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Week 4 With Jim Ross

Posted: Feb 21st 2008 By: CMBurnham

Leading up to WrestleMania 24 (XXIV) in Orlando on March 30, JAWBreaker will have some exclusive questions and answers with WWE announcer Jim Ross. Thanks to WWE's Bob Collins for setting this up. Here is Week 4 with Jim Ross.

Question: In order, what would be the top three events here a fan should attend -- the Hall of Fame ceremony, "the Bacon, Bagels & Biceps Brunch" or the Raw after WM 24? And why?

Answer: "Without question, the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony is No. 1 in my book, and I think most WWE Superstars would agree. Stone Cold Steve Austin, who inducted yours truly last year in Detroit, is like many wrestlers and considers the HOF function the highlight of the year. Tickets for this event go on sale on Saturday March 1, and the event will be held in the Amway Arena -- which will be the largest area that this particular event has ever been staged. There is nothing like the emotions one experiences at the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony, which allows most WWE Superstars to be more of themselves than perhaps at any other time of the entire year. Seeing the new class be inducted and seeing the many former Hall of Famers on hand is a rare opportunity for any fan.

My second pick would definitely be Monday Night Raw, also to be held in the Amway Arena, because the follow-up from WrestleMania 24 is addressed and new issues begin. Episodically speaking, the Monday Night Raw 24 hours after WrestleMania is arguably the most important Raw of the entire year as it follows the WWE's showcase event and is, in essence, a creative relaunch.

Finally, for a casual and more laid-back experience and the best chance to meet and interact with the WWE Superstars, (is) the Sunday morning "Bacon, Bagels and Biceps Brunch" -- which might be the most fan-friendly experience of the weekend. I wish they would serve J.R.'s Family Barb-B-Q or at least biscuits and gravy, but no one has sought my culinary suggestions."

Question: Any word on the 2008 Hall of Fame induction honorees who will join Ric Flair? I've also been listing Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, the Von Erichs, Ted DiBiase, Mae Young, Gordon Solie, the Brisco Brothers, Rick Rude, Bob Uecker, Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia (with a likely induction from The Rock) as possible honorees. Think we'll see any of those names honored?

Answer: "As I wrote in a blog last week on jrsbarbq.com, my sense of this year's WWE Hall of Fame class is that it will have somewhat of a Florida flavor to it. I have lobbied for Gordon Solie, the Brisco Brothers and Eddie Graham to be inducted for quite some time. Whether they all make the induction list remains to be seen. Mae Young looks to be the leading female candidate and would be, I think, the oldest WWE Hall of Famer inducted. Mae once told me she remembers staying at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, where she was wrestling at the time, on December 7, 1941 the day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Certainly all the names mentioned have distinguished themselves and are Hall of Fame level performers, but Randy "Macho Man" Savage's chances are slim and none, and old slim just left town. That particular ship has sailed."

Question: Any comments about Ted DiBiase's "Wrestlevessel" fan cruise in WM 24 week?

Answer: "I am sure it will be a blast as the 'Million Dollar Man' is an entertaining and gracious host. Schedules permitting, I would love to attend, but seeing Good 'ol J.R. in a Speedo has been known to cause blindness. I did hear that 'The King' wants to attend with his lovely, young girlfriend Renee, as Jerry is interested in acquiring the 'back waxing' rights if several veteran wrestlers were planning on sailing with Ted -- as unsightly back hair is not a treasured Kodak moment. Nonetheless, the 'Wrestlevessel' should be a lot of fun, especially if Pat Patterson is aboard to sing karaoke. Seriously, I would love to sail with the fans and special guests if nothing more than the Arn Anderson syndrome and that is 'my fat looks better brown than white.' "

Question: I noticed WWE ads on NBC the last few weeks during "American Gladiators." How important is cross-promotion to WWE around WM 24 time?

Answer: "That's marketing 101 and is the most viable way to remind fans of WrestleMania, which has amazing name identity after all these years, especially for fans who have established other viewing habits and may not be weekly viewers of WWE programming but still enjoy the 'WrestleMania experience' as they did when they were younger. The old sales adage of 'to sell 'em, tell 'em' is still alive and well today. Having ads inside American Gladiators is smart, target-marketing BROTHER!!"

Question: Georgia has such a strong history for professional wrestling. Comments on possible Georgia regulations on the sport.

Answer: "Any state having rules and regulations that help ensure that the performers are healthy and are competing in a safe environment and that wrestling events are not dotted by con men who oftentimes have any issues paying their bills isn't a bad thing. However, this Georgia issue seems to be a knee-jerk type reaction stemming from the Benoit tragedy of 2007 because it was and seemingly still is to some degree topical in Georgia due to the exhausting coverage from the Atlanta media. As I understand this bill, it will severely hamper small independent groups, which play smaller venues that the WWE doesn't schedule and most likely put these small operations out of business, which is a shame. The WWE has the infrastructure in place, including an ever-evolving and enhanced Wellness Program that all their Superstars must adhere to, which should be enough for the state of Georgia as it is for the other states. Will Georgia attempt to enact these same, short-sighted rules for the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, the Falcons, Mixed Martial Arts competitions, boxing, the circus when it comes to town or the Atlanta Little Theatre? This is akin to the United States Congress and not the Justice Department working with Major League Baseball to address the Roger Clemens issues recently. It's overkill and a significant investment in taxpayer's money that could be better spent elsewhere-- including addressing the Iraq war, recession and health care, in my opinion."

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Mae Young, Ted DiBiase, Ric Flair, Rick Rude