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JR's Blog: Dr. Death Challenged Again...Edge...Solie...More on Angle...Big News Coming Here This Friday!

Posted: Aug 18th 2009 By: mikeiles

It's almost too good to be true to be home on a Monday. I leave Tuesday morning for Kansas City, thanks Southwest Airlines, where we will produce a WWE Superstars bout and the final, Friday Night Smackdown before this Sunday's Summerslam pay per view.

Remember that this Friday we will be rolling out some really amazing things here on the site that I know that you will enjoy. I'll be headed over to JR's BBQ today to see how many folks are enjoying our daily lunch special which is only $5.99 and is in full force every Monday - Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Here's some rare, Monday, "VINTAGE" random thoughts regarding some of the "pressing issues" of the day.

I received an email from Steve "Dr. Death" Williams and apparently cancer has returned to once again challenge my dear pal. Cancer returned to his Stoma and Doc has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment which is the only way this matter can be addressed. I truly admire Doc's faith and his believe in God not to mention the mental and physical toughness that this former wrestling great possesses. If you have it in your heart to help us raise funds to purchase a hands free, talking devise for Doc, please check out www.wrestlersrescue.org. Doc has some limited wrestling engagements upcoming and is still working for Southwest Airlines at the Denver Airport.

We received some unique feedback on the thoughts I wrote this weekend on the Kurt Angle arrest situation. Let me make it clear that Angle has not been convicted of any thing. I never even mentioned the allegations regarding alleged physical abuse to a woman which, by the way, I do not believe. The issue is that when external factors adversely affect one's life and when one's life is under such a professional microscope and is overly scrutinized there are times when one simply needs to take him or herself out of the game for a while to regroup. Call it a vacation or even a leave of absence but stepping away and being able to exhale sometimes isn't a bad thing. (I have these emotions all the time and would love to be able to recharge my batteries from time to time.) I remain steadfast that I believe Kurt Angle to be a good hearted human being but I also believe that sometimes that he can be his own worst enemy. Many of us have that propensity. The drive it takes to create an Olympic Champion can be both a blessing and a curse. I have not talked to Kurt in years but I still feel as if I know him very well and for him to take a moment to simplify his life, re-prioritize it and to determine what's most important in his life might be timely.

I often times see "wrestling couples" hooking up and I truly feel empathy for them. As I have said in this space many times, with the exception of a minority of examples, "wrestling relationships" are usually bound to implode which then adversely affects the locker room and often times forces many within said locker room to "choose sides." Choosing sides in a matter such as this isn't good as the only "side" a wrestler should have is the "side" of the company that pays them their pay check.

Got a text message from Edge who recently received an order of his favorite, J.R.'s Chipolte Ketchup, on which I think that he is "hooked." Edge said that he planned to start his rehab this week on his surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Usually it is approximately a 6 month healing process for these types of injuries but that is not definitive. Mother Nature always has a say in how fast one's body heals. I hope Edge is back in time for WM26 in Arizona. Time will tell as no one can absolutely say one way or another at this time when Edge will be cleared to go 100% and there is no sense in coming back to the ring until then.

In addition to wanting to read the book about Mildred Burke, I also want to read the new book just released on "The Dean of Wrestling Announcers," my late friend, Gordon Solie. Crowbar Press is selling "The Solie Chronicles" exclusively as I understand it and I hope to get my copy this week. Gordon was the "Walter Cronkite" of wrestling broadcasters and was a man that I learned so much from when I first was getting my feet wet in the business. I listened to Gordon's call of a Danny Hodge vs. Hiro Matsuda NWA World's Junior Heavyweight Title so many times that I almost had the damn thing memorized. "The Dean" and I had many great times together over the occasional "adult beverage." I encourage all long time fans or fans who want to better understand the heritage of the business to grab a copy of this book. If you do, please let us know your thoughts. The opportunity to broadcast the Terry Funk vs. Ric Flair "I Quit" match with Gordon many moons ago was one of my personal, career highlights.

I saw where Lisa Maria Varon, aka Victoria and formerly of WWE fame, is still working out preparing for MMA. I think Women's MMA is going to be a hot entity, thanks to Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, and Lisa has always had great passion and a superb work ethic. Plus, she is a strong and physical athlete. I wish her the very best and would love to see her shock the world by making a big splash in Strike Force competition some day.

Just received the three disc DVD entitled "The Rise and Fall of WCW" produced by WWE Home Video. I have only watched a portion of it but what I have seen it's really, really good. Jim Crockett's comments are very provocative and offer a unique insight that has previously not been heard. I love the documentary style, wrestling DVD's much more than match compilations, as do most of you apparently from what you've told me, and this one will no doubt get some folks talking. I have not agree with all that I have heard but that's not a negative as I love hearing varied opinions and takes on any controversial subject.

My pal, ESPN's Brad Nessler, emailed me Monday morning and let me know that he's teaming with Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews on ESPN's Prime Time College Football game and his first assignment is the Oklahoma vs. BYU game on September 5 in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington. Ness is a WWE fan and he and his wife Nancy attended WM24 with my wife Jan and me in Orlando. I look forward to seeing the ESPN crew while we are in Dallas for the game.

Yes, I mistakenly called a John Morrison maneuver a standing Moonsault instead of a correctly calling it a standing shooting star press last week. Many of you corrected me on this one and I even had one thoughtful person send me a link to a website where I was taken to the woodshed for my error. My bad and I'll do better in the future as I sure want this "wrestling thing" to work out.

While we are joking about receiving feedback, and I can adhere to this info, too, but don't most computers have spell-check? I know that I can do a better job of spelling and I know that my grammar always isn't Hemingway-esque but some emails we receive on our Q&A Section are so poorly spelled that I delete them to put them out of their misery and to protect the innocent.

I hope you enjoy Raw tonight from Sam Muchnick's "town" of St. Louis. It will be interesting to see how the locals treat hometown boys Randy Orton and Evan Bourne. I know my personal, track record in OKC has never been too sterling which is why I might "take a vacation day" when Smackdown comes to Tulsa at the new, BOK center in September. Nonetheless St. Louis and Kansas City have great wrestling heritage and I am pumped about being in KC on Tuesday. I am still thankful that I got to broadcast what I think was the last wrestling card ever in the old, Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis when WCW had a PPV there headlined by the infamous Black Scorpion.

Remember, that Friday is going to be a huge day here on the site and that our on line store is open 24/7 for your convenience. Thanks for stopping by and for your business support of this ever growing site.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Steve Williams, Danny Hodge, Hiro Matsuda, NWA, Ric Flair, WCW, Black Scorpion