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JR's Blog: Ross Report with @Torrie11 & @RealMikeTenay, @NEFanFest5, TNA. Rollins/Lesnar, Tough Enough, JR on FACEBOOK

Posted: Jun 30th 2015 By: Jim Ross

Entrenched in some busy times and looking forward to a slower July. Had a great time this weekend In Providence with the New England Fan Fest team who treated me and their fans wonderfully. Great organization and a totally professional presentation. I hope that I can return some day.

VIP tickets for my two shows Summer Slam week are getting very scarce. Wednesday August 19 I will be in Washington D.C. at the DC Improv and tickets start at $25 and are on sale at the box office at online at www.dcimprov.com. Then we move north to NYC for one show at the Gramercy Theatre on Saturday night August 22 with tickets also starting at $25 and are on sale at the box office and via www.ticketmaster.com. RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross Shows feature stories of my career that began in the 70's featuring some of the biggest names in the wrestling business plus a no holds barred question and answer session during the two hour show. The VIP tickets are for the private meet and greet along with a photo op and I enjoy meeting the fans one on one very much.

Our podcast with the classy @Torrie11 aka Torrie Wilson has been a hit and Tuesday night at 9 PM ET my newest Ross Report Podcast drops at podcastone.com, iTunes, and here on the homepage of our website with special guest Mike Tenay in the first of an amazing two parter with the long time voice of TNA and formerly of WCW. This is one of the most enjoyable interviews that I've done. Subscribe for free at iTunes and you will never miss a show and you subscribing helps us a great deal.

Getting more work done on our book and after one more five day sequestered session at the Sooner Legends Inn and Suites in Norman in August we should be finished with that phase. Still looking for a 2016 release but I'm happier with the process than I've been since I started what is a highly stressful, often times disturbing aspect of my life. One thing about our book, you will get honesty and a journey that no one else in the business can replicate, for better or for worse.

Hope TNA did well on their PPV that I did not watch due to family obligations. I know that they needed a hit and hopefully folks bought the show. Their taping schedule, while it may be good for their financial model, is a system built to never garner success. Taping so much content at one time, much of it out of sequence, etc is not the way to do business. However, if that's the only way that TNA can afford to tape their TV show then it is what it is. I want this brand, as I do all promotions, to succeed and will continue to watch their weekly shows and pull for them but any company who thinks that they an build their brand back to being close to profitability on a network the caliber of Destination America has to be kidding themselves. It cannot be done. Most people that communicate with me can't even see the network on their cable systems. I get it but I pay for it in a premium package so that I can watch TNA and Lucha Underground. I watch ROH generally on our local stations in OKC.

By all reports the talents worked hard which is no surprise to me as I've always liked their roster. I have to be honest with you though that I couldn't explain what a King of the Mountain match is to save my BBQ Sauce. Jeff Jarrett winning the main event surprised me and indicates that there is more coming as it relates to a working relationship between GFW and TNA. In all honestly, they need each other for various and obvious reasons. BTW, I'm happy that Mike Tenay returned to broadcast booth. Sunday night.

Hoping to make announcements on new RINGSIDE with Jim Ross Shows this week for Knoxville on Sept 11 and in Houston on Sept 19. They are NOT final but I'm hopeful that our team can get them put to bed this week.

Check out my new, FACEBOOK page... www.Facebook.com/JimRossBBQ

Doing work next week here in Norman as we come down the home stretch for the documentary film 'Mid Atlantic Memories' that will debut Thursday night July 30 at the first night of the NWA Legends Fan Fest in Charlotte. For ticket and event info hit www.nwalegends.com. I think this film is going to be excellent and a must see for any wrestling fan. The annual, event in Charlotte is going to be spectacular, July 30-August 2.

Smart of WWE to allow Seth Rollins to get some steam versus Brock Lesnar last week and the smart money is on Rollins needing/getting more 'heat' between tonight and Battleground on July 19. Lesnar won't get another beat down but Rollins can't be beat down by Lesnar between now and the St Louis event either. I still think that Wrestlemania Texas is the right spot for Lesnar to win back the WWE World Title if the story is properly told.

Good seeing John Morrison aka Johnny Mondo in Providence this past weekend and I congratulated him on his recent match Prince Puma. The future of Lucha Underground is still sketchy as talents need to know the drill so that the don't have to turn down much needed work.

Had a great visit with George 'The Animal' Steele whose health has improved and he was a joy to watch up with in RI. I also saw former WWE staffer Ed Cohen who was inducted into the New England Hall of Fame. Ed was a viable cog in the success of WWE and how it grew in it's early days. One of the brightest and toughest men that I've ever known.

Important night for USA's Tough Enough Tuesday night as it relates to the TV ratings. The numbers need to rebound but any reality show is only as good as the 'stars' and their interactions. Hopefully a few 'stars' will emerge on Tough Enough sooner than later. I am not a fan of individuals attempting to portray the role of what they perceive that a pro wrestler or entertainer if you prefer should be. I need to see 'real' and 'organic' from wannabes and I don't think that I've seen that yet on Tough Enough. I will watch weekly but I really hope someone jumps off the screen at me soon.

www.wweshop.com is your online source for JR's products that go great on your grill or in your kitchen.

Need a cool, JR's tee? Hit www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross. Sizes up to 5X and we ship ANYWHERE, BROTHER!!

Thanks for stopping by..more coming tomorrow.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ