JR's Blog: JR's Sunday Blog, NWA Fan Fest in #Charlotte, Jay Lethal, Ricochet, Moose, WWE Wellness Policy, Cancun Boxing on CBS
Posted: Aug 1st 2016 By: Jim Ross
Good day to all and thanks for stopping by our website. Please consider subscribing to The Ross Report podcast at iTunes for FREE as you will never miss a show plus it helps us a great deal. Thanks for your consideration. PW Torch's Bruce Mitchell and I chop up the WWE Draft, Battleground, Raw and much more including Bruce's thoughts on the Brock Lesnar situation on this week's show. It's a good one and I encourage you to check it out. Thanks!
Random thoughts on a variety of topics that have crossed our radar this week...
Patience...too many fans are figuratively knocking themselves out with self imposed knee jerks over the first airings of RAW and Smackdown Live following the WWE Draft. This function of the brand separation is a process and will take time to refine and sort out. Patience is a virtue and some pro wresting fans seemingly aren't overly virtuous.
Tranquilo.
I assume that we fans wil receive new info regarding the two brands this week on TV as it relates to many unanswered questions that could not and likely should not have been addressed last week. I'm always in favor of new info being distributed conservatively and being made to mean more rather than overloading me with too much new data which can make things seem less important than it should be.
WWE Wellness Policy being applicable to full time talents only. I have no issues with this philosophy as it is daunting to test part timers who are not in the every day rotation of the roster. WWE's drug testing program is by far the best within the genre and it strikes me odd that other company's who either rarely test their talents or don't do it all are seldom questioned on this matter simply because "they can't afford it."
Wouldn't the wellness of one's athletes be a vital part of doing business?
Many critics of this matter have no idea what Lesnar's contact states nor the full understanding of the Wellness Policy in general. Please do not construe this as me eluding to the fact that I enough PED usage even in an entertainment entity. I don;t. Talents don"t need them but the narcissistic nature of many pro wrestlers always will rear its ugly head when it comes to how they look and the short cuts some talents take to achieve an unnatural appearance.
This week's The Ross Report podcast features my conversation with ROH Champion Jay Lethal who joins me for the first time. Jay is a marvelous talent and a great pro and this new show drops as usual on Tuesday night at 9 pm ET on podcatone.com and ITunes. We will talk Jay's career and the eagerly anticipated ROH PPV Death Before Dishonor from Las Vegas on Friday August 19.
The Q&A's elsewhere here on our site have been updated.
Great job Saturday night on Showtime by Mauro Ranallo and Al Bernstein who had a marvelous fight to call from the Barclay Center.
Al and I will present Cancun Boxing on the CBS Sports Network Thursday night for a uniquely entertaining card that's a fun event. Check your local listings and join us. My foray into pro boxing broadcasting has been a fun transition and I have multiple TV assignments the balance of the year all on the CBS Sports Network.
Saw where TNA wants to charge promoters $6K for Bobby Lashley to appear at selected events which eliminates the vast majority of promoters from consideration. This is a classic case of negotiating a talent out of extra paydays when they are not booked. I'm in favor of keeping talents busy and earning new money. Asking $6K per appearance, if that is accurate, essentially discourages promoters from booking a great talent like Bobby Lashley therefore prohibiting him from earning extra money at these smaller budgeted events.
Excited to travel to Charlotte this coming Thursday through Sunday for the annual, NWA Legends Fan Fest at the University Hilton Hotel in the Queen City. This is a fantastic event that I love attending every year and strongly encourage wrestling fans to experience. For more info visit www.nwalegends.com
I will do a RINGSIDE with Jim Ross show in Charlotte Thursday night at 7 pm at the Hilton in conjunction with the Fan Fest.
Speaking of our Ringside shows, JIm Cornette and I will team up to do a special show in Baltimore on Friday night September 23 at Jimmy's Famous Seafood in conjunction with MCW Wrestling. Tickets are on sale at www.missiontix.com and get all the info on a spectacular weekend in Baltimore at www.mcwwrestling.com. Only 300 tickets are available so get your tickets soon and join us.
Loved having Roddy Strong in Oklahoma recently for OklaMania and his match with Dalton Castle was stellar. I expect Roddy to join WWE soon and he will be a great addition to their roster when he does.
My The Ross Report conversation with Ricochet will drop on Tuesday August 9 while on August 16 our show with Moose will be available. Two totally different albeit amazing, young talents with amazing careers ahead of them.
Heading to LA early in the week to voiceover 8, NJPW broadcasts over two days with Josh Barnett that will include ample content from Wrestle Kingdom held in January of this year. We are excited to put our spin on these tremendous bouts that will feature such bouts as the Tanahashi vs Okada IWGP Title Bout that fans raved about plus AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura IC Title contest which is also spectacular. NJPW airs on Friday nights on AXSTV at 9/8 CT.
Work continues on our autobiography with the talented Paul O'Brien and we are shooting for a 2017 release of this intense labor orf love.
Preparing to make a couple of major announcements regarding wrestling projects abroad and hopefully we can get that info out this week if all goes as expected.
Enjoy your wek and I look forward to seeing many of you this week in #Charlotte for the NWA Legends Fan Fest. Look for my story on the late Dusty Rhodes on www.foxsports.com that drops this Tuesday online. I spoke with Magnum TA, Michelle Runnels, Cody Rhodes and Tony Schiavone about 'The Dream' for this story I think that many will embrace. It;s hard to believe that such men as Dusty and Roddy Piper are actually no longer with us.
Remember, our tomorrow's are not guaranteed.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R. @JRsBBQ
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Spotlight in History
- 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
- 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
- 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
- 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
- 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20
- 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
- 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
- 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
- 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 06-14 2025 Skylar Slice became the WAH Womens Champion
- 06-14 2025 Military Express (Sgt. Todd & Sgt. Hartman) def. Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
- 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
- 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
- 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
- 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
- 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
- 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
- 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
- 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
- 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
- 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
- 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
- 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
- Abe Jacobs Jun 18th Today!
- Cam the CODA Jun 18th Today!
- Johnny Angel Jun 18th Today!
- Andy Dalton Jun 18th Today!
- Bruiser Brody Jun 18th Today!
- Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th Today!
- Bad Boy Jun 18th Today!
- Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
- Billy the Kid Jun 19th
- Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
- Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
- Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
- Mike Two Jun 19th
- Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
- Professor Ito Jun 20th
- Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
- Jon Cross Jun 20th
- David Kyzer Jun 20th
- Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
- Super Star Jun 21st
- Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
- Phantom Star Jun 21st
- Rick Russo Jun 21st
- Athena Jun 23rd
- Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
- Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
- Don Kent Jun 24th
- X-Storms Jun 25th
- Kody Lane Jun 25th
- Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
- D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
- Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
- Jax Samuel Jun 26th
- Jason Kirby Jun 27th
- Reckless Jun 27th
- Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
- Ignition Jun 27th
- Kuda Jun 27th
- Claire Jun 28th
- Doc Hearon Jun 28th
- John Tidwell Jun 28th
- J. J. Blake Jun 28th
- Malico Jun 28th
- Kenny Mack Jun 28th
- Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
- Boris Malenko Jun 28th
- Bill Dromo Jun 28th
- Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
- Barbara Galento Jun 29th
- Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
- Terry Funk Jun 30th
- Ed Lewis Jun 30th
- Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
- Jake Hollister Jul 1st
- Li'l Joe Jul 1st
- Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Current Champions
Unified Wrestling of Oklahoma
Women's Champion
Nova Phoenix
- Heavyweight Champion: Will Chambers
- Dojo Division Champion: Dale Reeves