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JR's Blog: Huge Response to Iron Sheik on Ross Report Podcast, Sonnen/Rousey to WM31??, Order Kamala's book at KamalaSpeaks.com, Lucha Underground, Autobiography Update, Shop JR's Online

Posted: Feb 6th 2015 By: Jim Ross

We've revised our schedule of upcoming Ross Report Podcast guests on the home page of the site through a portion of April with more tweaks and additions to come. If you are interested as to when a particular guest is going to appear on our show, just check out the homepage and you can get all the info that you need in seconds. We have some great guests on tap plus some new 'wrinkles' in route. The Iron Sheik Ross Report is a compelling listen and next week I talk to ROH's Adam Cole. Download for FREE at pocastone.com or via iTunes. Let's grill...

My friend Chael Sonnen said on TSN's Off the Record that he was going to meet with WWE officials in the near future. If accurate, Chael is a natural for WWE as he "gets it" and is a fan of the business notwithstanding the fact that he stays in excellent physical condition and is a natural born showman. If Chael were to join WWE, he would become their 2nd best talker behind @HeymanHustle from day one. Sonnen could be utilized in the ring or behind a mic SO easily. I'm anxious to see how this plays out. I'm happy to stay tuned.

With that said the top attraction from the world of MMA in my opinion is @RondaRousey who's nothing but box office and has a truck load of charisma and lives with the Four Horsewomen who are all big wrestling fans. It would be so easy to book this attraction while garnering tons of publicity.

Needless to say, the entire MMA/WWE connection is nothing more than speculation at this time but I do know that Ronda Rousey and her Horsewomen would be fun for which to create a WM31 scenario.

Gathering outside the WWE Universe publicity is imperative for every WrestleMania and other major events if the inclusion of the celebrity is organic. With Chael and/or Ronda that transition is easy. What about Ronda and Rowdy Roddy Piper in a mixed tag match? So now, here comes the Ric Flair and Charlotte suggestions as their opponents.

We do not have one of our shows booked at this time for WM31 weekend but we are working on it. At some point I will tag out and simply stay home and watch the event on the @WWENetwork if my representatives can't come through on a venue and a marketing plan.

I encourage you to help my friend Kamala by buying his new book just released from KamalaSpeaks.com. James has had both legs amputated at the knee and could use all our support.

Enjoyed listening to the Iron Sheik talk about shooters like Danny Hodge and Brock Lesnar, among others, on my podcast this week. I also found it sad that Sheik had to come to America to be introduced to illegal drugs and alcohol. Listen to his story about how those matters started, in what territory and how it has had a profound affect on his life. The Sheik's movie is available at iTunes.

I'm guessing that the Sting-HHH face to face meeting at the Fast Lane PPV emanating from Memphis later this month will be highlighted by some sort of physicality to better ignite the personal issue between The Stinger and The Cerebral Assassin. Then, I see this rivalry being well built between the Memphis event and WM31. I like this paring and feel that their match at WM31, which seems inevitable, will be significant if it is positioned properly on the card and in the event's promotion.

Jim Cornette recorded my podcast his week and he was fabulous as usual. He, like me, thinks the Sting vs. Undertaker match window of opportunity has essentially closed. The question is if the match were to happen who would the fans cheer for in a bout pitting two, strong fan favorites who have no personal issue with the other. The fans have to want to see somebody lose and most fans, talking Sting vs. Taker, won't want to make that decision.

Just because crossed my mind and for no other particular reason, if I'm involved in pro wrestling creative I stay away from religion, politics and sexual orientation. There's much more to lose than to gain by exploiting any of these topics. Just my two cents.

Every talent in WWE should want to headline a WrestleMania but without sounding like an old turd what are they doing to increase their chances? It's a long process, usually, to get there so starting NOW for WM32 and beyond is essential. My question is how any talents are truly willing to make the total commitment to make that dream come true. Please don't email or tweet me that it's ALL about their PUSH. The PUSH should start with the talent's turning the heads of the decision makers.

Enjoyed Lucha Underground Wednesday night and watched a couple of episodes of it. If the audience can find this show and the Lucha folks can continue to provide their small but growing audience strong matches, intriguing characters, create new stars and a way to separate the multiple, masked talents on their show, I think this brand has a chance to become a successful TV show sooner than later. The issue of fans finding the El Rey Network remains an issue as does fans trying to find TNA on Destination America. Viewing habits are challenging to establish and I'm suggesting that both Lucha and TNA have a challenging journey ahead of them for the next 18 months or so.

100,000 words down and many to add, delete and re-think on our autobiography. We hope it's finished by fall and in time for the holiday season but that's not a done deal by any means. This is a much bigger undertaking than I perceived and it's like sending your child off their their first day of school when it comes time to give the work to the publisher. We will resume another 4-5 day writing session in Norman in early March. This "might" get us to the finish line or damn near it.

Remember this...laziness is booking a match, real or fantasy, without having a finish in mind. Also, if top talents have issues losing then are they really top talents? Not according to most old timers and students of the genre.

Keep us in mind when you do online shopping for JR's at wweshop.com, americansoda.co.uk and beyondtheropes.co.uk when you want some delicious JR's products that are great on your grill or in your kitchen. Our friends in Chicago at prowrestlingtees.com/jimross have the greatest inventory of wrestling tees, long and short sleeves, as anyone in the world. They ship ANYWHERE and in virtually every size made. Got your Slobber Knocker shirt yet?

Q&A's here on the site are updated. Check them out before you bolt.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ