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JR's Blog: Big News on JR's On Line Store, MITB/Punk, Austin DVD, Coachman, Soap Opera Writers, Condolences to Terry Taylor

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Appreciate everyone stopping by our site. Enduring the oppressive heat in Oklahoma. But that's why air conditioning was invented, right? Here we go with random thoughts and answers to a few of your questions.

We finalized a deal today to utilize WWEShop as our exclusive distributor for on line sales of our products. More details are being addressed on this matter but http://www.wwwshop.com/Category/JimRoss is the place to go to support our ever growing family business. We will be doing some exciting promotional things with WWEShop in the near future as we speak they ship throughout the USA and worldwide.

We will likely re-open our store on this site in the future to sell items such as our personally autographed cookbooks but all the sauces, ketchup, mustard, and beef jerky on line sales will be handled by WWEShop. The demand for product simply exceeded what we could execute and with business growth comes change. We hope that you will continue to support our efforts as we will have more info on this exciting new development soon.

It is expected that CM Punk will be leaving the WWE after this Sunday's PPV in Chicago. I see no signs that MITB and @CMPunk vs. @JohnCena won't be Punk's last match in WWE at least for the foreseeable future. I am extremely intrigued on how this matter will play out Sunday on what seems to be one of the most talked about PPV's of the year. Without question, expectations for Cena vs. Punk are extraordinarily high.

It's not often when a star leaves a company literally 'white hot' but Punk is a unique guy who seems to have his mind made up that Sunday is it.....for now.

The nWo Legends Roundtable featuring Kevin Nash debuts on July 22 on WWE On Demand. BTW if any of you have questions regarding this service Tweet @WWEClassicOD. Technology doesn't allow this programming to be available via satellite as I understand it but it is on cable systems in the USA and Canada. Again, direct your questions to @WWWEClassicsOD and they can answer them much better than I.

Why will the upcoming @steveaustinBSR DVD be different than previous Austin DVDs? The two biggest reasons are that Steve himself will be hands on as a producer of this DVD and will be selecting the footage/content PLUS with social media as it is fans are flooding various sources with ideas and suggestions as to what they would like to see in this presentation. Social media wasn't too advanced when the last Austin DVD was released. I know on Twitter @JRsBBQ that we've gotten a ton of suggestions from fans for this DVD. I've always believed that one should listen to their customers.

Talked with Austin earlier today and he's amped about this project because he's going to be able to be much more involved in it and to be able to address several matters that heretofore haven't been. I've done a three hour interview already for this DVD and will hopefully be able to help in other ways if called upon.

What kind of promos do I prefer on a wrestling show? Those that are not of the memorized variety but instead are one's general thoughts that are organized and then those thoughts are delivered in a natural, organic manner. When I detect that a talent is speaking strictly from memory and not their heart then I generally tune out. I think that the interview/promo life vests need to be removed and let's see who can swim on their own.

Will Smackdown ever go live on a weekly basis? Again, No. Too expensive and it adversely affects the live touring schedule. The schedule that WWE utilizes to produce television at this time works.

Do I watch Jonathan Coachman on ESPN. Absolutely. Coach is a friend and one of the nicer guys I've known in the wrestling biz. I think that ESPN is a better fit for him than WWE as Coach's future as not only an anchor but a Play by Play talent at ESPN is bright.

Can soap opera writers be successful writers in wrestling? Of course, some can. If they acquire product knowledge and factor that into their knowledge of writing episodic TV why won't it work? However, not unlike any other writer, if one has little product knowledge or respect of the extraordinarily unique genre of pro wrestling and no passion for the product then they will fail......and most will 'burn out' in time.

Why is the Undertaker such a huge star especially with his peers? That's an easy one...respect...tenure...dedication to his craft...refusing to rest on his well earned laurels, always looking for ways to improve, and the unyielding mental and physical toughness of which most athletes can only fantasize. The Undertaker's legacy will, if it hasn't already, overtake Andre the Giant's in WWE.

When will Richie Steamboat be called up to WWE? No idea. He's talented and has potential. The son of the Dragon still has plenty on which to work. Great DNA though and big shoes to fill as it relates to his Dad.

What are my thoughts on Sheamus? Big upside. Physical, smart and has yet to approach how good he can be. He's got character and a fierce work ethic which might be his best traits.

How would Austin-Randy Orton bouts have gone? Obviously, they would have been big money bouts. Orton is often times compared to Austin and deservedly so by and large in today's marketplace but make no mistake about it; no one will ever do Austin better than Austin. Nor should they try. Being an enhanced version of one's own self is where the big money is. That's why getting to know the people one recruits/signs is so imperative. Who they are now is what many will be later only amplified and embellished.

Did Tony Schiavone and I travel to Tokyo for the 1991 WCW Super Show at the Tokyo Dome? Yes indeed. It was a helluva time....Flair was on the trip! Take a look at our photo gallery for a shot of a few of us on the bus traveling from the hotel to the Dome. Tony and I did on cameras in the Dome and did the actual voice overs of the matches upon returning to the CNN Center in Atlanta. Met members of the alleged Japanese 'mob' while in Tokyo and was entertained in a variety of unique customs.

Again, to order our products please check out http://www.wweshop.com/Category/JimRoss. We need and appreciate everyone's support as we continue to take the next steps in growing our business that started in a spare bedroom and is now shipping around the world.

Jump on Twitter with us, along with 180,000+, @JRsBBQ.

Finally, our sincere condolences go out to the family of long time friend and former colleague Terry Taylor as his wonderful wife Trudy lost her battle with cancer yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Terry during the most challenging time of his life.

Count your blessings.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.