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JR's Blog: WWE Challenges, Ringside w/ Jim Ross Chicago, Billy Corgan, Ross Report Podcast Guest List, Golden Boy Promotions & Fox Sports 1

Posted: May 17th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Greetings to all...lots of things going on so let's cease burning daylight....

Many financial outlets writing gloom and doom for WWE after the announcement of WWE's new rights fees deal with NBC/Universal which essentially keeps WWE on USA and SyFy for the next few years. The new rights fee was less than expected/predicted but I can certainly see light at the end of the tunnel. The key driver is to earn more fans and develop regular consumers of their core product. How is that done?

No mystery...develop new, hot stars that are embroiled in reality based, personal issue storylines on a consistent that all fans can emotionally invest in while watching easy to follow TV broadcasts. That process takes time, the right talents, plausible creative, and keeping the process simple but stimulating.

For the long haul and as the stock continues to descend likely for the next few days, I'm thinking that for many investors that the WWE stock is a viable consideration to invest in and that's if one is a long term investor. I'm no stock analyst but I do think that the stock will rebound in time without question.

I also assume that the entire WWE/NBC/Universal package and business deal is still under wraps and more news will be announced in the near future but let me stress this is merely my speculation and not based on any inside info whatsoever.

Personally I think that Smackdown is best aired live on Tuesday night which fits the WWE production model because live TV, to me, is a better watch than a taped program that is talked to death all week online and via various social media outlets.

I experienced, while with WWE, some trying times in the mid 90's that were far more challenging than today's marketplace for WWE so I'm more interested to see who rolls up their sleeves and works smarter and harder in making the brand better over the long haul.

As always, the key to the genre is talent and television. Recruiting and training great, young talents plus producing consistent, episodically viable, weekly TV will always be the key.

The WWE Network is still a great value and an investment that I am happy that I made so I can get my wresting fix whenever I choose at an affordable price.

For fans in the Chicagoland area here is the deal....RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross at the Chicago House of Blues with a 2 pm start time. VIP Meet/Greet ticket holders need to arrive at noon while the doors open for all other ticket holders at 1 pm. Again, a 2 pm show time and we will have plenty of JR's products for sale at our Merch stand along with Tee's from our friends at http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross.

Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com and will be available at the door the day of the show as well, too.

Congrats to my pal Billy Corgan's Resistance Pro Wrestling organization for scoring a reality show with AMC. I'm told that this series will be truly unscripted, gritty and a great behind the scenes look at this particular organization.

Upcoming guests on the Ross Report Podcast, that you can download for free at podcastone.com, include HBK, Pt 2 now, Bill Goldberg next week, ESPN's Michelle Beadle, Eric Bischoff, Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, MVP, Lance Storm, Kurt Angle, Bubba Dudley aka Bully Ray, Sting, AJ Styles and Tony Schiavone. More talents are added to the list on a regular basis. I have some interesting guests that we are currently scheduling that I will be announcing soon.

Because I have been asked this often, I'd like to address this matter one last time. I am not a candidate to be included in the WWE Legend's House if they do a second season. I have not been asked by WWE nor do I have any interest in doing the 6 week or so project. I'm too busy with a variety of other projects to invest the time. I would be interested in being involved in Tough Enough as I love spending time with the young prospects who simply want to live their dreams just as I was able to do.

Good luck to ROH/New Japan on their IPPV this Saturday night that emanates from NYC.

Very excited to be broadcasting my first ever boxing event Memorial Day (Monday May 26) evening in prime time on Fox Sports 1 produced by @GoldenBoyBoxing from Fort Bliss, Texas. My pulse is already quickening for this opportunity. I hope that you will tune in or DVR the event.

Ross Report listeners can order JR's products via wweshop.com and save 20% if you simply use Ross Report in the designed code space.

Q&A's updated elsewhere on this site. Getting questions from too many of the same folks. Need some new blood to join the festivities.

Yes...I think that pro wrestling bouts should have time limits, an occasional draw, the sporadic two our of three falls match and that striking with a clinched fist exceeds ridiculousness. Plus, if villains have no rules to break what makes them villains?

Perhaps a more timely question, based on pro wrestling creative these days does the genre need heroes and villains any longer? Just asking.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ