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JR's RAW Thoughts; Lesnar/Couture; Sooners to KC; JR Headed to Philly; Do Your Holiday Shopping Here Today!

Posted: Dec 2nd 2008 By: Jim Ross

Busy times around Norman, Oklahoma these days with the Sooners squeezing ahead of Texas for the Big 12 South spot to face a dangerous Mizzou this Saturday night in Kansas City for the Big 12 Title and a National Championship Game bid on the line for OU. Most won't believe this but I feel bad for the players at both Texas and Texas Tech who had the same record as the kids at OU earned. the BCS system needs a major overhaul and hopefully by the time ABC/ESPN get the BCS game in a couple of years there will be a playoff system in place. I am steadfast that it is all about the money and not about interfering with the player's classes and school work. How can a governing body even use that as a lame argument? Can they say "March Madness" or the College World Series? Nonetheless our wrestling constituency wants 'rasslin so here are some random thoughts starting with my observations after watching Monday Night Raw.

Overall, I thought Raw was a solid broadcast but at times it felt like I was being overwhelmed with content. That might be more of an indication of my age or the way I enjoy watching TV and less an indictment on the program. Sometimes I think many wrestling shows cram too much in their hour or two hour format and forget that the vast majority of the viewers have much info to retain in their lives in a 144 hour week.

The continued focus on the IC Title works for me and I generally enjoy tournaments. Would I like to see more time invested in the bouts? Sure but that's what most old schoolers would say as well.

Chris Jericho's mic skills hearken back to Edge prior to his Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker. Edge was the hottest ticket in the WWE for my money at that time and one can assume it is only a matter of time before Edge hits his verbal stride on Friday Night Smackdown. Nonetheless Jericho has been "money" on the mic in recent weeks. He's one of the primary reasons I enjoy watching my old program.

No controversial "Bruiser Brody" references this week while discussing Mike Knox but Knox had a brief albeit memorable cameo on Raw Monday and seems to have something special even though he is far from polished. How much Knox improves over the crucial next several weeks/months is largely going to be up to him regarding his mental approach to his job. Knox seems like a bright guy and if he is he will consume himself in making himself better which starts with listening to the right people and adequate study.

I have emotionally invested in the JBL-HBK business and look forward to see where it goes. Getting JBL in a role where he can verbalize is a good thing. Interesting to hear what I perceived as a viewer the live audience in D.C. boo HBK as he left the arena Monday night.

Dolph Ziggler has noticeable potential and even in a losing effort in his Raw in ring debut made a overall positive impression. If one simply judges wins and loses in wrestling as the sold measuring stick then you will have a different opinion obviously. Perhaps the key to Ziggler's advancement will be how well he does in his 2nd outing on Monday Night Raw. The persona is athletically smarmy which seems to be effective in today's marketplace especially when it is so organic. Dolph Ziggler is another individual I am anxious to see where he goes next.

Watching John Morrison Monday night, I thought back to the early, early days of HBK and how athletic, quick and innovative Shawn was early in his career which made many of us feel that he was going to be a star from the beginning. Morrison will never, like HBK, be the biggest dog in the fight, but offensive innovation and being unique could take Morrison a long way. I wish he was a Friday night regular but that's my personal bias coming thru. If John Morrison can approach Shawn Michaels' level of success, Morrison will then have had a helluva run.

All three announce teams will be front and center in Philly next Monday night for the HUGE, 3 hour Raw that starts one hour early at 8/7 central on USA. This really creates a busy week for "The World's Angriest Announcer" (Tazz) and me as we then have to do the Smackdown doubleheader the next night up in Bridgeport, Ct. As one of my heroes John Wayne would say, "Don't worry about the horses, just load the wagon."

Actually Philly is one of my favorite places to work as the fans are usually fun to be around and we generally have the chance to have a Philly cheese steak or two which is something one can't find easily in Oklahoma.

Who was the WWE Shop lady on Raw Monday night? She looked like Diva material to me. Hey, I may be on a diet but I can still peruse the menu can't I?

I am hope all week and it would be a good time to place your holiday orders on our site especially the shirt/cap combo and the personally, autographed "JR'S Cookbook" which include FREE SHIPPING. We have been really busy and I enjoy personalizing the items you purchase.

Friday Night Smackdown attracted almost 3.8 million viewers last Friday night breaking another record on MyNetworkTV. Smackdown was also the most watched broadcast program on TV Friday night in several demos including all persons 12-17 and virtually every male demo in the entertainment genre.

This Friday night on Smackdown features a strong, steel cage match featuring the Big Show and the Undertaker that really clicked. Strong, strong effort by both big men.

The Armageddon card in Buffalo is shaping up nicely. I sure hope we have a full house in the home of the Bills and Di Paulo's amazing Italian eatery.

I am anxious to see the film "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke. I have been sold on the trailers that I have seen. The typical, sensationalized lines such as the "dark under belly of wrestling" is expected as those are marketable terms and today's society generally loves that sort of "dark reality." Most entities have an unflattering side including every form of entertainment and sports that I have ever observed. ESPN even has a legal analyst on call to handle the constant legal issues they cover on their network IE the NYG's Plaxico Burress this week.

I read a WWE.com interview where Mickey James has professional goals after her WWE career ends. Smart, young lady. I wish that every performer had a valid and thought out contingency plan for when their wrestling days are over. With the money many of today's wrestlers earn there is absolutely no reason that many of the men and women in the business today shouldn't be able to have productive and comfortable lives after their in-ring wrestling days have ended. I hope that every one of them has a professional advising them as to their tax planning, retirement planning and giving them good advice on building small businesses today into larger, more productive businesses in the future. It is sad to see wrestlers who have earned big money in their lives squander it, totally not prepare for their after life and end up being the inspiration for a talented actor like Mickey Rourke in a film about the reality of some wrestler's lives.

Nice to see that the UFC's Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture both passed their officially administered drug tests after their fight in Vegas on November 15. This news doesn't surprise me as both men know what is at stake and I see both men as too smart to take a short cut in their MMA lives. Lesnar has lots of people I run into to talking about the UFC as Brock's media exposure in the WWE has probably served him more good than perhaps he or the UFC (especially their fans) like to admit.

Will Randy Couture fight again? I would bet a slab or two of the best ribs in the world from, of course, JR's Family BBQ, that Randy does. Couture is a folk hero and is an asset on so many fronts for the UFC and I hope they fully appreciate such.

When people shoot the breeze with me about MMA they generally use the term "UFC" to cover the entire genre. It's reminiscent of how many people look at pro wrestling and refer to that genre as "WWE." I am not predicting gloom and doom as I am not that versed in the product but does any one really think that another MMA organization other than the UFC will ever make a ripple to the "average Joe?" Perhaps some day but not in the near future as far as I am concerned as it relates to the average fan which is far from the die hards that dominate MMA message boards.

Many within the the WWE are bound for Iraq, I assume, for the annual "Tribute to the Troops" which will air on NBC later in December. Each individual that makes the trip will come back a better person from what others have told me about their experience of interacting with the troops who so bravely serve our country. I would love to make this trip someday before all is said and done for me in the business. I could always arrange a trip after my WWE days come to a close so there is always hope. My friend Toby Keith goes over to entertain our troops regularly so perhaps I could hitch a ride with my fellow Oklahoman. Nonetheless I admire all the people in the WWE who make this journey and for what they do for the Armed Forces.

Thanks for all the business in our on line store and for checking out our site. I answered many, many of your questions over the past few days that I invite you to check out as well. When emailing us questions please keep them succinct and do not send the same question multiple times. They will not "make air" and only waste your time and mine.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.