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JR's Blog: JR's Tampa RAW Thoughts, Random Thoughts and More!

Posted: Jan 10th 2013 By: mikeiles

Happy Tuesday Morning here in Norman, Oklahoma USA! We're burning daylight...

The big and lively crowd in Tampa really helped create a fun atmosphere for Monday Night Raw. I've said it many times but the live audience can enhance or detract from any live show. WWE mic's the live audience expertly which allows the viewers to get the most out of the audio the fans produce. That's been a problem for me with UFC for years because, as a fan, they've had huge crowds that "sounded" as if they were average sized. Good job Tampa.

@CMPunk had a stellar night on Raw as the WWE Champion stood out in multiple segments of the broadcast. Punk's TLC match with @Ryback22 was excellent and so well timed to occur during half time of the #Bama vs. #NotreDame National Championship Game. I was impressed by both men's performance and willingness to be physical. Ryback is really coming along in the development of his persona and presentation.

Paul Heyman @HeymanHustle fits Punk like a glove and provides the "Voice of the Voiceless" with an alternative mouthpiece and harkens back to the days when 'wrestling managers' were so important to the progression of many great, wrestling villains. Heyman is an artisan at ringside and on the mic.

The closing segment involving @TheRock and Punk was the unofficial kickoff to the road to WrestleMania in my estimation which will be preceded by a stop in Phoenix for the Royal Rumble and in New Orleans for the Elimination Chamber. I felt the chemistry between the two stars and their verbal interaction had an Attitude Era feel.

I find it somewhat humorous that some fans and pundits are actually keeping score as to who got the better of the other during their extended 'conversation' as I felt that the true winners of the 'debate' were the fans. How one can accurately judge such a subjective piece of business such as we heard is a head scratcher to me but I'm certainly not saying that folks don't have a right to their opinion. Bottom line, and the good news, is that people cared enough to have an opinion.

Most resonating statement in the final segment, in my view, was Punk saying that he was "Going to kick your ass" to Rock. That's what it's still all about...kicking one's ass.

The first 30 minutes of the show, prior to the BCS National Championship game kicking off, was important to set the stage for the night. @JohnCena vs. @HeelZiggler had the time to tell a compelling story. It seems to me that Ziggler really brings out the best in Cena. Really solid bout.

The team of Rhodes and Sandow are beginning to click. Kane is a future WWE HOfer while an argument can be made that Daniel Bryan is in a small handful of wrestling talents in the world.

The seemingly, the newly minted Big Show is continuing to bring enhanced relevance to the World Title which subsequently will make all of Show's future opponents have more meaning. Meaningful titles are imperative to any promotion because if championships don't mean much then what does?

@AntonioCesaro delivering his finisher, the Neutralizer, to a behemoth the size of Khali was a jaw dropper. By the time that WrestleMania rolls around, I'm thinking that Cesaro will be a significant player on April 7. Cesaro is the type of in ring talent that would have been coveted in virtually any era and would never have had to look for work in the territory days.

When I got to the third hour of Raw while watching at home, I felt a great anticipation for what was still to come. With that said, the three hour broadcast went by much quicker than usual. To me, that's a sign of a well produced TV show.

With Rock appearing on this week's Smackdown @JCLayfield and @WWEJoshMathews should have a field day on the show taped tonight down in Miami.

BTW...check out JBL's new app and follow the vocal Texan @JCLayfield on Twitter.

After what I perceive as an overall strong RAW from Tampa, the WWE catches a break next Monday in Houston for the 20th Anniversary of Raw event as that milestone provides numerous opportunities to provide some highly entertaining content. On Twitter @JRsBBQ I'm being deluged with questions about who or who isn't going to be at the Houston RAW and I can truthfully say that I have no idea but I'm certainly looking forward to watching that show that celebrates the highlight of my broadcasting career.

Some housekeeping...

No, I have no plans to do a podcast. Firstly, I have little to no technical expertise and I'm not a fan of most podcasts. The podcasts that I see promoted that are more than 15 or 20 minutes long would challenge me to listen. Things could change but that's my plan at this time.

Same goes for writing an autobiography. I do want to do a book someday but I haven't been able to get into the proper mindset to do all the research necessary to write something other than fluff loaded with inaccuracies. Plus, the book market right now is soft or so I'm told. I want to have the tools and support system in place to write a great book and not just something to generate a pay day.

Yes, I'm going to be making more appearances this year and will be doing some motivational speaking along with some Q&A's because my schedule will finally allow me to consider some bookings but not be at Indy wrestling events. If you have legit inquires you can email me here at Contact Us.

Yes, we are looking to put JR's products in retail stores but as I've said it is a huge undertaking. If you are in the grocery business, etc and have a lead for us or an interest in carrying our products please email Ed Clements at eclements@clementsfoods.com.

Yes...we are working on developing some new products that may include HOT Sauce, Wing Sauce, Salad Dressing, and another flavor or two of BBQ Sauce. These won't be done tomorrow but hopefully during the calendar year. We won't settle for average just to throw a new product out there.

WWEShop.com at http://www.wweshop.com has a special on JR's BBQ package with a signed card that saves you almost $21.

@Americansoda in Manchester, England is scheduled to receive their next shipment of our products any day now as they quickly ran out of many items soon after receiving them.

Looking forward to heading to Orlando this week to participate in the NXT tapings Thursday night @FullSail University. @ShawnMichaels will be on hand which is a HUGE deal for all of us. I still love calling a wrestling match when the opportunity presents itself.

Surprised to see #Bama blow out #NotreDame Monday night as I was watching picture in picture until the game got out of hand and I went full screen with RAW. OU, which did not have a great team this year finishing 10-3, had the Irish tied at 13 going into the 4th quarter before falling 30-13. The Sooners had a miserable second half offensively in that game but I was sold that ND would play Alabama to within 10 which was the opening line. It's all about players and Bama has a truck load of good ones. Saban can obviously coach, organize and motivate (fear?) but his plethora of talent is what ultimately wins National Championships for the Crimson Tide.

Check out the Q&A section of our site as I've worked diligently to update all the questions that seem sane and aren't like reading the Gettysburg Address.

Thanks for stopping by and I invite you to follow me on Twitter...... @JRsBBQ.