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JR's Blog: JR'S Blog, @Goldberg & The Kat=Double Main Event on Ross Report, @WOSWrestlingITV, @WWE HIAC Predictions,Can TNA be Fixed?

Posted: Oct 29th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Hello everybody and thanks for stopping by our site. It's an amazingly busy week, or so, on tap that includes the giant, ITV World of Sport TV taping in Manchester on Tuesday followed by two days of AXSTV voice overs for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Los Angeles. As Old Dick Murdoch used to lament, "Don't worry about the mules, just load the wagon."

Our latest podcast with both Bill Goldberg and Stacey "The Kat" Carter is earning strong numbers to say the least. Thanks for all your support of The Ross Report Podcast that can be downloaded for free at www.podcastone.com and iTunes plus you can easily access our shows right here on the site's homepage, too.

@Goldberg is arguably more revealing and informative in this free flowing conversation than he will be at any other time leading into this match with Brock Lesnar at the sold out, Survivor Series event in Toronto's Air Canada Center on Sunday November 20. We are also excited to bring our RINGSIDE with Jim Ross show to TO on Survivor Series Sunday at 2:30 pm at The Second City which is only a few steps away from the ACC. Tickets for our show in Toronto are available in limited quantities at Ticketmaster Canada and www.livenation.com. Go VIP/Meet/Greet/PhotoOp tickets and enjoy the pre show activities.

Stacey Carter talks openly about her relationship to The King, her time in WWE during the Attitude Era and her tireless work in animal rescue among other many topics including her relationship with the late Joanie Lauer aka Chyna.

Subscribe for free to The Ross Report Podcast at iTunes and get every show automatically downloaded into the device of your choice every Tuesday night when a new show drops. We sincerely thank you for your ongoing support!

The legal issues plaguing TNA Impact Wrestling are still ongoing but one has to assume that they will be nearing their crescendo soon. I don't look for this legal cluster to have a happy ending for any the litigants. Many are wary if the current management regime,sans Billy Corgan, can make the decisions that are necessary to change the course of the financially troubled brand. Can anyone be comfortable if Dixie Carter and her team can right the many wrongs in managing this company that has gone from a solid number two, pro wresting brand and airing their weekly broadcast on Spike TV to now being apparently close to bankruptcy and airing on the somewhat obscure POP TV Network. This brand has fallen like a rock from grappling grace the past few years which is sad for many to see.

The big question looms and that is, "Can TNA be fixed?

The answer to that question is, "absolutely" but only if the brand is blown up, restarted, renamed, and by finding a more viable TV network/partner on which to air their show. Then TNA, or its successor, needs a small, tight knit, agenda-less team to plan long term, present a reality based, athletic product featuring as many qualified, younger and fresher talents as they can afford. The way this brand has been devalued and abused is regrettable which may be the understatement of the year.

Make no mistake about it, TNA, under anew name and a fresh management approach, can regain some level of footing within the marketplace but new management, if that's the case, must have a realistic plan and the funds to reach their goals which will only come in time.

Looks like I will watch WWE's HIAC event this Sunday on the WWE Network while abroad on my iPad. My biggest concern, for the lack of a better term, is will WWE and the talents involved be able to make the three, HIAC bouts unique enough to provide them all with a discernable difference and uniqueness?

I still like the first, women's bout inside HIAC, a history maker indeed, to close the show. It's a great opportunity for WWE to further stamp more authenticity and equity into their women's division while providing the fans with a unique ending to a major event featuring a different gender.

HIAC Thoughts: (No Wagering, please)

I see Kevin Owens retaining his Universal Title against the newly minted fan favorite Seth Rollins who is still a work in progress with the fans as it relates to moving from villain to hero. No reason these two shouldn't have a helluva outing. For one to think that Rollins must win to cement his 'turn' is pet coon goofy.

See no reason to beat Sasha Banks in Boston as there are a litany of ways to book a match, have a winner and a loser and still elevate both talents. How you may ask? It's all in the story telling, both physically and audibly, and overall execution of the bout's creative. Trust me, it can be done.

The "lost HIAC" match has a chance to really overachieve when Roman Reigns faces Rusev, who has been booked, in many fan's perspective, as the fan favorite in this rivalry. If Rusev was from Bartlesville and not Bulgaria then he would already be the 'face in this scenario. If the goal is to book the US title to mean more, then the talent's match creative is easier to establish a good plan and execute it better while building much needed equity in the United States Title. I doubt that Reigns loses but if he does I won't be shocked. If I'm booking this one, I have to think long and hard about doing a title switch here.

New Day is a unique and talented 'comedy act' in WWE but it might freshen them up a bit to have Cesaro and Sheamus win the WWE Tag Team Titles. My pick is the crowning of new, WWE Tag Champions thanks to Sheamus cheating to win.

While I'm a big fan of the Cruiserweight division and their brand of wrestling, more often than not that is, I have yet to make the all important 'emotional investment' in this new, WWE weight division so I don't have a dog in this title bout. If Kendrick wins, it may facilitate the next, Cruiserweight fan fav step up and challenge for the title which will help everyone in the division or at least it should.

The WWE Cruiserweights need a shot of 'personality' and continued TV time. Opportunities await these talents and I hope that they all realize such.

It will be predictable for Big Cass and Enzo Amore to win versus Gallows and Anderson and, admittedly, sometimes being predictable isn't a bad thing. Nonetheless, Gallows and Anderson really need 'something' to get them to the level of having significant antagonist 'heat' as they can be infinitely more valuable to WWE than in their current role. This team is much better than they are being positioned. Turn them lose and let Big Cass and Enzo learn from the two main event tested veterans.

A comedy based rivalry will only go so far in most cases and rarely to the main event status of earning the trust to close live events, etc.

Not sure what is going on with the formerly, ultra popular, NXT star Bayley but she could use a nice win Sunday. Bayley connects with the fan base organically which is an invaluable trait for any mat star.

Next week, ROH's unique and highly entertaining Dalton Castle along with Hillbilly Jim will be my Ross Report guests. I have a feeling that "Mr. Barnett" will enjoy Dalton's appearance on our show.

WWE is swapping days at this year's Wrestlemania festivities in Orlando by having the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday night and the NXT Take Over event on Saturday night. Our RINGSIDE with Jim Ross Shows in Orlando will be on Saturday and Sunday April 1 and 2 at Plaza Live in Orlando with doors for both shows opening at noon for the VIP ticketholders and both shows start at 2 pm ending by approximately 4 pm which gives everyone plenty of time to walk from our venue to the NXT event on Saturday and to get to Wrestlemania itself on Sunday. Tickets for our shows WM33 weekend and start at only $25 and are on sale at www.ticketfly.com.

Speaking of our RINGSIDE Shows, tickets are still available for both our shows coming to Nashville at www.zanies.nashville.com on Wednesday November 9 and on Survivor Series Sunday November 20 at 2:30 at The Second City. The TO show will end by 4 pm giving everyone attending plenty of time to walk from our venue to the ACC for the Survivor Series. Tickets for our Toronto show are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ca and www.livenation.com.

Heck, I might walk over to the ACC with you.

Thanks to so many who have enjoyed my convo with @Goldberg this week on our Podcast. Credit goes to Billy who was gracious, open and honest with me on our show and arguably is more open there then he might ever be on a wrestling, TV show.

Remember to check out all the cool, FREE, pro wrestling content that we have awaiting you at the FITE App. The App is free to download and has ton of pro wrestling content that is no charge, so what do you have to lose? Exactly, nothing. All you need si a smart device and WiFi.

Consider liking us on Facebook at JimRossBBQ.

Cheers!

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ