Oklafan.com v5 Beta > Interviews > Jim Ross Interview Pt. 5

Jim Ross Interview Pt. 5

Posted: Feb 28th 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. This week, Ross' commentating partner Jerry "The King" Lawler joins me for a few questions. Here is Week 5 with Jim Ross and a special appearance by Lawler.

Question: Fans are anxiously anticipating Ric Flair's Hall of Fame induction. Will Ric Flair literally ride Space Mountain at Disney World? Maybe we can expect a promo from there promoting his match against Shawn Michaels?

Answer: "Flair will raise the bar as it relates to emotion and raw passion when he enters the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday night March 29 in the Amway Arena in Orlando, which no fan should miss if at all possible. I have said, and I mean it sincerely, even if I was not in the WWE, I would travel on my dime to see 'Naitch' take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. This particular night can never be replicated again. Flair recording a promo from a roller coaster . . . what have you been smoking . . . BROTHER?!"

Question: It's very likely, with Jeff Hardy in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WM 24, that the Intercontinental Championship won't be defended at WM for the sixth consecutive year. Will this title ever mean something again, especially on the biggest stage of them all?

Answer: "I think the IC Title means something now. Could it mean more? Sure it could. Whether it is defended at WM 24 or not, the IC Title is the third most prestigious title in the WWE behind the WWE Title and the World's Title. I do agree that there could be more focus surrounding the Intercontinental Title and the title could be featured much more than it is. Plus, one is assuming that Jeff Hardy will still be the IC Champion come WM 24."

Question: Any chance we'll see a WWE Draft after WM 24?

Answer: "I assume that there is a chance, but I have heard nothing concrete about this matter. In 2008, I would rather see an influx of new, young talents make their debuts in an organized, systematic process rather than see the same established talents simply change addresses. I like the overall concept of the Draft, but I don't know that it has to be a cut and dried, annual affair. Although it does generally garner a nice TV rating and helps rosters that have been depleted by injuries."

Question: Your early reviews of new announcer Mike Adamle?

Answer: "I personally like Mike, who I first met when we worked together in the XFL. He seems to be adjusting well in the WWE community and has indicated to me that he will maintain his other projects -- including working for the NBC-TV affiliate in Chicago. In today's marketplace and with the volume of information that flows on the Net, all wrestling announcers are subject to negative feedback from time to time and, like the rest of us, Mike will not be immune to criticism from time to time. Mike is largely filling a role that Mean Gene Okerlund perfected in his Hall of Fame career, so the former NFL running back has significant shoes to fill. Mike is a sharp guy and might even have play-by-play instincts as his WWE experience evolves. Some of Mike's critics already have him termed as 'a failure' after only about a month on the job, which is totally unfair."

Question: What are your impressions of the announce team of Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura and how they made WrestleManias 3, 4, 5 and 6 bigger and better? (I think they did all four of those together, and I'm not sure if they did WMs 1 and 2 or not.)

Answer: "I have always been a fan of both men's work and was especially close to Monsoon, who became a mentor to me soon after I arrived in the WWE in 1993 when I was not considered a 'popular hire.' Monsoon always held his ground with the controversial Ventura, which made their on-air conflicts that much more entertaining back in the '80s. Ventura could dominate a broadcast if he was allowed to but not with Gorilla. They meshed well, and 'The Body' still had plenty of opportunities to contribute in his own unique style. In my opinion, Monsoon's best broadcast partner was Bobby Heenan, hands down, while Jesse probably worked best with Vince McMahon, but that's not to say that the Gorilla/Body combo did not do an excellent job in the early days of WrestleMania. Plus, one has to remember that in those days that a more traditional combination of play-by-play and antagonist color analyst was the norm, which isn't the case these days in the WWE. Play-by-play has been supplanted by being a story teller, while color commentators are not automatically antagonists."

Tags: WWE, Jim Ross, Ric Flair

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1983 Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan def. Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2005 Brandon Groom & American Anarchy became the NWA-U Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
2010 The Hardcore Connection (Maniac Mike & Shane Sanchez) def. X-Rated (Bobby Star & Kevin James Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
2010 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
2010 Brandon Walker def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2010 Jonathan Cross def. Brandon Walker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2019 Antonio Vega def. Shawn Sanders for the ASP Inter-County Title
2020 Derek James def. Alex Royal for the BPW Oklahoma Title
2020 Size Matters (Sam Stackhouse & Mike Starr) def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
2020 Ethan Cole def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2022 Sam Stackhouse became the WCR Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 07-19 to Sat: 07-25

07-19 1968 Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith def. The Spoiler & Gary Hart for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
07-19 1968 Jack Dalton [1st] & Jim Dalton became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
07-19 1971 Thunderbolt Patterson & Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine & Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
07-19 1982 Bill Irwin def. Brian Adias for the WCCW Television Title
07-19 2008 Dane Griffin def. Les Mayne for the 3DW Texoma Title
07-19 2013 Big Daddy Moore became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
07-19 2019 Shawn Sanders became the ASP Inter-County Champion
07-19 2019 Xavior def. Paul Puertorico for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
07-19 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
07-19 2024 Father Padge became the MajCW Heavyweight Champion
07-19 2024 Brandon Warhawk became the MajCW Flawless Champion
07-19 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) became the MajCW Tag Team Champions
07-19 2024 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
07-19 2024 Nightwolf became the MajCW Native American Champion
07-19 2024 Cardinal Sin def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
07-19 2024 Jason Simon/Bishop Simon def. Nightwolf for the MajCW Native American Title
07-19 2024 Deacon Hendrix def. Cardinal Sin for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
07-19 2024 Tyler Shade def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
07-20 1961 Waldo Von Erich def. Tony Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-20 1979 Gino Hernandez & El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario & El Halcon for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
07-20 1986 Eddie Gilbert & Sting def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
07-20 2008 The Forsaken (Michael Faith & Halo) def. Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
07-20 2013 Drake Gallows became the IZW Impact Division Champion
07-20 2013 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
07-20 2014 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) became the WFC Tag Team Champions
07-20 2018 Double D def. Colby Black for the MSWA eXpress Title
07-20 2026 Vincent Cross def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
07-21 1947 Buddy Rogers def. Dale Levin for the NWA Midwest World Title
07-21 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. The Assassin & The Angel [1st] for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
07-21 2012 The Mercenary became the UWE United States Champion
07-21 2012 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Womens Champion
07-21 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Jake O'Brien for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
07-21 2012 Angel Blue def. Venus for the IZW Queens Title
07-21 2018 Drake Gallows def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
07-21 2018 Alex Royal def. Drake Gallows for the UWE Heavyweight Title
07-22 1959 Danny McShain def. The Zebra Kid for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-22 1960 Danny Hodge def. Angelo Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
07-22 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-22 1981 Bob Roop def. Super Destroyer for the MSW Louisiana Title
07-22 1985 Butch Reed def. Dutch Mantell for the MSW Television Title
07-22 2012 Cody Jones def. Les Mayne for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
07-22 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Adrian Dell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
07-22 2016 Steven Cruze def. Seth Angel for the ComPro Showtime Title
07-22 2017 Future Hall of Famers/Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Damien Morte & Jermaine Johnson) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
07-22 2017 Ryan Davidson def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
07-22 2017 Aaron Anders def. Brian Breaker for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
07-22 2017 Wesley Crane def. Skyler Fayden for the UWE United States Title
07-22 2023 Tyler Midas def. The Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
07-23 1967 Karl Kox def. Waldo Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-23 1979 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
07-23 2004 Rocco Valentino def. Justin Lee for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
07-23 2005 Tyler Bateman def. John O'Malley for the MSWA Tri-State Title
07-23 2011 John E. Stone def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
07-23 2011 Double D def. Michael Barry for the IZW Impact Division Title
07-23 2011 Teila & El Hoto Loco def. Chris Von Luhr & Jason Noal for the ACW Tag Team Titles
07-23 2011 Chris Von Luhr & Jason Noal def. Teila & El Hoto Loco for the ACW Tag Team Titles
07-23 2021 Ky-Ote def. Dane Griffin for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
07-23 2026 MLP def. Vincent Cross for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
07-23 2026 Bang Bang Bennett def. MLP for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
07-23 2026 Vincent Cross def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
07-24 1983 Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan def. Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
07-24 2005 Brandon Groom & American Anarchy became the NWA-U Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
07-24 2010 The Hardcore Connection (Maniac Mike & Shane Sanchez) def. X-Rated (Bobby Star & Kevin James Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
07-24 2010 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
07-24 2010 Brandon Walker def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
07-24 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Brandon Walker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
07-24 2019 Antonio Vega def. Shawn Sanders for the ASP Inter-County Title
07-24 2020 Derek James def. Alex Royal for the BPW Oklahoma Title
07-24 2020 Size Matters (Sam Stackhouse & Mike Starr) def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
07-24 2020 Ethan Cole def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
07-24 2022 Sam Stackhouse became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
07-25 1957 Duke Keomuka def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-25 1962 Hiro Matsuda & Don Kent def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
07-25 1966 Tony Borne def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
07-25 1977 Captain USA def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
07-25 1980 Ken Mantell became the MSW Louisiana Champion
07-25 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Ed Wiskowski & Mike George for the TSW Tag Team Titles
07-25 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
07-25 1988 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
07-25 2009 Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) def. Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
07-25 2015 La Famiglia (Luke Grayson & Thomas Knight) def. Seth Angel & Adrian Dell for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
07-25 2020 Real Dirty Brawlers (Brawler Morrison & Thrash) def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Tag Team Titles
07-25 2020 Jon Cross def. Luke Langley for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
07-25 2020 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
07-25 2021 Thrash def. Luke Savage for the ASP Mid-American Title

07-24

Original Oklahoma Outlaw Jul 24th Today!
Anthony Wild Jul 24th Today!
Skip Young Jul 24th Today!
Joe Savoldi Jul 24th Today!
Jack Gamble Jul 25th
Pastor Brent Jul 25th
Kevin Morgan Jul 25th
Norman Charles Jul 25th
Red River Jack [2nd] Jul 25th
Yali Sapphire Jul 25th
Athan Sorrow Jul 25th
Lee Cook Jul 26th
Mike Bytheway Jul 26th
Jack Van Bebber Jul 27th
T. J. Muniz Jul 27th
Nova Phoenix Jul 27th
Matt Borne Jul 27th
Eric Rose Jul 27th
Johnny Idol Jul 27th
Tom Simon Jul 27th
Brixton Barricade Jul 28th
Sammy Guevara Jul 28th
Tim Woods Jul 28th
Butch Malone Jul 28th
Herb Calvert Jul 28th
Luke Brown Jul 28th
Brian Lakewood Jul 28th
Dan Webber Jul 29th
Oliver John Jul 29th
Betty Boucher Jul 29th
Boss Campbell Jul 29th
Antonio Vega Jul 29th
Billy Starr Jul 29th
Scott Steiner Jul 29th
Bobby Whitlock Jul 29th
Ace Archuleta Jul 29th
Derek James Jul 30th
Trey Bearhill Jul 31st
Kid Kash Jul 31st
Floyd Maystorm Jul 31st
Wayne Black Jul 31st
Dale Robinson Aug 1st
Eric the Red Aug 1st
Everett Rattan Aug 1st
Jimmy Golden Aug 1st
Joel Deaton Aug 1st
Amanda Barricade Aug 2nd
Tim Rockwell Aug 2nd
Jack Vaughn Aug 2nd
Gorgeous George, Jr. Aug 2nd
Capt. Rowdy Aug 2nd
Bull Ramos Aug 3rd
Haystacks Calhoun Aug 3rd
Altar Boy Sanchez Aug 3rd
Karl Gotch Aug 3rd
Ronnie Morton Aug 3rd
Ellis Bashara Aug 4th
Tyson Jaymes Aug 4th
Alaskan Aug 4th
Stormi Renee Aug 4th
Roy Dunn Aug 4th
Stan Lane Aug 5th
Glen Steel Aug 5th
Jimmy Valiant Aug 6th
Grizzly Smith Aug 6th
Samedi Aug 6th
Timothy Johnston Aug 6th

1983 Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan def. Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2005 Brandon Groom & American Anarchy became the NWA-U Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
2010 The Hardcore Connection (Maniac Mike & Shane Sanchez) def. X-Rated (Bobby Star & Kevin James Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
2010 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
2010 Brandon Walker def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2010 Jonathan Cross def. Brandon Walker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2019 Antonio Vega def. Shawn Sanders for the ASP Inter-County Title
2020 Derek James def. Alex Royal for the BPW Oklahoma Title
2020 Size Matters (Sam Stackhouse & Mike Starr) def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
2020 Ethan Cole def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2022 Sam Stackhouse became the WCR Heavyweight Champion

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