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JR's Blog: Alex Greenfield #Ross Report Podcast a Hit, Wrestle Kingdom 9, Eddie Guerrero Memories, Huge Podcasts Upcoming, Order JR's online for the Holidays

Posted: Nov 15th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Holiday weather has arrived here in Norman, Oklahoma and that means that the holidays are getting closer. With that said, JR's products make great stocking stuffers and holiday gifts. Use our easy online shopping from http://www.wweshop.com, http://www.americansoda.co.uk and http://www.beyondtheropes.co.uk for all the delicious packages many that include authentic signed swag. Plus, our tee shirt partners in Chicago at http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross have an amazing selection of tees and with every new tee that you buy you will get a Ringside w/ Jim Ross event shirt FREE while supplies last. Shop early and avoid any inadvertent shipping issues and know that we are grateful for your support and hope to be a part of your holiday shopping plans. Now...let's grill....

As many of you may know by now, I will be sitting ringside on January 4th in Tokyo for the annual Wrestle Kingdom 9 event from New Japan Pro Wrestling and promoted on PPV in the USA and Canada by Global Force Wrestling. My manager Barry Bloom and Jeff Jarrett had been in talks for a good while attempting to come up with a win-win deal for both parties and they finally succeeded. It wasn't until this past Monday, the day before the announcement was made on Tuesday November 11, that Jeff and I actually spoke and that was via phone. It had been 15 years since we last spoke.

It's amazing how some things come full circle in respect to my interaction with Jeff and even getting back into pro wrestling commentary of which I wasn't looking to do. As I've said the NJPW project and I just kind of found each other and I'm happy that it happened. Being able to sit at ring side and do some old school based pro wrestling play by play in an awesome atmosphere such as the Tokyo Dome is a ship that I had thought had long since sailed. "Never say never" has never been more applicable in regards to this opportunity.

I love the hard hitting fundamentally sound in ring product of New Japan and at its core it reminds me of the philosophical approach to Bill Watts' Mid South Wrestling except with more flying from some talents and higher production values.

I have no idea who will be my broadcast partner even though Jeff and I have discussed it but the decision at the end of the day will be his. I'd assume we will know that info in a couple of weeks. Who ever it has has to be a preparation freak because many in the English speaking universe are not going to be as familiar with the talents as the hard core fans who religiously follow NJPW. It will be our job to explain the talent's backgrounds, the storylines, etc while not ignoring holds, strategy, the transitions and the basics of presenting each match as if it were a legit sporting event without insulting the audience.

Excited to be returning to London on June 20 & 21, 2015 for the first annual London Wrestlecom aka London Wrestling Convention and tickets go on sale Friday at 8 am. Hit them on Twitter @PSI_Events for more info but I can tell you that PSI Events runs a first class operation and some huge stars are traveling to London to meet the great fans of that part of the world.

The @alexdgreenfield podcast on the Ross Report this week that you can listen to for FREE at podcastone.con. iTunes, and now here on our website is getting rave reviews. Alex is unfiltered and intelligent and has an amazing recall of events while he was the head writer of Smackdown, and working with many talents like JBL, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit and, or course, Mr. McMahon.

Next week on the Ross Report Podcast will see Matt and Jeff Hardy join our show which drops every Tuesday evening at 9 PM ET. This show is another classic with Matt and Jeff holding nothing back in a compelling conversation.

This Tuesday I will be recording two conversations for a future Podcast, one with Bryan Alvarez on 'The Death of WCW' book and the other with Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson to talk about NJPW and the big, PPV coming January 4.

We received some positive feedback on the Applebee's audition that I did this week for a couple of new, radio spots. I was always told that I had a face made for radio. Keep your fingers crossed because "Baby Needs New Shoes." :)

Hard to believe that it was 9 years ago today that Eddie Guerrero passed away. Arguably pod for pound as great a performer, heel or baby face, that i ever saw work in person. I remember Vince McMahon and I meeting w/ Eddie at VKM's home while he was contemplating leaving WCW. Eddie tried to 'look' bigger than he was but we were already sold on the fact that he was special and boy was he. I vividly recall one PPV where Eddie opened the show and felt insulted to the extent that he and I had to have a 'sit down.' Basically I told him McMahon's philosophy was to start the show off hot and set the bar high. I essentially challenged Eddie to make it virtually impossible for any one to follow him and he did. Eddie and I became very close especially once he took to regularly reading his Bible which seemed to calm him. In his younger days there were two Eddie;'s...easy going happy go lucky Eddie who would have a few beers or the 'Andre' version of Eddie after consuming hard liquor. No matter the incarnation, Eddie Guerrero was beloved by all of us who knew him and I cried while sitting at ringside at WM20 in MSG and in San Francisco when Eddie beat Brock Lesnar for the title at the Cow Palace. RIP amigo as I know that you are so proud of Vickie and your girls.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day/evening.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ