JR's Blog: Flair Calls....Lesnar-Couture....Cowboy Joins Roundtables....Eddie Movie....Over Sized Booking Committes Do More Harm Than Good
Posted: Nov 16th 2008 By: mikeiles
Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend. My Sooners are off this weekend as they prepare to face Texas Tech on ABC's National Game of the Week next Saturday night in Norman of which I will attend before taking a 6 a.m. flight to Boston for the Survivor Series on Sunday morning. Random thoughts....we have plenty...
Ric Flair left me a message this week while I was in the UK and sounded upbeat and in a great mood. He had just finished shooting a pilot for a reality show that producers are interested in and he said the TV people were a little overwhelmed with what they saw but in a good way. It was probably just another, regular day/night with the "Naitch" and friends. As many of you have read on the internet, "Naitch" is likely preparing to endure another divorce but he never mentioned a negative word about it to me. Conversation regarding college football was more the order of the day on the long message. Ric is a life long pal who I have great respect for and my only advise to him would be to "save your money" and "never marry again." Ric Flair, for some reason, reminds me of what I perceive Jack Nicholson to be like, a guy who loves his children but that would rather not be married or, perhaps I should suggest, shouldn't be married. I'm just saying...
The talking has almost ended regarding the upcoming Lesnar-Couture UFC PPV fight this weekend from Vegas. This fight will be nice promotion for amateur wrestling, both Couture and Lesnar are former NCAA Champions, which can definitely use the marketing boost plus will provide some MMA purists, an oxymoron if I ever heard one, and die hard amateur wrestling fans an extended forum to knock pro wrestling which is akin to comparing apples to oranges. Pro wrestling is entertainment with physicality while MMA is a pure, physical sport that is entertaining to many of us. I remain a slight Lesnar "lean" especially in light of this week's news items regarding Couture's most recent legal issues which seem to be potentially distracting. I also read where some in the amateur wrestling world look at amateur wrestlers going into the pros as "selling out" which is magnificently ignorant. I suggest that the great Dan Hodge never sold out as he had a family to feed and pro wrestling helped with that task quite nicely back in the day. BTW, amateur wrestling's top award , their Heisman Trophy, is the Dan Hodge Award so obviously all amateur wrestling aficionados don't throw their own under the bus for migrating to pro wrestling to earn more money than they might in another vocation.
Can Couture avoid an overabundance of Lesnar's physical takedown's Saturday night? Will Brock be able to avoid Randy's effective strikes? Can Couture exploit the smallest Lesnar mistake and turn it in to a tap out win? Will Couture be able to deal with Lesnar's significant weight advantage which will be likely in excess of 50 well conditioned pounds over 5, five minute rounds? Will this fight even go the scheduled 5 rounds? Lots of questions with the answers will be provided in a few hours. Even if I was in Vegas I would be hard pressed to put down any serious cash on this one that has too many unanswered questions for me to invest in a serious way.
Cowboy Bill Watts is set to be a panelist on the next round of the WWE Legends Roundtables to be produced in December. Watts is an intelligent and well spoken individual and was a major player in the wrestling business first as a main event wrestler in many successful territories and then as the owner of a viable territory, Mid South Wrestling which morphed into the UWF. Watts also had short stints in Turner's WCW and in the WWE. However,r Bill Watts lasting legacy will always be highlighted by his in ring wrestling career and with his writing and producing an exciting, one hour weekly wrestling TV show of which he had few peers. Watts also developed some amazing talents within the wrestling business, many of who are currently in the WWE Hall of Fame. Bill has always been outspoken, sometimes to a fault, and his no holds barred remarks on the Legend's Roundtable should be quite a treat for long time/ hardcore fans. For those of you that haven't seen these Roundtables, I encourage you to check them out and I even hear that a new DVD release of these free wheeling discussions will be made available soon.
Speaking of DVDS, the Eddie Guerrero DVD currently available is a wonderful look at Eddie's career and features some of his most amazing bouts. Plus, I think you will sincerely enjoy the individuals who speak from their hearts of the late, Latino Heat. I strongly recommend this DVD and after watching it I can't help but think that Eddie's life story would make a great movie. The problem is who would be cast as Eddie Guerrero? Do movies about wrestlers lives have to be dotted with an abundance of in ring wrestling footage? Eddie's life, for example, was as much about what occurred outside the ring than inside in my view.
Matt Hardy is nursing a sore knee but is working through it as many of you will see Friday night on Smackdown. Hopefully, the injury is more of a "tweak" and nothing overly serious.
The WWE was in Z?rich, Switzerland a few hours ago and grossed close to 3/4 of a million bucks at the gate. The event was "this close" to being a total sellout with only a few, single seats left in the arena.
Glasgow and Aberdeen, Scotland are both sold out in advance which seems to be the trend on this lengthy, European tour. Berlin, Germany is already north of $1.1M at the gate which speaks to the fact that this WWE international tour is going to be a huge, financial success.
As the WWE's international TV's mature and become established one can assume that the international aspect of the WWE's business will continue to grown tremendously which the performers love as they are able to make a great deal of money in a short as in a two week or so window of opportunity.
This is off the subject of successful international biz but I read where various wrestling organizations have large, or seemingly so, booking committees. When a company produces one TV program per week and tours in somewhat of a part time basis, why do they need booking committees with so many members? It reminds me of the politics of Washington D.C. regarding the constant partisan politics we encounter out of our nation's capital. I guess it comes back to "politics" in general in wrestling too. Too many cooks in the kitchen can spoil the soup as the old saying goes and I'm old school enough to believe that most wrestling company's can function quite well with a creative group consisting of 2-3 people with none being active wrestlers. Over sized booking committees breed unhealthy, wrestling politics, unnecessary insecurities within the talent roster, personal agendas being played out, and usually a lack of unity coming out of the booking room. Just one guy's opinion.
Please check out our holiday specials which are reachable on our home page or in our store. Many of these personalized, autographed items also feature FREE SHIPPING and we have kept them affordable and family priced. I have been signing a ton of items and we certainly appreciate your business. Thanks.
Don't forget to check out my blog on www.wwe.com and click on to the Smackdown page.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
P.S. With no OU game this weekend and no travel, I will be answering your emailed questions and thoughts on our Q&A section of our website.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1977 Dr. X & Porkchop Cash def. The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1982 The Rat Pack (Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne) def. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 1985 Brian Adias def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. Eddie Gilbert & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 2003 Brandon Groom became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2003 Tarantula & X-Cal became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 2003 Big Daddy Moore def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2008 Outlaw def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 2008 Rage Logan def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
- 2008 Shank became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
- 2008 Seth Allen def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 2015 Lil Outlaw def. Little Nasty Boy for the EMWF Heavweight Title
- 2015 King Midget def. Lil Outlaw for the EMWF Heavweight Title
- 2019 Stephan Bonnar def. MVP for the WCR Imperial Title
- 2025 Mitch Onyx def. Bishop Simon for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Triple Crown Tribe (Fuel & Koko) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2025 Birdman def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Title
- 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Faded Ghoul for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Sgt. Todd def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 2025 L. C. Green def. Deacon Hendrix for the RWE Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Will Chambers def. L. C. Green for the RWE Heavyweight Title
Week of Sun 09-27 to Sat: 10-03
- 09-27 1977 Dr. X & Porkchop Cash def. The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-27 1982 The Rat Pack (Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne) def. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-27 1985 Brian Adias def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-27 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. Eddie Gilbert & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-27 2003 Brandon Groom became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-27 2003 Tarantula & X-Cal became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 09-27 2003 Big Daddy Moore def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 09-27 2008 Outlaw def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 09-27 2008 Rage Logan def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
- 09-27 2008 Shank became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
- 09-27 2008 Seth Allen def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-27 2015 Lil Outlaw def. Little Nasty Boy for the EMWF Heavweight Title
- 09-27 2015 King Midget def. Lil Outlaw for the EMWF Heavweight Title
- 09-27 2019 Stephan Bonnar def. MVP for the WCR Imperial Title
- 09-27 2025 Mitch Onyx def. Bishop Simon for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-27 2025 Triple Crown Tribe (Fuel & Koko) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-27 2025 Birdman def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-27 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Faded Ghoul for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-27 2025 Sgt. Todd def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 09-27 2025 L. C. Green def. Deacon Hendrix for the RWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-27 2025 Will Chambers def. L. C. Green for the RWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-28 1979 Mike George & Bob Sweetan became the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 09-28 1982 Mr. Olympia def. Killer Khan for the MSW Mississippi Title
- 09-28 1984 The Long Riders (Scott Irwin & Bill Irwin) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-28 1986 Buddy Roberts def. Terry Taylor for the UWF Television Title
- 09-28 2008 Striker def. Al Farat for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 09-28 2013 The C. I. A. (Trevor Mapleleaf & J. B.) def. The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Keebler & Diamond) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-28 2019 Brixton Barricade def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-28 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 09-28 2024 Shotgun Webber def. Zac Royal for the TIW No Pressure Title
- 09-29 2007 Luc Lapointe & Beau Dalton became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-29 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-29 2007 Beau Dalton def. Luc Lapointe for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Title
- 09-29 2007 Kunna Keyoh def. Joe Herell for the UWF06 Violent Division Title
- 09-30 1963 Bill Miller def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-30 1965 The Daltons/The Fargos (Jim Dalton/Jim Fargo & Jack Dalton [1st]/Don Fargo) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-30 1974 Blackjack Lanza def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-30 1977 Ox Baker def. Captain USA for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-30 1981 Great Kabuki def. Bob Roop for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 09-30 1983 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer I & Super Destroyer II) def. Roddy Piper & Bulldog Brower for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-30 2006 The House of Strange (AWOL & Overdose) def. The Family (Beau Dalton & Luc Lapointe) for the AACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-30 2007 Outlaw became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 09-30 2017 Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Shawn Shields) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 09-30 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) became the MajCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-30 2023 Romeo Reese def. Punk Synister for the MajCW Flawless Title
- 09-30 2023 Nibira def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-30 2023 Brandon Groom def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-30 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-30 2023 Lunchador def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-30 2023 John J. Bishop def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-30 2023 Lunchador def. John J. Bishop for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-01 2002 Pimpology (Jeffrey Parker & Kool Ade) def. The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 10-01 2002 Bitch the Clown def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2002 The Cookie Man def. Bitch the Clown for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2002 HIMM def. The Cookie Man for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2004 Beau Dalton def. Bobby Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2011 Michael Barry def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 10-01 2011 Maniac Mike def. John E. Stone for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-01 2011 Se7en def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2011 Kevin James Sanchez & Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-01 2011 Drake Gallows & Bobby Star became the SWCW All-American Champion
- 10-01 2012 Brian Lakewood def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 10-01 2016 Dean Lambert def. Kareem Sadat for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
- 10-01 2016 Running Wolf became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-01 2016 Thunder, Inc. (Rolling Thunder & Tim Bean) def. The Midnight Riders (The Unknown & The Midnight Rider) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 10-02 2004 Missa Sparkle def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 10-02 2004 Beau Dalton def. Missa Sparkle for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 10-02 2004 Codie Mullins def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 10-02 2004 Beau Dalton def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 10-02 2009 Aerial Assault (Montego Seeka & Ky-ote Joe) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 10-02 2010 Outlaw def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-02 2010 Bleach, Ink (Draven Cross & Korvin Sage) def. The Hardcore Connection (Shane Sanchez & Maniac Mike) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-02 2010 Rage Logan def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
- 10-02 2010 David Kyzer def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW All-American Title
- 10-02 2010 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 10-02 2010 Jasper Davis def. Kevin Douglas for the NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Title
- 10-02 2010 La Reina de Corazones def. Tasha Simone for the NWA World Womens Title
- 10-02 2011 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-02 2016 The Urban Misfits (Drake Gallows & Dean Lambert) def. The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-02 2020 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Niles Plonk for the TexPro Red River Title
- 10-02 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. Niles Plonk & Flex Zerba (substituting for Dexter Hardaway) for the BCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-03 1967 Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis def. The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-03 2008 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 10-03 2009 Arrogant Money (Austin Tacious & Randy Price) def. BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 10-03 2020 Classy & Sassy (Niles Plonk & Dexter Hardaway) def. The Brotherhood of Holy Hell (Terry Pantera & Dean Lambert) for the BCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-03 2020 Super Beast def. Cody Burns for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-03 2025 Lola the Adventurer def. Skylar Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
- 10-03 2025 The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) def. The Sweet Life (Colt Killbane & Jake Swayze) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- Angel Camacho Sep 27th Today!
- Alec Bisogno Sep 27th Today!
- Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th Today!
- Trey Count Sep 28th
- Kamille Sep 28th
- Scott Lee Sep 28th
- Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
- Tommy Prince Sep 28th
- Rip Tyler Sep 28th
- Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
- Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
- Ann Casey Sep 29th
- David Sammartino Sep 29th
- Raymon Downey Sep 30th
- Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
- Fred Urban Sep 30th
- Seth Coburn Sep 30th
- Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
- Lady Starwind Sep 30th
- Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
- Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
- Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
- Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
- James Southard Oct 2nd
- Funnybone Oct 2nd
- Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
- Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd
- Crystal White Oct 3rd
- Don Fargo Oct 3rd
- Johnny TV Oct 3rd
- Tim Geohagen Oct 4th
- Dick Hutton Oct 4th
- Jay Strongbow, Sr. Oct 4th
- T-Arsenal Oct 4th
- Bobby Fulton Oct 4th
- Abyss Oct 4th
- Studd Lee Oct 4th
- P. Y. Chu-Hi Oct 4th
- Violent V Oct 4th
- Dennis Heflin Oct 5th
- Joaquin Wilde Oct 5th
- Spike Oct 6th
- Mr. Nasty Oct 6th
- Paloma Starr Oct 6th
- Rip Oliver Oct 6th
- Smash Oct 6th
- Frankie V Oct 7th
- Tennessee Rebel Oct 7th
- Rhino Oct 7th
- Nelly Rivers Oct 7th
- Terry Orndorff Oct 7th
- Ripper Collins Oct 8th
- Moonshine Oct 8th
- Brett Irons Oct 8th
- Judy Martin Oct 8th
- Travis Harkrider Oct 8th
- Betty Niccoli Oct 9th
- Andre West Oct 9th
- Richard Fitzwell Oct 9th
- Brian Breaker Oct 9th
- K. J. Everly Oct 10th
- Shane Morbid Oct 10th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Top Viewed Bios
