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JR's Blog: Houston travels...Get Well Kevin Nash...WWE HOF...Legends Gather...Top 25 Managers List Missed the Mark

Posted: Jan 19th 2009 By: mikeiles

Here's hoping everyone is having a great weekend. I have been home one full day this week after leaving Monday for Tuesday's Smackdown, being home most of the day Wednesday and leaving Thursday for a Friday media day in Houston. Next week it's 2 days in Connecticut, home for a couple of days, and then to Detroit and Indy for the Rumble and Smackdown respectively. Plus, I have to squeeze in two days of voice over work for THQ's next Smackdown vs. Raw video game before the end of January. Now you know why I don't own a lawn mower or a weed eater. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Now for some 'rasslin, random thoughts.

I had a great time down in Houston, even though I didn't find any BBQ better than JR's but I'm also not unbiased either while doing a variety of interviews promoting the on sale of WWE Hall of Fame tickets which went on sale Saturday. I hope to find out Monday how they sold on the first weekend. Everyone in Houston seemed to be really amped up that "Texas' own" Stone Cold Steve Austin is going into the WWE HOF . Steve grew up watching Paul Boesch's Houston Wrestling on channel 39 and has told me he was also a big fan of Power Pro Wrestling back in the day which aired in the Houston market hosted by some handsome, young, future WWE HOF announcer who now wears a black hat on Friday nights.

If I was asked once I was asked a dozen times who was going to induct Steve and I, for one, hope it is Ric Flair as that would be like Babe Ruth inducting Mickey Mantle into MLB's HOF. Its not my call and who ever is finalized works for me because this matter isn't about the presenter but the inductee.

I'm actually more anxious to find out the balance of the HOF inductees than I am who's inducting who to be honest with you. There are so many wrestlers with Texas or southwestern roots that are deserving of induction but everyone deserving can't be inducted or the ceremony would last a week as some seem to have to have felt over the years.

I must say that Houston is loaded with all star, radio talent and they were so gracious and respectful to yours truly that it made a long day go by in no time.

Got home Friday night and continued to check out the Starrcade DVD recently released and I hate to sound like a hype machine but for any old school fan or any die hard who is still actively following wrestling, this DVD is a "must see." I especially loved some of the bouts that I had essentially forgotten about and I listened intently to the commentary and was amazed at how much it had changed over the years. Just one guy's opinion but some aspects of the old school commentary was better than today's while there is no doubt that today's TV product is technically much better.

The Legends of Wrestling DVD is sitting on my desk as it was delivered while I was in Houston but a friend told me that he had seen it, I think he bought it at Wal Mart, and said the Roundtables were the best TV wrestling that he had seen in years. This 3 disc set which runs more than 8 hours features The King, JYD, Sargent Slaughter, Ric Flair and, are you ready for this, Buff Bagwell on the box. I guess I am going to have to break down and purchase a laptop so I can watch these DVD's on the road.

My old friend Kevin Nash recently had his 27th surgery which is astonishing. I wish him a speedy recovery. Kevin is one of the wittiest and most intelligent guys in the business and parlayed being a former hoopster at Tennessee and a bouncer at the Cheetah Club in Atlanta to fame and fortune in the squared circle. Kevin was on the same high school All State basketball team in Michigan as Magic Johnson back in the day. I always think of Kevin when we visit Detroit which is his hometown.

I wish the WWE had a better opportunity to acknowledge Victoria wrestling her last match with the company this past Friday night on Smackdown. I had no clue that Victoria was having her last match until I arrived in Omaha the day of the event. Victoria has been one of the hardest working women in show business and worked diligently to perfect her in ring skills. I hope all the younger 8X10 type Divas will work as diligently as Victoria in learning their craft. Victoria had the challenge over the years with wrestling many Divas with far less in ring talent than did she but Victoria always made things work. I have great respect for her work ethic and her love of the business and wish her well in the next phase of her life. She had already started to get involved in other businesses over the past few years and she deserves nothing but happiness and success. Her exotic look always made my old heart beat a little faster. Hey, just because a happily married man is on a diet doesn't mean he can't look at the menu.

The WWE TV folks did an amazing job on putting together the Stone Cold HOF video that aired last week. Amazing editing and great music. How one capsulizes Austin's WWE career in a short video is essentially impossible. I can't wait to see what the WWE comes up with for Steve for the HOF Ceremony.

I've always been a proponent of the WWE HOF being a "brand" much like the Heisman Trophy inasmuch as marketing signed memorabilia, collectibles, perhaps even a HOF Roundtable DVD, and using WWE HOF'ers for personal appearances, media days, etc.

Kelly-Kelly just turned 22 which means in wrestle-speak that she is potentially on The King's radar for only 3 more years.

I was going to watch the UFC PPV fights from Dublin on Saturday but after inadvertently stumbling upon the beloved "spoilers" on the 'net I lost the edge to make the investment. I know if I had really wanted to see it I would watch it but knowing the outcomes did me no favors.

Someone in Houston asked me what I thought about Mr. McMahon returning to Monday Night Raw this week from Chicago and I mentioned it would be akin to a "train wreck" which means it will be something most will want to see for whatever reason. I know I'm going to be watching because I am anxious to see the dynamic between the Chairman and his daughter Stephanie who is the Raw General Manager. I think the interaction should be compelling TV and Mr. McMahon's return certainly adds more star power to Monday night. Monday Night Raw is getting plenty of WWE "love" which isn't a bad thing and hopefully Friday Night Smackdown will get some of that TLC sooner than later.

The next Legends Roundtable will be recorded this week with such dignitaries as WWE HOF'ers Dusty Rhodes, Tony Atlas, Gene Okerlund, along with Cowboy Bill Watts, Michael Hayes, and Teddy Long involved in the proceedings. I am looking forward to being a part of these two programs. The opinions should be diverse and spirited.

If you haven't done so, I encourage you to take a peek at WWE.com's list of Top 25 Wrestling Managers of all time. Any list is subjective and this one isn't an exception. Rating the late Gary Hart as the 24th best manager of all time is somewhat absurd as is completely neglecting Jim Cornette and Paul Heyman.

Soonerland is excited to have back our Heisman Trophy winning QB Sam Bradford for another year of football at OU along with the Sooners' best offensive lineman Trent Williams, arguably the best tight end in college football Jermaine Gresham, and All American defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Business picked up in Norman when these four all decided to stay in school, pursue their college degrees and improve their NFL draft stock. Believe it or not, many fans celebrated and our BBQ biz was excellent the past few days.

I sat at OU Coach Bob Stoops' table Thursday night in Houston at the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award which is sponsored by the American Heart Association headed this year by my friend Wallace Marsh, a Houston oilman who just happens to be a long time wrestling fan. It was nice to visit with such coaches as Texas Tech's Mike Leach, Texas' Mack Brown, Chris Peterson from Boise State, and the winner of this year's award Todd Wittingham from 13-0 Utah. Several OU players attended including The Boz, Keith Jackson, Joe Washington, and Billy Sims who were there to see their coach and one of my heroes Barry Switzer get the Bryant Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. We all had a great time until the wee hours and I heard some great football stories from some of the college game's greatest coaches and players.

Huge weekend in the NFL as the Super Bowl participants will be determined in Pittsburgh and in Arizona. I like Baltimore -6 and the home 'dog Cardinals plus the points Sunday. However, I must admit that I don't have the courage to wager a dime. My wife Jan is a Pittsburgh native and die hard Steelers fanatic and even though the Ravens have 4 former Sooners on their roster I won't root against the Steelers. Should be a slobber-knocker of a game that will center around who can make the other's QB the most miserable. Arizona has been completely dissed by most in the media as being flukes and underdogs even though the game is being played in Arizona. I have to think the Card's will play loose and with nothing to lose even though they may not have the talent to beat the Eagles. I wonder if the Eagles win if Andy Reid won't shave until after the Super Bowl. Andy's partially white beard isn't becoming.

We are still doing a nice business in our store here on our site and will promptly ship your orders within hours of receiving them. You will find our products affordable and we make the best sauces around not to mention we are selling lots of peanuts and 97% Fat Free J.R.'s Original Beef Jerky.

One quick restaurant story, I met a father and son in our restaurant on Saturday who had driven from Lubbock, Texas to Norman which is a 6 hour, one way, drive to eat at JR's BBQ. I was so thankful I was in restaurant while they were visiting as we took photos and had a great visit. They already have their Wrestlemania tickets and I hope I get to see them again. The son, Aaron, and his Dad made my day.

Thanks for checking out our site and keep those Q&A questions succinct and coming our way. Be well.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, Junkyard Dog, Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Tony Atlas, Bill Watts, Michael Hayes, Gary Hart, Jim Cornette