college football, especially the top half of the SEC, but also added that the Big 12 wasn't so shabby either.

CFB pundits, especially those in and around Alabama, have taken strong exception to Bob's casual, factual statement as the well earned legacy and reputation of the SEC does receive ample and positive PR from many media types. That's really no revelation sports fans. The media loves to follow the big winners.

The irony here is that Stoops and 'Bama coach Nick Saban have great respect for each other and are friends.

It's another case of the college football media, on a slow news day, shooting their own angle that they can't pay off.

Craziest question I've gotten today...what type of cell phone does the Undertaker use? Following my Twitter timeline @JRsBBQ is actually pretty entertaining. We get some 'beaut's.'

Happy Birthday today to Darren Mathews aka @RealKingRegal who is one of the most valuable assets within WWE not to mention one of the funniest, most organic/natural performers in the entire company. Very few wrestlers can pull off a comedy skit on a wrestling show but Regal can as good as anyone I've ever been around. He's also a treasure as it relates to WWE Talent Development. We've been down many roads together and I consider the Blackpool lad one of my best "wrestling friends." Tough dude too...not to be trifled with.

In case some of you are wondering, I don't direct message (DM) strangers on Twitter as I don't want to get indirectly implicated in BS that is none of my business. I also don't want to see my statements taken out of context and then used in the Internet Wrestling Community.

I can be reached at Contact Us which is located on the homepage of this site.

Who's the NXT big star to matriculate from developmental to a main, WWE roster? No one knows for sure. No one. Too many variables involved in the situation to adequately answer to the satisfaction of any one with an average IQ. However, @WWENXT has several young talents currently training that have a legit shot to make it to the next level. Many don't want to hear this as it's not as exotic a story as the" mysterious, powers that be holding someone down" theory but success is largely dependent on who one sees in their mirror. Irresponsible, young wannabe stars who keep shooting themselves in the feet aren't gonna win any races. It's really simple...essentially "Do Right" and devote ample time outside the facility to better prepare for what hopefully will come in time. I wonder how many DVD's the majority of the NXT talents studied this week. Hmmm.

Been asked a lot lately with the weather warming up but, YES, http://www.wweshop.com ships JR's regularly to Canada as we have NO retail outlets in Canada at this time. Shop safely and efficiently online at WWEShop.com.

Best former NCAA Champion turned pro wrestler? Easy for me but I'm biased...the late, Jack Brisco who lost one match in college was a two time all American at Oklahoma State, National Champion and then had the mountainous task of being the NWA World Champion when the title was arguably the most prestigious in all the biz. No former NCAA Champion Wrestler traveled more miles and had more great matches than did "Handsome" Jack who is considered by any aficionado of the genre to be Rembrandt-like and the wrestling ring was his canvas. That means that I respectfully go with 'BRISCO' over Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar who I both worked closely with at WWE from their star in WWE.

Next week is my feral hog hunt with @ShawnMichaels for his Outdoor Network TV show. Unlike those folks on 'American Hoggers' I'm not hobbling any wild pigs just so you know. Should make for some fun TV.

@OKCThunder MUST win a game in Memphis to live to fight another NBA series. Not sure that OKC's interior can hold up against the Grizz.

Here's a dandy match idea for you fantasy bookers....Chael Sonnen @sonnench vs. @TimTebow as a special attraction contest at WM30 in New Orleans. @NFL @ESPN @UFC entities would claim blasphemy of sorts.

Anyone else get the feeling that @UFC is hoping that one of their talented heavyweights picks up the pace on the media side to create a little more interest in what should be their most marketable division? @DanaWhite is teh best salespeson in UFC whichis akin to the old school promoters being their own star because they knew that they could always depend on themselves. I find that marketing strategy to be on the money/

Grilling idea...grill the fish of your choice and when the fish has been turned and is about a minute or two away from being finished, drizzle on some JR's Main Event Mustard. If you season the fish with JR's All Purpose Seasoning you have done enough but by adding a drizzle of our mustard you have made the grilled fish even more special.

I will be doing the @steveaustinBSR podcast soon. Download them all. Good stuff from Steve.

Thanks for stopping by and please check out the Q&A's here on our site. Feel free to ask your questions there too.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

JR's Mother's Day Memories

Sun, 05/12/2013 - 10:52am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Happy Mother's Day to all observing the special day. Here's a short blog with my Mother's Day thoughts before I fo fire up the @WeberGrills in the backyard.

My Mom, Elizabeth Ann Ross, died suddenly on December 5, 1998 in Westville, Oklahoma at the age of 64. My Mama was my biggest fan and never missed a single Little League Baseball game or a football game in which I played throughout my childhood. I was an only child and I was the center of her life which was both, at times, a blessing and a curse. Most 'only children' can relate to that statement but at the end of the day I wouldn't have had it any other way.

My Mom also was a devout viewer of Monday Night RAW and the TBS WCW Saturday Night show before that and would often have some of her friends over to her mobile home in Westville, Oklahoma to watch her son on TV. Her homemade BBQ sauce is the inspiration of our family brand of sauces and condiments. Yep, Mama continues to influence my family's life long after she's been gone.

I was traveling with my WWE family on the day Mom passed and was sitting in a small, London Hotel room when the obnoxiously, loud ring of the telephone awakened me. It was my wonderful wife Jan calling me to give me the sad news. Jan was brave, full of love and so caring when she succinctly broke the news to me that Mama was gone. No wife should ever be dealt that hand but my Pittsburgh Italian bride rose to occasion.

Jan had already talked to Vince and Linda McMahon earlier that morning to let them know the news as she knew that I might not mention it and internalize it especially considering that we had a WWE, UK PPV to get on the air. Capitol Combat emanated from London and was a big day for our company and the great fans of the United Kingdom and beyond.

The McMahon's were gracious enough and willing to fly my wife over to London from our Connecticut home to be with me or fly me home to begin funeral arrangements for my mother. I opted to stay at work because I truly believed that's why my Mom would have wanted. I still believe that to this very day.

So the PPV went off, seemingly without a hitch but I don't really remember much of it , except for the fact that I suffered another attack of Bells palsy which would put me on the sideline from December 6,1998 until March 28, 1999 when I would return, face hanging, to Philadelphia to call the main event at WrestleMania XV which was the first @steveaustinBSR vs. @TheRock main event at 'Mania of the three that they had.

My Mama's fiery attitude and passion, for whatever she was doing, along with the support and love of my wife Jan and our WWE family pulled me through that day in Philly as I had never been more scared to walk out of the curtain in my life as I was that day. Not even at WM9 on my debut in Las Vegas. I looked like a stroke victim and also knew that I would have hold my face in place so that I could be understood while calling a main event of which I had made a significant, emotional investment in the two talents who were headlining the biggest WWE event of the year.

So now, every Mother's Day brings with it a plethora of special memories that generally relates to my Mama and to some form of the business that I love. My Mom indulged my crazy passion for the business when I was a kid. Even while my Dad said that pro wrestling was show biz, my Mom allowed me to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the product for whatever I perceived it to be.

Now, today, is the first Mother's Day that my wife is experiencing without her Mom who passed away a few weeks ago. She was a wonderful woman who was the perfect mother in law. A highly skilled professional in the nursing field, Lois Grillette was a Renaissance woman who loved to travel and to see the world. I always felt honored to marry into the family largely because of the matriarch who was a fun loving adventurer and who lived her 80 years to their fullest. I pray that I'm as full of P&V when I'm 80 if I'm allowed to hang around that long.

So, no matter if your Mom is still with you or not, enjoy Mother's Day and recreate some of the wonderful times and memories that you have had with your Mom over the years. Memories last a life time and no one can ever take those memories from us. Embracing the lady who brought you into this world with a hug, whether it be literal or figurative, should be the order of the day.

Never take days like this for granted and remember that none of our tomorrow's are guaranteed. Count your blessings and hug your Mama.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 12:28pm — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Rainy day in Norman, Oklahoma so a good day to pen a quick blog. Remember that you can order JR's products here during the grilling season from http://www.wweshop.com and from http://www.americansoda.co.uk which is headquartered in Manchester, England. Ordering online is quick, easy and provides home delivery. Let's grill...

I had an amazing time this week going on the first hog hunt of my life with the great Shawn Michaels, @ShawnMichaels, and his hunting partner Keith Mark, @KeithMarkmra, on HBK's Texas ranch. This hunt will be televised later this year on MacMillan River Adventures which airs on the Outdoor Network.

Arrived at Shawn's sprawling, Texas ranch after approximately a 6 hour drive on Monday mid afternoon and within a hour or so we were in a deer blind waiting for a pack of hogs to come near us. I was armed with a crossbow which was another first for me.

To show you how fortunate that I was, with my first shot at a live animal I scored the hit that we were looking for and the arrow hit the 300 pound hog right behind the shoulder which is actually where I was aiming. The arrow went through the animal and it and its cohorts ran for the brush and for cover. I did not think that I had hit the animal but we found the bloody arrow which traveled through the hog.

The search by foot began through cactus and mesquite trees until we finally found the animal who had expired. These hogs are of the Russian Boar species and are destructive and non productive on Texas, among other state's, ranches. The animals are given to the Texas Food Bank for processing and the meat is then provided to needy families. None of the meat goes to waste and if a land owner doesn't manage these herds of feral hogs the state will come in and do it for the landowners.

As always, HBK and Keith were amazing teachers and guides while Shawn's family showed me the utmost hospitality. Using Shawn's hunting lodge as our base camp created a memorable time and provided me with the total hunting experience that I will never forget. I even got some great, hunting gear from @RockyGear including some amazingly comfortable, "snake proof" boots to combat the threat of rattlesnakes which are at home in the area.

A grilling session, of which was also filmed, will be a fun aspect of this upcoming broadcast as well.

It was the most fun that I've had in Texas since the last Sooner win over the Steers in the Cotton Bowl.

It's a must win tonight for the @okcthunder versus the Memphis Grizzlies in OKC. Gut says OKC squeaks out a win tonight but the enviable seems likely as OKC couldn't find a way to win in Memphis. Kevin Durant isn't getting enough help from is teammates and the Grizzly "bigs" are dominating. It looks like @JerryLawler and his hometown team are about ready to raise their hands in victory.

Watched Raw on DVR upon arriving back home and thought the show had some compelling moments as it relates to the building of this Sunday's Extreme Rules in St. Louis on PPV.

Thought the elimination tag match was well done. Episodic TV is infectious when done well as are matches that tell a viable, easy to follow story. Elimination tags, where the person defeated leaves and only ends when one team has been completed eradicated, are about as easy to follow as it gets. (That's why I enjoy the occasional 2 out of 3 fall bout or a rare, best of 5 or best of 7 series of bouts.)

WWE Champion John Cena is in a vulnerable position leading into Extreme Rules where many feel that the polarizing WWE Champion will fall to #1 Challenger Ryback. I can't make a valid argument against that theory.

If the Brock Lesnar vs. HHH Steel Cage match doesn't close the PPV, it's going to make whatever follows this Slobber Knocker have to really hunker down to top what I expect to be the most anticipated bout at Sunday's PPV. The physicality in this contest will be prominent and I expect a no frills, in your face, main event.

Don't discount @HeymanHustle Paul Heyman's involvement in this Sunday's ferocious festivities as Lesnar's "representative" who one would assume will be stationed at ringside. Will Heyman play a role in a Lesnar win Sunday?

I'm thinking that WWE's Extreme Rules will be somewhat of a "sleeper" PPV and that it will exceed the expectations of many who seemingly have gotten more into the card the past couple of weeks after recovering from their WrestleMania 29 hangovers.

One thing is for sure, Extreme Rules, if one objectively analyzes the card from top to bottom, has the potential for some younger talents or talents looking to regain needed momentum to have memorable nights. "Maximizing one's minutes" was never more applicable than it will be for many inside the ring in St. Louis this Sunday night.

Extreme Rules is certainly not a one dimensional PPV and I'm anxious to watch it.

It's hard to believe that May 14 passed quietly yesterday which would have been the 53rd birthday of my late, friend Dr. Death Steve Williams. I've never known a tougher more competitive athlete than Doc. He beat every thing in his path in his life except cancer. I thought of him like family. When we hired Doc to make his long awaited WWE 'run' the former four time All American wrestler from Oklahoma University was on the downward side of his illustrious career that was filled with physicality and, at times, controversy. However, we felt that Doc may have had another good run in him and that he could help some of the younger guys on the card.

The ill fated 'Brawl for it All' essentially sealed Doc's fate as he tore his quad off the bone before continuing to fight the impressive Bart Gunn, who would become the eventual winner, and who would then KO Doc. Some talents loved the outcome because of their allegiance to Bart who was legit nice guy and a great complimentary tag team partner for Billy Gunn when they were the Smoking Gunns.

The ill conceived "Brawl" has seemingly taken on a life of its own in the minds of many over the years but the event was NEVER created to be a vehicle to be used to establish Doc as a star. In hindsight, I wish the entire thing had never occurred because several talents were injured during the legit competition not to mention that it caused some mixed, and not always positive, reactions within the locker room which weren't healthy in my view.

Nonetheless the 'Brawl' was only a small detour on Doc's amazing athletic career that saw him play in four Bowl Games for Oklahoma as an offensive lineman while becoming one of the most dominating amateur wrestlers who ever competed 'part time' in Division 1. Winning All American honors four times is extraordinary for any grappler much less one that came straight from the gridiron to the wrestling mat.

Some of Doc's bouts in the UWF vs. the One Man Gang, Big Bubba Rodgers aka the Big Bossman, and Terry Gordy were bona fide classics. Notwithstanding Doc's many bouts in Japan in both tags, with Gordy as is partner, among others, and in singles bouts against the best Japanese and American wrestlers of that era. You Tube has a plethora of these bouts plus you'll get a taste of the young Doc when the Mid South DVD comes out in September from WWE.

Anyone remember the Doc/Gordy vs. the Steiner Brothers tag bouts in WCW? I sure do...some of the best I ever saw.

One can only imagine how proficient Steve Williams might have been in UFC if if had been around as it is today when Doc came out of OU looking to earn a living. @DanaWhite would have loved the good Doctor.

I miss my friend. I am happy that he is finally pain free and living a better life inside the Pearly Gates. RIP Doc.

Thanks for stopping by and please keep our family of products in mind here during the long, grilling season. http://www.wweshop.com or http://www.americansoda.co.uk await you and will be happy to help obtain the best BBQ Sauces, Ketchup, Mustard and Seasoning on the market delivered right to your front door. Plus, WWEShop.com also sells all 5 flavors of JR's 97% Fat Free Beef Jerky.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 9:18pm — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Greetings and welcome to our website. This weekend you can save up to 30% on JR's products from http://www.wweshop.com. Take a look at our page there. It's a great opportunity to share an order with another not withstanding Father's Day is on the horizon. Let's Grill...

St Louis will host @WWE Extreme Rules this Sunday on PPV. Arguably the most physical PPV of the year from WWE because any time inanimate objects become involved in the grappling equation, any thing can happen. If every WWE Superstar comes out of St. Louis unscathed, I will be "Extremely" surprised. I wish everyone involved the best of luck.

Here are my predictions: (No wagering, please)

Cody Rhodes, if you weeill, hasn't won many bouts since growing the 'stache and he won't Sunday either vs. The Miz. This is on the pregame show. (Have you heard about the WWE app?? Watch the pregame there)

Chris Jericho beats Fandango in what will surprise some.

Mark Henry will whip Sheamus' achromatic hide like a Government Mule with a leather strap made in Idaho and will then touch all 4 ring posts to win in controversial fashion.

The Shield win the WWE Tag Titles over Team Hell No. Reigns beats Kane for the deciding fall.

Dean Ambrose wins the United States Title vs. Kofi Kingston in a match that could eventually push Kofi over the proverbial edge. Can Ambrose restore luster to the US Title?

Randy Orton won't lose in his hometown, one would assume, but we all know what occurs when we assume. Nonetheless, I'm going with Rockin' Randall but somewhat reluctantly.

Will Jack Swagger tap to Alberto Del Rio's cross armbreaker OR could Ricardo Rodriguez throw in the towel ala Arnold Skaaland for Bob Backlund years ago to cause Swagger to win? Hmmm...don't see the newly minted hero ADR losing but stranger things have happened.

Ryback takes advantage of John Cena's tender heel/Achilles and snatches victory out of the jaws of defeat to become the NEW, WWE Champion!! (In The Fink's voice)

Been pondering the Steel Cage match scenario for a few days and I keep coming back to BA-ROCK....LES-NAR!! w/ the help of Paul Heyman winning the rubber match over HHH. The Meyer Lansky of WWE, @HeymanHustle, seemingly has as much on the line here as BA-ROCK....LES-NAR as Dr Heyman-stein and his monster win in the city that Muchnick built.

Wow...according to me it sounds like it may be a long night for the fan favorites on PPV Sunday night but a little antagonist angst makes for interesting television as in a hot, Monday Night Raw in Kansas City.

St Louis will be sold out Sunday Night which is always great and enhances the work rate of everyone involved especially if the crowd is emotionally invested in the proceedings. Look for some "sleeper" performances by some talents who have the golden opportunity to take another step forward as they maximize their minutes. Opportunity awaits and I wonder who will seize it?

Guessing we are due a couple of shockers as the build to Summer Slam unofficially gets underway Sunday night, too. (Could the Black Scorpion return to STL to the infamous scene of an old crime?)

Broadcasters Cole, JBL and The King should have a productive night as the matches are generally unique and there are some compelling stories to tell with the goal, as always, being to tell compelling stories and enhance everyone who steps into the ring while being entertainingly witty with their repartee.

The Mrs. and I will be watching from the comfort of our Norman home on PPV and I'm looking forward to seeing what fans are talking about once the PPV has concluded.

BTW...I will be live Tweeting during the PPV @JRsBBQ.

Got caught in a mild hailstorm over killing a feral hog on Shawn Michaels' Texas ranch this past week from some folks on Twitter @JRsBBQ. People need to research feral hogs and learn how destructive and non productive they are. Their only redeeming qualities, that I can think of, are pork chops, bacon, etc for deserving families who need the free groceries. This is a "Lighten Up Francis" moment if there ever was one.

Check out how to save up to 30% OFF this weekend during the EXTREME SALE at http://www.wweshop.com on JR's products just in time for the grilling season.

If you live in the UK, Ireland or anywhere in Europe, visit our friends in Manchester @americansoda on Twitter and shop online for JR's deliciousness at http://www.americansoda.co.uk.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 11:27am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
If you are reading this on Sunday, the EXTREME SALE at http://www.wweshop.com where you can save up to 30% OFF on JR's products ends tonight. Hit the website and check out the deals and be ready for grilling season. Some fans are telling me that they are sharing an order with friends or family members plus getting Dad something for Father's Day. Let's Grill!

Big night in St. Louis tonight with one of the world's most significant, wrestling cities hosting WWE Extreme Rules on PPV.

Lots of pivotal moment in my career had a St. Louis impact. The WCW PPV in the historic, Kiel Auditorium where Ric Flair was revealed to be the masked, Black Scorpion was a memorable night. Flair in a mask was unique but actually calling matches in that facility was a big moment for me personally.

It was in St. Louis where we learned that our friend Brian Pillman had died the night before in Minnesota. Every time that I'm in the Scott Trade Center I vividly remember where I was standing when given the horrific news.

It was in ST. Louis where we got many of the former, NWA World Champions together to be honored at a WWE event. Even legendary promoter Sam Muchnick attended the festivities. Sam was truly the Meyer Lansky of the NWA back in its heyday as he wielded ample power and influence within the Alliance and brought a level of business savvy and civility to the organization.

One of the best nights of my career was sitting in my hotel room with Jack and Jerry Brisco until the wee hours talking old times, listening to Jack talk of the grueling schedule of being the NWA Champion and the ridiculous amount of one night stand bookings. Plus the issues of collecting his money from some promoters who always wanted to "forget" that it was their obligation to pay for the Champion's travel to their next booking.

The burnout factor in being the NWA Champion was intense as the responsibility of being the champion was never ending. I used to wonder how the champ's even got a workout in or did something as mundane as do their laundry or dry cleaning.

I've been lucky to work some amazing events for WWE in St. Louis and always felt the cities special place in the b\fabric of our business. I hope that everyone involved on Sunday's PPV understand this as well whether it be in ring talent or broadcaster. The market is ripe with wrestling history including producing the great Lou Thesz who won his first, NWA title in St. Louis in 1937 at the age of 21.

Of course it was in ST. Louis on Monday night Raw that we celebrated the life of Owen Hart after he accidentally fell to his death the night before in Kansas City at the Over the Edge PPV.

Poignant memories in deed for me in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

Larry Matysik has written several books based on his experiences in the biz in St. Louis of which I've enjoyed and encourage those who like to read about wrestling history to check out.

It's really too bad that WWE was unable to buy the St. Louis Wrestling TV tape library so it could have been preserved for years to come to the largest audience possible. We tried and just couldn't get it done.

I do expect St. Louis to be a host city for a WrestleMania some day, too.

To address some Tweets @JRsBBQ:

WWE is about as likely to work w/ Impact Wrestling on an event as I am wearing burnt orange to the Oklahoma-Texass Red River Rivalry Game. Ain't gonna happen. WWE has zero to gain by this and I'm surprised that some fans actually think that it "could" happen.
TNA Owner Dixie Carter is a bright lady and made a timely sound byte that many fans, I'm sure, were excited to read but let's be honest...it's not going to happen.

The Mid South Wrestling DVD from WWE will be released in September and I'm getting an advance copy likely in early to mid June. Some of the biz' biggest stars will be highlighted when they were jut getting started including the duo of the Bladerunners, Sting and Rock aka the Ultimate Warrior, young Rob Ricksteiner who became the incomparable Dog Face Gremlin Rick Steiner, the Midnight Express vs. Rock n Roll Express rivalry which was as good as it gets in tag team wrestling that I ever witnessed, and even some RARE footage of yours truly going to a Muslim Church with Muhammad Ali and my poolside interviews with "The Champ" at this LA home prior to him coming to Mid South for a Super Dome show and SO much more in the three disc set. The DVD is not a documentary but does contain some extensive interviews from many of the men involved in the promotion that were recorded at WM29 and other locales.

Thoughts on the controversial, MSG 'Curtain Call' that took place 17 years ago today in New York City....I've mellowed on this one over the years. When it first occurred, I was so 'Old School' that I did not like it but as the years have gone by, like many things in my life, I've stepped back and taken a longer look at such matters. It certainly did not 'kill the business" nor did it affect the business in any significant way other than Hall and Nash left WWE and had great success in WCW and spearheaded the Monday Night Wars which was good for everyone involved in my view.

For those who are asking, I am still working one a 'One Man Show' concept that is in the formative stages. It won't be a stand up routine as I don't have an act, per se, but will be more autobiographical and, hopefully, motivational & informative. I will also engage the audience in conversation with Q&A time. I'll keep every one posted as I'm going to need to sell some tickets.

Speaking of Q&A's, the Q&A's section here has been updated as of Sunday midday.

I will be live Tweeting @JRsBBQ during @WWE Extreme Rules tonight.

My compete list of Extreme Rules predictions are here in a blog that I posed Saturday. Check them out.

Remember to visit http://www.americansoda.co.uk for JR's products in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Follow them on twitter @americansoda.

Thanks to those who support our efforts, as well, at http://www.wweshop.com.

Enjoy Extreme Rules on PPV!

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Credit: JRSBARBQ.com

Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry, discussing the possible relationship between WWE and the NFLPA. Here are the highlights…

“I flew to Washington , D.C. Tuesday evening and met with the NFLPA on Wednesday morning. It was a productive meeting as the NFLPA group is in contact with literally hundreds of high level athletes who become detached from the NFL and are looking for their next career opportunity.

Obviously, not every former football player will fit into WWE Developmental but some will and those that do have a chance to use their God given athleticism and their extroverted personalities to fit into the system and hopefully become WWE stars some day.

Over the years, the wrestling business has been dotted with stars who have had a football background including Bronko Nagurski who was a former NWA Champion and is a member of the NFL’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Some critics say that WWE is making a mistake going this route to which I wholeheartedly disagree. We are looking for athletes who have outgoing personalities and who are fans of the genre of sports entertainment and who WANT to become WWE Superstars. Great athletes who don’t have any emotional investment in the world of sports entertainment need not apply.

The great thing about a former NFL player, no matter their level of league experience, is that we know that we are getting an athlete of a high level and their pedigree and background can be thoroughly checked to make sure that it’s a good ‘marriage.’ There are literally scores of talented, educated young men who have lived their football dreams and are now ready to embark on another career course. If we are successful matching athleticism with the necessary aptitude of a given talent, then WWE and its fanbase wins.

Time will tell how this potential arrangement works out for all involved but WWE will continue to look far and wide for potential WWE talents including other sports groups and organizations worldwide, the independent wrestling circuit, and beyond.”

Jim Ross posted his latest blog at JRSBBQ.com. Here are some highlights:
Daniel Bryan: "For my money, no one on any WWE broadcast over shadows Daniel Bryan who is arguably the best technical wrestler in the business and his consistent performances week after week often times goes unmentioned."

The Shield: "The Shield continues to evolve and their unit is becoming one of the hottest entities within WWE in years. If they can stay healthy, which there are no guarantees, and continue to evolve and master their craft these three can be big time players in WWE for years to come. Hopefully, they will continue down their current path as I would like to see where that would take the trio at WM30 in New Orleans."

Bray Wyatt Family vignette: "The Bray Wyatt Family vignette was spot on and after seeing them perform as much as I have in NXT I can attest that they will, without question, contribute positively to WWE once they arrive on RAW and/or Smackdown.

"Wyatt has success and athleticism in his blood and has that rare, second gear that most big men do not possess. I can't stress how important that is.

"Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are big, rugged dudes who, at times, remind me of a young Mick Foley or Bruiser Brody inasmuch as they are 'brawlers' who move well for being such big men."

Tickets are on sale now in the UK for my first, Spoken Word tour in London on Sunday August 25 and in in Manchester on Monday August 26. The Cardiff date had issues with the venue and a new, third date has been finalized. @PSI_Events has more details on this.. Let's Grill!

Apparently tickets started very briskly Friday morning when they went on sale in London and Manchester for the first ever "Evening with Jim Ross" events...my first foray into the Spoken Word world.

Just got word that the Cardiff date will be held on Saturday August 24 at the Hilton Hotel Cardiff and tickets are on sale as of 7 PM UK time at jrcardiff.evenbrite.co.uk.

I will take the live audience on a journey that starts when I became a wrestling fan growing up as an only child in Westville, Oklahoma through the early days of my career in the territories, the corporate years in the wrestling business, overcoming a few hurdles along the way and up until the present day. These events will also feature a healthy, Q&A session and will conclude with a VIP, personal meet and greet, photo and autograph session.

If our concept works in the UK we hope to schedule more dates there and there's been talk of doing a tour in Australia, where I've never traveled, and in North America as well. Time will tell but It's something that has me excited as I feel the presentation has potential.

I've updated the Q&A section of the site and appreciate many submitting good, succinct questions. I hope that you will check them out and leave your own questions if you choose.

For fans attending our Spoken Word tour we are trying to work out with @americansoda to have JR's BBQ Sauces, Ketchup and Mustard on sale at the events for those asking.

This Saturday morning I return to yahoosportsradio.com with @seanpendergast at 10:30 am central time to talk a little WWE and more. Listen on your radio or online. Great, 30 minutes of radio.

One of the most frequently asked questions that we get here is when a NXT wrestler is going to be brought up to either a RAW or Smackdown roster. Firstly, I am far removed from the creative loop that makes those decisions so I generally hear later in the process. Secondly, the NXT talents should NOT want to be called up until there is a definitive plan for them such as we are seeing with the Wyatt Family. I like the idea of doing several weeks of vignettes on the talents so that when they do appear their debut has more significance and the audience has been somewhat preconditioned to the TV personas of the talent featured. Just to show up on a TV show usually doesn't move the needle in my view.

While some fans have issues with the TV persona of Fandango, I find him to fit within the flamboyant, sports entertainer category of which there have been many predecessors. Obviously, Fandango's exclusivity comes from his dancing. Great talents like Gorgeous George, the Honky Tonk Man , exotic Adrian Street, Nature Boy Ric Flair and countless others come to mind when one uses the word flamboyant or colorful to describe a wrester. The jury is still out, in my view, whether Fandango will be a fan favorite or a villain as it seems, at least to me anyway, that the fans haven't fully made up their mind on that distinction. I like Summer Rae, who is essentially a valet, working with Fandango as I feel she has a significant up side based on her work that I've seen in NXT. The good news about this pairing is that both talents are hungry for success and Fandango has proven to me on various occasions that he can get the work done bell to bell.

Good to see that @CMPunk has been able to take some time off and decompress before he returns to the grind of the road in his hometown of Chicago at Payback. Going on nothing but my own gut instincts, I'd suggest that we fans don't see Punk until the night of the PPV in Chicago. He's going to receive a massive ovation from the always rabid All State Arena crowd and will arguably be the most popular wrestler in the arena that night. I might be wrong but it seems as if the fans enjoy cheering Punk more than they do jeering him.

Planning on attending the Softball World Series in OKC where my Oklahoma Sooners are the #1 seed,

Too many sports types bitch about the officiating in the NBA playoff and the umpires in MLB for that matter. It's all a part of the game. Get over it. Players make turnovers, errors, and coaches soil the sheets with lame brain decisions....it's all a part of the game. Be creative sports people and come up with something more compelling than the officiating storyline. It's old. Next.

I do the same thing in NCAA Women's Hoops but normally with tongue in cheek and in an attempt to find some humor in their ineptness.

Anxious to see an advance copy of the Mid South DVD that is to be released in September by WWE. Those that are familiar with Mid South seem as if they can't wait on the release while others, likely younger fans haven't a clue as to what , when, who, Mid South was. I expect to preview the DVD in early to mid June.

Getting lots of questions on Bob Holly's book especially as it relates to the ill fated Brawl For It All but I haven't read the book so I can't speak to Bob's opinion on what occurred. I do hope that Bob does well with the book and I enjoyed working with him in WWE and always kept my word with Bob and treated him fairly and like a man. We certainly supported Bob during his injuries and would do it all over again if given the opportunity. Bob was a tough, old school guy who was likely underrated by many which is unfortunate.

Keep JR's products in mind for Father's Day gift packages from http://www.wweshop.com and in the UK, Ireland and Europe from http://www.americansoda.co.uk.

Thanks for stopping by and please follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ where we have exceeded 800,000 followers.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Sun, 06/02/2013 - 10:42am — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
Catching a beautiful Sunday here in Norman, Oklahoma after more tornados this week that killed 9 people in our area. We have been very fortunate thus far and certainly need to build a tornado shelter here at our home. That matter has been re-prioritized I can assure you. Let's Grill...

We have less than 100 tickets remaining for our Spoken Word show in London on Sunday August 25. The VIP Meet and Greet tickets for London sold out in the first few hours tickets went on Friday.

Tickets are also on sale, including the VIP Meet and Greet tickets, for Cardiff which is our first date on Saturday August 24 at the Cardiff Hilton Hotel and for the Manchester Comedy Store on Monday August 26.

Tickets can be purchased for this first ever Spoken Word tour for all three events at http://www.psievents.eventbrite.com/

I can't wait for the opportunity to interact with the fans in such intimate settings and I look forward to not only talking about my journey that started on a farm in eastern Oklahoma, working in the territory era, and culminating with being an Executive Vice President of WWE and being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Q&A portion of the three shows should be a blast.

I've updated the Q&A section of the site as of Sunday morning Okie time. Check them out and feel free to ask your own questions but I encourage you to keep them succinct.

RAW last week had an increased freshness to it. If one looks back a year ago you will find many talents who were not on the RAW radar but today are prominent on the WWE's flagship broadcast.

Perhaps the Wyatt Family introductory vignette put the freshness tag over the top for me and I consider "new' as being better more often than not. The Wyatt vignettes were expertly produced and edited which isn't surprising coming from WWE TV personnel.

Speaking recently on Bray Wyatt's "2nd gear" that some did not understand it is essentially the same thing as a great, defensive lineman in the NFL being able to explode off the ball and then change gears again when needed to make a play. It's not something that every athlete, no matter their size, possesses. Wyatt's grandfather, WWE HOFer Blackjack Mulligan was a massive beast who was once recruited to play college football by the legendary Bear Bryant along with football coaching legend Bum Phillips so athleticism runs in the family. Wyatt's father, Mike Rotunda was an outstanding, two sport star at Syracuse in football and in wrestling. So the bottom line is that Bray Wyatt has good athletic DNA.

Nonetheless the level of success that the Wyatt Family achieves is going to be largely up to them and not the family scrapbook. I like the trio and feel that they will contribute quickly once they arrive in WWE on RAW or Smackdown. I'd also assume that we will see another Wyatt Family vignette on RAW this week.

The key for any young talent getting the 'call up' is to never rest on their laurels as if they have 'made it.' They haven't 'made it.' They've only been provided the opportunity to 'make it' as becoming great and becoming a perennial main eventer is an on going, evolutionary process. It includes conducting one's self like a professional, continuing to study the game and maintaining an aggressive regime with their strength and conditioning program.

I'd also assume that we will see more of the on going breakout build continue for Curtis Axel who's now being mentored by Paul Heyman. @RealKingRegal and I have both said for months that, after seeing various Curtis Axel matches on NXT, that the 3rd generation athlete was ready for something significant. However, even though a talent is 'ready' there has be be a place for him or her to make an impactful entry or re-entrance to RAW or Smackdown.

Pairing Axel with @HeymanHustle is highly strategic and having the young Minnesota native face HHH and John Cena his first two weeks on RAW has people talking. That's more than they were doing when the kid was named McGillicutty.

Bottom line based on the feedback that I receive either on Twitter @JRsBBQ or here at our Q&A section of the site, is that many fans have little to no patience to allow a talent to organically evolve or a storyline to develop in a deliberate, logical manner. Many fans, again I assume the younger ones, want instant gratification as in '30 minutes or it's free' sort of a deal.

Got an email that reported that Bobby Eaton was slowly improving and was up and walking around in the hospital and would likely get a pace maker installed this coming week to help Bobby's heart condition. Please keep Beautiful Bobby in your prayers.

It's hard to name a ton of teams that were better than the Midnight Express...at least it is for me. They are right there with the Assassins as the TOP villain tag duo I've ever seen.

Happy to see that @HeelZiggler is getting better after sustaining a major concussion but he's still not ready to step back into he ring until he passes a battery of medical tests and is thoroughly evaluated by WWE medical personnel. Back in the territory wrestling days, Ziggler would have likely returned already because promoters only paid wrestlers when they worked. Wrestler health and safety wasn't a huge priority in past generations of the territorial system or so it seemed to me.

The "good, old days" weren't so good in many ways.

With Ziggler out, Big E Langston has been getting more in ring work which is a good thing. @BigELangston is a keeper in my view whose best days lie ahead of him. He's a quality human being who is an asset in any locker room environment which has significant value from where I sit.

Anyone who actually thinks that WWE attempting to develop a relationship with the NFLPA is wrong or ill timed has a very unique view on the recruiting of world class athletes for WWE especially with the fact that there are no full time territories developing large numbers of talents for WWE to potentially utilize. Approximately 400, excellent athletes will look for work outside the NFL each year and if they are young enough and have the required aptitude for the genre then why wouldn't WWE want to give some of them a look?

Order JR's products online at http://www.wweshop.com and in the UK part of the world at http://www.americansoda.co.uk. Keep us in mind for Father's Day shopping. Our packages make for great Dad's Day gifts.

You're invited to follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

Always like to remind every one of the @steveaustinBSR podcast which is a hit and my friends @MichaelCole and @JCLayfield and their @LayfieldReport APP and radio show. It's very entertaining to hear one's friends talk about topics other than wrestling, etc. These men are serious about their respective projects and I enjoy supporting them.

Thanks for stopping by and come back and see us.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Beautiful day in Norman, Oklahoma after an early morning storm blew through including hail. Mother Nature was angry this morning my friends. Please keep us in mind for Father's Day gift giving at http://www.wweshop.com where you can find some great packages. Same goes for our friends in Manchester, England at http://www.americansoda.co.uk. Let's Grill!!

Lots of multi tasking TV viewing Monday night with the OU Women engaged in a 12 inning thriller with Tennessee in the College Softball World Series and an enjoyable RAW from Hartford.

I watched RAW live and kept the OU Women's Softball game in the picture in picture with video only. I disconnected early from the Heat vs. Pacers game. Not a good game and too many non hoops shots of the celebs, etc in the crowd. The overt 'flopping' is taking away from the game experience too. One NBA statement I will make is to never underestimate the value of the home court advantage. If game seven had been in Indy, the outcome might well have been different. Just my two cents. San Antonio will be hard to beat 4 times for any NBA team. Great team synergy and coaching.

Thoroughly enjoyed the start of RAW with the quasi, McMahon Family reunion including the surprise appearance of Stephanie McMahon. RAW started the night with established and new 'feeling' star power. The hook established in the early moments of RAW were brought forward strategically throughout the broadcast calumniating with HHH leaving the arena.

@WWEDanielBryan was the star of RAW.

This is not the first time I've written this. No matter the role or task at hand, Bryan delivers. He's as good as anyone in the business right now, for my money. Anyone who has had training from such men as Billy Robinson, William Regal, Shawn Michaels, and Robby Brookside and who has Bryan's desire and professionalism can't be any thing but good.

Bryan stole the show from 5 other very talented performers in the 6 man tag and Bryan had one of Ryback's best bouts ever.

The Bray Wyatt Family vignettes are outstanding. Expertly produced and edited. They are worth watching multiple times to discern the subtleties of the video.

Loved Curtis Axel's aggressiveness vs. John Cena. The young, 3rd generation talent showed no hesitation competing against WWE's top star. One can't be too aggressive in the ring as a rule and Axel is hungry and it shows. Hopefully, the "I want it now" facet of the fanbase will be patient and allow the Minnesotan to evolve in his new, enhanced role.

We have a few VIP tickets remaining for my upcoming, First Ever Spoken Word tour of the UK in late August. Cardiff on Saturday August 24 at the Hilton Hotel has a handful of VIP Meet & Greet tickets left. This will be my first ever trip to Wales and I'm excited to meet fans in an area that I've never traveled.

VIP tickets for London sold out quickly and less than 100 regular tickets for the Sunday August 25 Show remain.

The Manchester Comedy Store event is on Monday August 26 and there are a handful of VIP seats remaining for the storied venue.

For tickets and other info on this first ever tour of its kind for me please check out http://www.psievents.eventbrite.com/

Between my stories of how I've navigated a blessed career from rural Oklahoma to WrestleMania, and beyond, and your Q&A's, we are going to have a great time at all these shows. For those who have VIP Meet and Greet tickets, I assure you that you won't be rushed through the line like cattle as I enjoy meeting fans who make everything possible for those of us who earn a living in the biz.

The Q&A's are updated here on the site. Please submit your questions if you'd like and I ask that everyone keep them succinct.

Excited for @steveaustinBSR 3rd season of Redneck Island on CMT that debuts Wednesday night. I've got my DVR set for the entire season just in case I have a senior moment. I know...what's next...adult Pampers?

I find it amazing, but perhaps I shouldn't, that so many folks that Tweet me @JRsBBQ or email here seem to want me to knock TNA. Some of today's fans are amazing with their unquenchable thirst for dirt, gossip and negativity. I have many, many friends who work for TNA and I hope that they have continued success and continue to grow. Why would I wish them ill will? That makes no sense to me. I'm a fan of the genre and the more people who can be successful within it the better.

I'm envious of the great product placement for JBL's wife's new book on RAW with Damien Sandow. Mrs JBL, Meredith Whitney, is one of the most brilliant individuals on Planet Earth and her just released book "Fate of the States" will be a page turner for those of us wondering what the future may hold regarding our money, the State in which we live and our family's future. I'm sure there is more info @LayfieldReport APP or follow @JCLayfield on Twitter.

I'm a regular listener and you should be too of the Layfield and Cole radio show even though the tough talking Texan takes pot shots at me occasionally. As long as they can touch on the JR's products that we sell at WWEShop.com, I'm good. Seriously, you try to fill as much TV time as JBL and @MichaelCole do every week and you'd know that one will reach for anything that vaguely relates to the genre to use in an entertaining way. I don't envy their workload.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and stock up on JR's products here during the heart of the grilling season. My family thanks you all for supporting our efforts.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ

Good day to all. Let's get to grilling....

I updated my observations at the recent WWE Tryout Camp I participated in down in Tampa on my last blog that I posted on Sunday after I arrived back in Oklahoma. Check it out.

Big night in Richmond tonight as RAW emanates from the Coliseum that is seemingly timeless. It was the home for many Mid Atlantic Wrestling events over the years. My first TV taping for Crockett Promotions after the Crockett's bought out Cowboy Bill Watts was in Richmond for a double taping of one NWA Pro broadcast and one Worldwide Wrestling show. Bob Caudle and I did the the NWA Pro show which was considered the 'B' show while Tony Schiavone and David Crockett did the 'A' show which was Worldwide.

Those shows were 6 segments in length with five commercial breaks and were the norm in that generation within the genre as it related to local, one hour wrestling shows. Bob and I would tape our show first, sort of the warm up act for Tony and David, and then be through for the evening. These shows were done live to tape and not voiced over in post production.

I'd expect more Payback PPV bouts to be made official tonight considering that this is the last Monday Night RAW prior to the PPV in Chicago on Sunday.

Curious to follow the storyline involving HHH, Mr. McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and, subsequently, Curtis Axel on RAW tonight. I have no idea where this matter is headed but I can say that for Curtis Axel to be in this conversation with the aforementioned individuals is nothing but good for the son of Mr. Perfect.

Will Daniel Bryan continue to steal the show tonight on WWE's flagship broadcast as he has the past few weeks? I'm relatively certain that he will find a way. We had a young man in the recent Tampa tryout camp who reminded me of Daniel Bryan a great deal. I suggested to him that he watch every Daniel Bryan match that he could find. Same body type and a perfectionist in mastering the in ring drills. Plus, he won a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in wrestling.

John Cena vs. Ryback is the official headliner for the Payback PPV but they will be hard pressed to follow CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho in Punk's hometown and with both men's penchant for show stealing. Two, highly skilled, proud performers like Jericho and Punk will make it very difficult for whatever immediately follows them to succeed. I could see a Divas match being held immediately after Punk/Y2J finish their business in the Windy City.

It's been smart of WWE to continue to hold World Champion Dolph Ziggler out of contact. There should be no rush and to err on the side of caution is always best for any injury especially a concussion. I expect Ziggler to make his presence felt in a big way tonight on RAW just six days prior to Payback. Ziggler is one of WWE's most valuable resources and I fully expect for him to have a breakout year in 2013 leading into something significant at WM30 in New Orleans.

One of the best attributes of the new, WWE Performance Center will be the presence of a full time strength and conditioning coach who will have world class equipment with which to work. Over time, we will see talents transform their bodies and become stronger and more explosive thanks to an organized, systematic training regime that has never been utilized to this degree ever in the business. This matter hasn't been discussed that much but, trust me, it is a huge feature of the new facility.

Just ask successful D1 college sports programs such as Alabama and Oklahoma how important their strength and conditioning programs are. Same goes for the good programs within the NFL.

I've always stressed that any athlete entering WWE Development, or even the Indies, should have a viable, Plan B in their 'back pocket' because most who enter the program, based on the math, won't make it to the main roster. Perhaps those who don't make it and then lash out is because they don't have a viable plan B. However, who's to say that they can't work the Indies and then try to come back to WWE? It's been done in the past. Bottom line is to not burn any bridges in a business as small as sports entertainment or, for that matter, any business.

Only a handful of tickets remain for the VIP Meet and Greet portion of my 1st ever, Spoken Word Tour in the UK coming up in late August. All tickets are selling fast and it looks likely that all be sold out come show time. For info on these shows or to buy tickets just go online to http://www.psievents.eventbrite.com/.

Remember that JR's products make great Fathers's Day gifts that can be used on the grill or in the kitchen. Online ordering is easy and efficient that includes delivery to your home by simply logging onto http://www.wweshop.com or in the UK, Europe, etc to http://www.americansoda.co.uk. Amazon in the UK also sells JR's BBQ Sauces, Chipotle Ketchup and Main Event Mustard.

You're invited to follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy RAW tonight LIVE from Richmond.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

On Easter Sunday morning a massive hail storm struck our home and destroyed our roof and gutters. Because we have had so much bad weather including a great deal of rain, the roofers are here today and started hammering incessantly at 6:30 this morning. Nails and shingles particles are everywhere. I'm essentially under "house arrest." Sadly, I can't even access my grill but "one can't grieve forever" as the King used to espouse so, here we go..

The more I peruse the WWE Payback PPV card slated for this Sunday in the All State Arena in Chicago the more intrigued I am. Several matches have the opportunity to be really good or better and several talents have the opportunity to stamp their own mark on the PPV.

Competition amongst talents is healthy. No one should be 'grandfathered in' as it relates to being a main eventer but should be required to earn it in an ongoing basis. At least, that's my opinion. We had great locker room competition among the talents during the Attitude Era because the roster was so deep with experienced, main event level talents who all wanted a taste of the big money.

No one rested on their laurels. The advantage then over now is that WWE had more top hands who could carry a main event than they currently do. The good news in that assessment is that the roster today is getting younger and I can see very soon down the road where the competition component is going to return in earnest because everyone can't go on last and everyone can't earn the top money on a given show.

I spoke with WWE HOFer Dusty Rhodes Tuesday night and I'm happy to report that 'The Dream' is feeling much better and is looking forward to attending the NXT TV taping next Thursday at Full Sail University near Orlando. Big Dust is already back at work down in Tampa and was in great spirits when we spoke.

Take solace in this Miami heat fans...the way the San Antonio Spurs shot the ball Tuesday night the Eastern Division All Star NBA team would have lost too. Now the big storyline will be how resilient the Heat have been all season after losing a game. The two teams play again in San Antonio Thursday night with the Spurs up two games to one.

I've discovered that the Steve Austin Podcasts are great traveling companions on fights. I've downloaded them to my IPad and listen while flying. You can follow @steveaustinBSR on Twitter. Steve's interview skills are unique and fun to listen to.

Yes, it was the old promoter in me that suggested that Tim Tebow would be able to earn his keep quickly if he ever came to WWE if for nothing else a one off PPV shot. Think of the outside the box publicity that Tebow would garner if he were to ever step in a WWE ring as a performer which is, granted, a long shot at best.

Realizing how much some talents want to make the NXT roster and to subsequently 'graduate' to the next level of WWE, it's not so hard to understand the dismay some talents have when they are either released or not signed following a tryout. I only suggest that they all take the high road and continue to work toward their dreams. The selection process is a subjective one and no one ever said it was infallible.

Enjoying working with the young broadcasters in NXT including veteran William Regal who is actually highly skilled at this aspect of the business. It is my opinion that every announce desk should have a degree of contrasting opinions all traveling in the same direction that should be entertainingly expressed but never at the expense of telling an accurate story of what is being displayed on the monitor.

Brad Maddox has an opportunity to evolve into an entertaining albeit abrasive color commentator if his early work in NXT is any indication. Both NXT broadcast teams are doing really well as of late.

I've updated the Q&A section of the site as of Wednesday morning and invite you to check them out.

Tickets for my first ever Spoken Word Tour which will take place over four night in late August in the UK are selling quickly but a few VIP seats and regular seats are still available. For ticket info, please visit http://www.psievents.eventbrite.com/

Portions of this presentation will be largely autobiographical but my instincts tell me that the Q&A aspect of the nights will be a blast as well. Many fans have never heard stories of the territory days and how a non wrestler, non relative with no business contacts can essentially enter the back door of the guarded pro wrestling fraternity and parlay that into a near 40 year career.

Great savings on several items on the JR page of http://www.wweshop.com including our JR's Cookbook which is loaded with wrestling stories and is authentically and personally autographed by yours truly on sale for only $12.99. WWEShop ships these books to any location in the world. With this sale going on, it's a great time to stock up on JR's products for the grilling season.

http://www.americansoda.co.uk will be selling JR's products at all our UK events in August.

Thanks for stopping by and I invite you to follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Source: JR's BBQ

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with a new blog on jrsbarbq.com, featuring thoughts on Payback and more. Here are some highlights:
- Good for Cutis Axel, the new IC Champion. I wish some cynical fans would stop second guessing every more this kid makes until he can get a little farther down the road in his career journey. I'm confident he will evolve into a significant asset for WWE.

- The Ziggler vs. Del Rio match had some psychological qualities of the WM13 bout between Bret Hart and Stone Cold. Great in ring storytelling that provides more questions than answers and plenty of follow up material for episodic TV. Del Rio seems more comfortable in the antagonist tole than he does as a fan favorite. However, I do think that many Hispanic fans will still support their countryman. I'm more interested in the personas of both ADR and Ziggler now than I was prior to Payback.

- With the return of RVD to MITB in July and coming off the heels of a strong Payback PPV, it seems as if WWE is building discernable momentum and potential, potent, PPV selling storylines for Summer Slam in LA.