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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

  • 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion

Week of Sun 06-09 to Sat: 06-15

  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Champion
06-09
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  • Dick Listener Jun 9th Today!
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  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th Today!
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
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  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
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