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Collected Wisdom: Jim Ross

Collected Wisdom: Jim Ross

Posted: Dec 9th 2007 By: CMBurnham

He's been a Monday night stable for over 10 years and has been in the wrestling business for 34. His patented catchphrases such as "slobberknocker", "being whipped like a government mule", "running away like a scalded dog", among others, have branched out past wrestling. But Jim Ross is more than just the Hall of Fame announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment and an Oklahoma Sooners fanatic. He's a grown up kid from Westville living his dream and running his restaurant; J. R.'s Family Bar-B-Q.

The following are some observations from J. R. himself about his life and career:

I can remember the year I started watching wrestling--1960. I spent almost every Saturday night with my grandparents. We would watch "Gunsmoke" "Perry Mason" the local news at 10. At 10:30 would be the one-hour wrestling show. That was my Saturday night. I got that wonderful experience of being young enough to learn from my grandparents. They were great role models. My parents were great, too.

I was an only child growing up. My mom and dad converted a concrete block milk barn into our home. I was born in eastern Oklahoma--Westville. My dad made a smoker out of 50-gallon drum. He would put meats on the smoker at 6 in the morning and then go to work on the highway patrol. My job was the make sure the fire never went out. I got the fundamentals of smoking meat at an early age because it was one of my chores.

My wrestling career started out akin to my running away from home and joining the circus in 1974 and I have loved every minute of it. I think I have a few more miles left in the tank before I focus on growing out BBQ business full time.

We hired Steve Williams, "Dr. Death" between his junior and senior years at OU. And Doc was a wrestler for OU and played football for Coach (Barry) Switzer. We hired Steve and worked him into pro wrestling. So that's when I met Coach Switzer, about 1980. I was just in awe of him. He was such a charismatic guy. He was genuine and real. He had this uncanny memory.

We're ready to celebrate our 15th year anniversay of "Monday Night Raw" on December 10. Two weeks ago in Charlotte, we did episode #757. for one show to be on cable TV for 15 years in primetime without being cancelled is nothing short of amazing.

I think that wrestling is part of the American fabric. Whether it be a large part or a small part is up to the individual, but it's part of the fabric of Americana.

He (Mike Stoops) and Mike Leach used to watch "Monday Night Raw" when they were looking at tape. They would take a break to watch and that's how I met Mike in 1999. Through Mike, that was my way of meeting the other coaches and, of course, his brother Bob. Since that time, I've become great friends with Bob and all the other coaches.

I know when I did the XFL on NBC, one of the first things the writer from USA Today said was that I was an exciteable guy with a Southern drawl. Somebody said "Did you see the way they knocked you in the paper?" I read it and, well, I am exciteable and I am enthusiastic. I do enjoy what I do. Whatever I do, I'm going to put everything I've got into it. I'm not ashamed of my Southern drawl. It's part of my heritage.

I'm a dreamer. When you stop dreaming, stop having goals--you stop living. My wife, Jan, is a real great motivator. She's in the gym four or five times a week. She's a bundle of energy and a great resource and inspiration for me.

It's not Mr. Ross. It's J. R. It's J. R. to everybody. My dad was Mr. Ross. I'm J. R.--that's just the way it is.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions

Week of Sun 04-21 to Sat: 04-27

  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Champion
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Champion
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Champion
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
04-25
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  • Carl Fergie Apr 25th Today!
  • Brett Stopp Apr 25th Today!
  • Crash Davis Apr 25th Today!
  • Eric Roberts Apr 25th Today!
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
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  • Havoc Apr 26th
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
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  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
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  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
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  • Kari Wright May 2nd
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  • Big Bossman May 2nd
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  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
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