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JR's Blog: JR's Monday Blog...FREE SHIPPING available for JR's products at WWEShop.com

Posted: Nov 27th 2012 By: CMBurnham

Thanks for stopping by and paying us a visit here on our site. I hope that everyone one as great a weekend as did I. Great deals on JR's products at WWEShop.com that includes FREE SHIPPING offers! Check them out as we get rolling here...

Raw is in Lafayette, Louisiana tonight in the Cajun Dome which always brings back plenty of Mid South Wrestling memories for me. I refereed many times in Lafayette back in the 70's when wrestling villains were truly despised and when a riot could occur seemingly on any night. My Cajun friends loved their rasslin and a cold beverage which could comprise combustible elements resulting in a scuffle or two.

The police who handled security in towns like Lafayette and Lake Charles were some no nonsense men who carried lead filled night sticks and were more than happy to use them if a fan got foolish and assaulted a wrestler.

I learned early on that when a hot finish occurred that, as a referee, I needed to leave with the 'bad guys' who had the police surrounding them and not lag behind with the 'wronged' fan favorite. Can't tell you how many times that I was punched by a fan while simply attempting to get back to the locker room even with the police presence. All for $25-$40...all in.

Apparently the three men in black, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns will be interviewed by @MichaelCole tonight on Raw. I hope that we get some revealing info but not too much as I feel these three can be significant contributors on RAW but I also feel that this info needs to come over time especially with WWE doing tons of episodic TV. As a fan, I don't need every question answered tonight and, hopefully, their comments will elict even more interest/questions.

Count on this...no matter what the three, NXT talents have to say, it will be dissected and thoroughly analyzed. In today's social media crazed, info heavy world of sports entertainment, everything is under a microscope and there are more 'experts' sounding off than ever before. Don't take that as a knock and if you do...Lighten Up Francis.

Ambrose has a little Roddy Piper and Brian Pillman traits in him or so it seems to me. His FCW/NXT bout a few months ago with @RealKingRegal was stellar. I called it with Dusty Rhodes and we had a blast. Ambrose is a blue chip stock and is arguably the most 'unpredictable' of the three. Perhaps 'complex' is an adequate word to describe Ambrose at this point in time.

Rollins reminds me of @CMPunk in some areas of Rollins' game or at least the formative CM Punk of a few years ago. I perceive that as a good thing. Rollins is an Iowa kid who has a sound, skill set, confidence, toughness and is the current NXT Champion. He has a natural swagger and wrestles with a chip on his shoulder which I embrace.

Reigns is a former Georgia Tech nose tackle and has reshaped his body from 300+ to 260ish and is of Samoan decent, father is WWE HOFer Sika, and at times has reminded me of @TheRock when I first inked 'The Great One' to his WWE contract. In that I mean the obvious heritage matter but also the physical frame, intellect, and overall, natural athleticism. We can only hope that Roman Reigns can approach The Rock's accomplishments inside the squared circle some day. Only time will tell if that lofty goal can be reached but Reigns can be special. Watch someone interpret what I just said as being that JR is predicting Roman to be the next Rock. Hey, I wish.

These three young men have made a viable impact thus far in their WWE journey and I'm hopeful that their aggression and the controversy that they have created continues on RAW. I'll be curious to see how patient the WWE Universe will be in each man's development as these three move forward in what is a deliberate, time consuming process to reach the top of the card and, more importantly, to stay there.

It will also be interesting to see how much ownership Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns take of their TV personas and how much they are each willing to invest daily to get better. Each must improve in all phases of the game but I'm of the belief that each can be "significant players" aka main eventers in time.

Our business at WWEShop.com is brisk to say the least and we have another sizeable order going out in a couple of days so if you've tried to order and some items are showing "out of stock" bear with us as reinforcements are on their way.

The Bedlam football game Saturday in Norman was one of the best college games that I've ever witnessed. The Sooners OT win was a thriller and the crowd was off the page. Felt badly for my pal @FGBrisco, Jerry Brisco, who is an OSU alum but his Pokes played excellently.

Heading to Fort Worth this Friday afternoon for Saturday's final, Big 12 game of the year as OU takes on a dangerous, defensively sound, well coached TCU Horned Frogs team. OU will be fortunate to escape the metroplex with a win, trust me. It the early, 11 am Central time game on ESPN.

Our new business associates in Manchester, England @americansoda are doing a superb job of distributing JR's products in that part of the world. They ship throughout the UK and in parts of Europe.

If I had a Heisman Trophy vote it would go to #NotreDame linebacker @MTeo_5. Best player that I've seen play all year in person with Colin Klein and Tavon Austin @Tayaustin01 certainly in the conversation. This proclamation will endear me to @wwejoshmathews...a big ND fan.

The WWE HOF inductee list for 2013 is going to be intriguing. I am not in that loop so I don't know who is or isn't being considered. There are many right answers as to who should be inducted and we all have our favorites. I'd love to see the great Bruno Sammartino inducted if for no other reason than for his family and his fans. Seeing Bruno step up to the podium in Madison Square Garden would rekindle the memories of a beloved era of the business many of us remember with fondness.

Bob Backlund needs to be inducted some day. Is it in 2013? Who knows. Bob's record as WWE Champion is damned awesome even when compared to Sammartino's untouchable accomplishments.

Mick Foley would likely steal the show if inducted. Mrs Foley's baby boy has become quite the standup comedian and public speaker and would be a great Attitude Era representative.

Is this the year for Macho Man Randy Savage to be inducted? That one is arguably past due.

The best pure wrestler not in the WWE HOF is a no brainer...Danny Hodge...who is in every conceivable wrestling HOF known to man and the NCAA wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy is called the Dan Hodge award. Dan's career as the long time NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion was outstanding. Yes, I'm biased.

I just named a handful of wrestlers and could easily triple that list and likely not get too many arguments. Everyone that we all love and respect can't be inducted in the same year but I have a feeling that this year's class will be truly outstanding and that MSG will be a glow the night before WM29.

Again, thanks for supporting us at WWEShop.com and @americansoda in England and if any of JR's products are temporarily out of stock know that more inventory is in route.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ and to visit our Q&A section of this site. Hit us with your questions there while you're here.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.