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JR's Blog: JR's Summer Slam Thoughts, @BrockLesnar, Who's Next?, Tuesday Night's Ross Report Podcast will have detailed Summer Slam Thougths PLUS @Celtics @SeanGrande!

Posted: Aug 19th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Greetings to all and thanks for stopping by our site. Like to take a moment to ask you to spread the word about two things, this website and our Ross Report Podcast that drops every Tuesday night at 9 eastern time on podcastone.com and iTunes. This weeks podcast features my Summer Slam match by match thoughts plus we will have as our special guest from the Boston Celtics and life long wrestling fan and one of the best students of the game that I've ever known, @SeanGrande. Let's grill......

I thought Summer Slam was a really good show. From the untouchable broadcast opening, which no one in TV does better within their genre than WWE, to the jaw dropping main event that unleashed the legit beast that is Brock Lesnar, Summer Slam was a 'transitional show' that we may look back upon in the coming years and say that was the show that changed the course of WWE.

From developing Lesnar's next opponent, and his future opponents, to watching the evolution of the next level of main event stars, this is going to be an interesting notwithstanding crucial time within WWE as it relates to their 'creative' direction but more importantly, in my eyes, their overall booking philosophy.

The way to sell more $9.99 WWE Network isn't overstated marketing plans heavy on rhetoric and redundancy but getting the brand hot again and making RAW, and Smackdown to a slightly lesser degree, more 'must see.' The hotter the product is the more consumers will want to experience it in any form that they can including the Network which I personally enjoy.

Seems that this is the time for WWE upper mgmt to rely on those with extensive product knowledge and less on the creative types whose strengths are seemingly writing promos and campy skits. There are some excellent 'wrestling people' there than can and should step up and express themselves.

Summer Slam was action heavy and the talk was efficiently succinct and timely. Hence, the event was easier to watch and process.

One would thing that the RAW TV rating will be strong even thought it's up against RG3 and Johnny Football on Monday Night Football on ESPN.

Regarding Lesnar's dominating performance against Cena, too many people are already leaving/forgetting that performance and it's impact to look a head and fixate on who's next for Lesnar and how can it be possible that any one can ever beat him. Firstly, in the land of sports entertainment, a variety of things can occur to create the 'impossible' but my take on this is to see Lesnar sporadically defend the title, please don't live or die on the "30 Day Rule," while new challengers are being developed.

The new talents need time to refine their game and are works in progress, IE Reigns, Wyatts, etc, while there are other options such as a rejuvenated Big Show, for example, that might pose as an interesting attraction/challenger who would challenge Lesnar's ability to execute the F5. It's all a matter of presentation and execution. Remember that this is show biz where characters are created, refined, and repackaged. Great bookers have done far more with far less assets than WWE has at their finger tips. Cesaro and even Sheamus can be positioned as viable opponents too especially Cesaro with the @HeymanHustle connection.

Plus, now is the perfect time to add much needed equity to the IC and US Titles currently held by Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus, who I would turn heel, while Lesnar maintains his part time schedule of TV events. With Lesnar's contract allegedly ending after WM30 now would be a great time for WWE to renegotiate with their new, Champion which might see them we able to add a few extra TV days to his itinerary if Lesnar's willing. Nonetheless, WWE needs to firmly know where they stand with Lesnar long before the end of the year as they continue to plan for 2015....and perhaps they already do.

I tweeted during the Summer Slam event at @JRsBBQ of which you can go back and check out the timeline if you want to know more of my thoughts during the event. Remember that I will have match by match and more thoughts on the event on this week's Ross Report Podcast that drops Tuesday night at 9 pm Eastern time on podcastone.com and at iTunes.

Congrats to WWE for a stellar show that was fun to watch and to the talents who gave great effort which is unfortunately and often times over looked by many fans who instead would rather focus on creative and 'what's next.'

Hoping this is going to be a productive week on many fronts and I'm hopeful to share some good news with you before week's end.

Remember our marketing partners including americansoda.co.uk, beyondtheropes.co.uk, wweshop.com and prowrestlingtees.com/jimross. We thank you sincerely for all your support.

The Q&A's are updated at Ask JR.

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Boomer Sooner!

J.R.