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JR's Blog: WWE Financials, How to get More Subscriptions, The Brock Lesnar Dilemna, JR & Barry Switzer Team up Saturay for OU-Iowa State Football, Ross Report Podcast Rises in Ratings, Shop Online for Holiday Gifts w/ JR's Products

JR's Blog: WWE Financials, How to get More Subscriptions, The Brock Lesnar Dilemna, JR & Barry Switzer Team up Saturay for OU-Iowa State Football, Ross Report Podcast Rises in Ratings, Shop Online for Holiday Gifts w/ JR's Products

Posted: Oct 31st 2014 By: Jim Ross

Business has really picked up at http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross from our friends in Chicago. They are welling tons of JR's tees in a variety of designs that are available in virtually all sizes, you pick the color, long or short sleeved and we ship ANYWHERE! Please consider using JR's products and easy, convenient online shopping for holiday gifts. Shop early to avoid shipping snafus. Let's grill.....

Big week for WWE with their quarterly conference call discussing their financials for the quarter. Disappointing number on the total number of subscriptions but with the UK coming aboard that should help their cause.

This matter of the WWE Network can be analyzed in a variety of ways but the bottom line is that the WWE core product isn't 'hot' and when a brand isn't hot it's difficult to sell spin off products of the brand such as subscribing to their digital network.

WWE Creative must do a better job of heating up the WWE TV shows, allow new, fresh, young talents to take on bigger roles and introduced new talents with a systematic plan to bring them in with fanfare and instant credibility.

Plus selling he Network primarily because of the price of $9.99 which has essentially become a punch line in a joke and is not a selling point. It's akin to saying that we have a lunch special for $4.99 but not saying what the special menu item is. In a three hour raw, WWE should feature vignettes of network offerings to remind fans of what they are missing. If I'm not seeing, feeling, or experiencing whet it is you want me to buy I'm highly unlikely to buy it.

The three hour, WWE flagship broadcast, Monday Night RAW, always has segments that should not make air and using some of the great content from the Network in lieu of such suspect content is a win-win for everyone.

I enjoy the WWE Network and have had it since day one and I'm not paid or encouraged to say so. I'm simply speaking as a fan but I do feel that the concept is a viable one but it will be a couple of years or so it seems before the financials reflect the concept. But it will happen if it is promoted creatively and with weekly time on RAW specifically designated for Network promotion in an enhanced way and by using more time.

Things such as 'This week in WWE Network history' to the superstars themselves tweeting daily what they are watching or are going to watch on the Network are just two simple ways to drive traffic to the newest, most important aspect of the company. Things need to change because what is being utilized currently is obviously not working. The good news is that WWE can change their creative as it relates to their air marketing plan in a manner of days or weeks to improve their results of gaining new subscribers to the WWE Network.

The old, promotes philosophy of giving the audience what they want and they will buy it still is applicable today in any business.

It's going to be curious to see how WWE addresses the contractual issue with their part time, WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar as his contract is allegedly expiring shortly after WM31. There is no way that I would roll into Levis Stadium with Brock as the Champion if I did not have a new contract in place for the amazing athlete. If Lesnar isn't signed to a new, more WWE friendly deal by early January there is no reason for him to make it out of the Royal Rumble as the WWE World Champion.

At some point WWE is going to have to stop reaching back in the past and commit to going with their core of young talent with it understood that these younger talents have to step up and make an impact or step aside and make room for the next talent who's hungrier and more willing to commit to becoming great which is a daily commitment that is not something that can be done while only inside the walls of an arena.

I will be joining Hall of Fame Coach and winner of three national titles in college football at Oklahoma and one Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys, Barry Switzer this Saturday to guest on his @CoachesCabana show that can be seen for free and online worldwide at http://www.coachescabana.com/university-oklahoma. We will narrate and discuss the OU vs Iowa State game that kicks off this Saturday at 11 am Central time. Check us out.

Great feedback for the Jason Powell @prowrestling.net Ross Report Podcast that's up now at podcastone.com. It was recently as high as #0 in the iTunes top 300 sports charts. Jason and I discuss WWE HIAC, Impact Wrestling potentially working with ROH, my top draft pick from NXT and how wrestlers were paid when I was in WWE.

Next Tuesday at 9 pm ET a new Ross Report podcast will drop with WWE HOFer JJ Dillon joining me to talk about his amazing career that started as a referee for Vincent J. McMahon, working the territories as a wrestler and a manager to his greatest in ring role as the leader of the Four Horsemen and moving to administration with NWA, WWE and WCW. This is a great show loaded with stories and history.

Online shopping at wweshop.com, americansoda.co.uk and beyondtheropes.co.uk

I've updated the Q&A's here on the site. I hope that your's made the cut.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
  • 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion

Week of Sun 06-02 to Sat: 06-08

  • 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-02 2012 Brandon Walker became the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-02 2017 Cody Burns def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2019 Brock Landers def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 06-02 2019 Erica became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 06-02 2024 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. Mr. Nasty & Eddie LeVaughn for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2024 Thrash def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-03 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-03 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-04 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-06 1972 Tom Jones & Ivan Putski def. The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-06 1981 Jake Roberts def. The Grappler for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
06-04
  • Duke Clemons Jun 4th Today!
  • Tarzan Baxter Jun 4th Today!
  • Igor Putski Jun 5th
  • Danny Miller Jun 5th
  • Shawn Shields Jun 5th
  • Mitch Onyx Jun 6th
  • Larry Booker Jun 6th
  • O. D. B. Jun 6th
  • Travis 12 Gage Jun 6th
  • Tony Rocco Jun 6th
  • Rip Hawk Jun 6th
  • Rick Sweetan Jun 6th
  • That Handsome Devil Jun 6th
  • Stevie Caballero Jun 7th
  • Gideon Vane Jun 7th
  • Mick Foley Jun 7th
  • Eddie Sullivan Jun 7th
  • Morgan Levay Jun 7th
  • Steve Hartley Jun 7th
  • Mustafa Bin Akbar Jun 8th
  • Rick Vyper Jun 8th
  • Michele Leone Jun 8th
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th
  • Jamie Jun 9th
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Steven Dane Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th

More Look Back In History