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JR's Blog: JR's Summer Slam Thoughts, @BrockLesnar, Who's Next?, Tuesday Night's Ross Report Podcast will have detailed Summer Slam Thougths PLUS @Celtics @SeanGrande!

JR's Blog: JR's Summer Slam Thoughts, @BrockLesnar, Who's Next?, Tuesday Night's Ross Report Podcast will have detailed Summer Slam Thougths PLUS @Celtics @SeanGrande!

Posted: Aug 19th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Greetings to all and thanks for stopping by our site. Like to take a moment to ask you to spread the word about two things, this website and our Ross Report Podcast that drops every Tuesday night at 9 eastern time on podcastone.com and iTunes. This weeks podcast features my Summer Slam match by match thoughts plus we will have as our special guest from the Boston Celtics and life long wrestling fan and one of the best students of the game that I've ever known, @SeanGrande. Let's grill......

I thought Summer Slam was a really good show. From the untouchable broadcast opening, which no one in TV does better within their genre than WWE, to the jaw dropping main event that unleashed the legit beast that is Brock Lesnar, Summer Slam was a 'transitional show' that we may look back upon in the coming years and say that was the show that changed the course of WWE.

From developing Lesnar's next opponent, and his future opponents, to watching the evolution of the next level of main event stars, this is going to be an interesting notwithstanding crucial time within WWE as it relates to their 'creative' direction but more importantly, in my eyes, their overall booking philosophy.

The way to sell more $9.99 WWE Network isn't overstated marketing plans heavy on rhetoric and redundancy but getting the brand hot again and making RAW, and Smackdown to a slightly lesser degree, more 'must see.' The hotter the product is the more consumers will want to experience it in any form that they can including the Network which I personally enjoy.

Seems that this is the time for WWE upper mgmt to rely on those with extensive product knowledge and less on the creative types whose strengths are seemingly writing promos and campy skits. There are some excellent 'wrestling people' there than can and should step up and express themselves.

Summer Slam was action heavy and the talk was efficiently succinct and timely. Hence, the event was easier to watch and process.

One would thing that the RAW TV rating will be strong even thought it's up against RG3 and Johnny Football on Monday Night Football on ESPN.

Regarding Lesnar's dominating performance against Cena, too many people are already leaving/forgetting that performance and it's impact to look a head and fixate on who's next for Lesnar and how can it be possible that any one can ever beat him. Firstly, in the land of sports entertainment, a variety of things can occur to create the 'impossible' but my take on this is to see Lesnar sporadically defend the title, please don't live or die on the "30 Day Rule," while new challengers are being developed.

The new talents need time to refine their game and are works in progress, IE Reigns, Wyatts, etc, while there are other options such as a rejuvenated Big Show, for example, that might pose as an interesting attraction/challenger who would challenge Lesnar's ability to execute the F5. It's all a matter of presentation and execution. Remember that this is show biz where characters are created, refined, and repackaged. Great bookers have done far more with far less assets than WWE has at their finger tips. Cesaro and even Sheamus can be positioned as viable opponents too especially Cesaro with the @HeymanHustle connection.

Plus, now is the perfect time to add much needed equity to the IC and US Titles currently held by Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus, who I would turn heel, while Lesnar maintains his part time schedule of TV events. With Lesnar's contract allegedly ending after WM30 now would be a great time for WWE to renegotiate with their new, Champion which might see them we able to add a few extra TV days to his itinerary if Lesnar's willing. Nonetheless, WWE needs to firmly know where they stand with Lesnar long before the end of the year as they continue to plan for 2015....and perhaps they already do.

I tweeted during the Summer Slam event at @JRsBBQ of which you can go back and check out the timeline if you want to know more of my thoughts during the event. Remember that I will have match by match and more thoughts on the event on this week's Ross Report Podcast that drops Tuesday night at 9 pm Eastern time on podcastone.com and at iTunes.

Congrats to WWE for a stellar show that was fun to watch and to the talents who gave great effort which is unfortunately and often times over looked by many fans who instead would rather focus on creative and 'what's next.'

Hoping this is going to be a productive week on many fronts and I'm hopeful to share some good news with you before week's end.

Remember our marketing partners including americansoda.co.uk, beyondtheropes.co.uk, wweshop.com and prowrestlingtees.com/jimross. We thank you sincerely for all your support.

The Q&A's are updated at Ask JR.

If you subscribe for FREE to the Ross Report Podcasts at iTunes you won't miss an episode and they will download into your devise automatically and as soon as the show is posted.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

 

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  • 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
05-03
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