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JR's Blog: Tuesday Blog, RAW Feedback, Tony Schiavone on Ross Report Podcast Tonight, JR to affliate with USA Today Sports! Let's Grill...

Posted: Aug 26th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Greetings one and all...let's grill...

My long time, former broadcast partner @TonySchiavone24 is my guest this week on the Ross Report Podcast that drops at 9 pm eastern time on podcastone.com and via iTunes. Tony and I had a terrific time catching up and I really think that if you are a long time fan including the Jim Crockett Promotions years and the early days of WCW and Tony's WWE run that you will enjoy this podcast.

For those asking about upcoming guests, they are listed on the homepage of this website. We've got some great guests coming up over the next several weeks. To make sure that you don't miss a show, subscribe for FREE at iTunes.

Remember to take a quick look at the selection of JR's T shirts at http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross. We have all sizes and these shirts can be shipped any where in the world.

RAW/ANAHEIM THOUGHTS.....

Looked like a great house in Anaheim. I always enjoyed working in Anaheim and, more often than not, the live audience always stayed engaged if they had a semi good reason.

The HOF panel exceeded my expectations as it appeared that the trio of HBK, Hogan, and Flair were working off bullet points and expressing themselves in a natural manner or as natural as one can be in that setting.

I wasn't overwhelmed with how John Cena was booked on RAW as I would have been in favor of leaving him off TV another week or doing a vignette from Cena's home where he could express himself about "Do I have it in me to beat a healthy Brock Lesnar?"

When the hero says he's not going to a major event to win his title back but to beat the champion's ass it usually means that the champ IE Brock Lesnar retains as he should in this re-match.

Bray Wyatt has been feeling main event special the past several weeks but not so much Monday night. Hopefully, he gets back on his roll next Monday. A potential Lesnar vs. Wyatt match down the road interests me if it could be presented in a compelling manner.

Solid match between Swagger and Rusev but the Ref stoppage was telegraphed too much for my cynical eyes.

I'd still, as I have said on the Ross Report podcast, like to see Cesaro vs. Lesnar at some point down the road. Cesaro is seemingly in the never ending "on deck circle."

The AJ-Paige scenario hasn't resonated with me just yet and I'm losing interest in this issue involving two of my favorite WWE female wrestlers.

WWE getting heat on Reigns is strategic. Pushing Reigns too fast too soon isn't a good idea. (See...Die Rocky Die)

If Reigns is the anointed one, and I'm not against that whatsoever, he's got miles to travel to get to the next level not withstanding that Lesnar has to continue to be the intimidating, "I like nothing," bully/heel or Lesnar could easily be the 'face come WM31. Worse things could happen. Good thing here is that Brock has @HeymanHustle....and Roman Reigns is athletic enough to continue to raise his game.

@WWEDustyRhodes sons are apparently now villains....or are they? I think that the "Dust Boys" would make an excellent heel tag team if that's the play that's called. They may never be the Texas Outlaws, Dusty and Dick Murdoch, but they are potentially WWE's best heel tag team if given the ball.

Thought Sandow standing in for Miz was clever. Ziggler feels good as IC Champion but he needs a hot program with someone fresh.

Big spotlight for the Bella Twins and some nice exposure for The King. Thought this segment went a little long but it did have some 'edge' to it. Still lots of talking on this three hour RAW.

If Reigns shines every week on RAW and rarely has to fight his way out of jeopardy WWE could be facing issues with fan backlash down the road. It's easy to say that being in a 2 vs 1 handicap match is fighting out of jeopardy but the handicap match is so over used.

Monday nights are about to get very competitive with football on it's way back and RAW's long on talk and light on action won't fare well over the long haul against the NFL.

The Lesnar-Heyman video was excellent and it confirmed even more my Ross Report take that Lesnar doesn't have to be on most RAW's to be an effective champion. If Lesnar just wrestles on PPV's or on most PPV's I will be just fine with that. This scenario forces all involved parties to accelerate the advancement of new main event stars and to, hopefully, try new talents in fresh spots.

Tuesday I will be talking for a future Ross Report to New York Times Best Selling Author Brian Shields who has written several excellent books for WWE, among many clients, and is a pro wrestling aficionado to say the very least. I will also speak with the acclaimed artist @RobSchamberger who has done some amazing art work for WWE and others including yours truly. We will talk to both men about the wrestlers they have worked with along with the many WWE executives they have come in contact with while doing their respective jobs. Should get some really interesting info.

BTW...next week on the Ross Report is my podcast conversation with the legendary Stan Hansen which I must say is an amazing 90 minute visit through time and provides an amazing look at Japanese wresting when it was at its hottest.

Pet peeve of the week, the incessant dialog of a wrestler being a 12 time, 15 time, 16 time, etc is getting old. A 16 time champion lost said title 15 times by my math. For my money, I will take Bruno's 9 year reign along with Backlund's 7 year run as more impressive.

Remember that you can order JR's products for your grilling, tailgate and kitchen needs from WWEShop.com, Americansoda.co.uk and Beyondtheropes.co.uk.

I will be doing some contributions to USA Today Sports this fall on a college football project that I think you gridiron fans are going to like. My first piece will be hitting September 7. More info coming.

Have a great day....

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ