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JR's Blog: WWE HIAC Feedback, Use Online Shopping for JR's for the Holidays, USA Today CFB Poll out Tuesday..How'd JR Vote?, Ross Report Podcast @ podcastone.com

Posted: Oct 28th 2014 By: Jim Ross

Here's hoping everyone is having a great Monday where ever you are. Lots going on here as we are beginning to gear up for the holiday season with our online shopping partners at http://www.wweshop.com, http://americansoda.co.uk and http://www.beyondtheropes.co.uk. We hope that you will consider JR's products as potential gift ideas including our friends at http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross. Let's grill...

This weeks Ross Report podcast drops as usual on Tuesday night at 9 pm eastern time and will feature Pro Wrestling Dot Net's Jason Powell and I reviewing the WWE Hell in a Cell plus many other topics within the world of pro wrestling. You can find us at podcastone.com where you can also subscribe for FREE to our podcast via iTunes and never miss a show plus be able to go back and here some of the older shows that many are just now discovering. We appreciate your support more than you will ever know as the only way we can promote and grow our podcast business is through your support. Check out http://www.podcastone.com and see how easy it is to help us and it won't cost you a dime.

WWE HIAC Thoughts:

I watched the event on my iPad which I still find to be a unique experience after watching on PPV TV for so many years. One thing that I wouldn't do if I were WWE is to inadvertently insult those who watched the show on PPV for $54.95 instead of spending the $9.99 to subscribe to the network. I understand that the WWE Network is the future of the company and that it must be successful for the brand to grow but essentially making fun of the decision of some to watch on PPV and not on the network isn't a wise one.

The show was solid and certainly a solid 'B' grade and if I had watched it on PPV I would have been happy with the value that I received.

Starting the show with Ziggler vs. Cesaro was strategic and I had no issue with the IC Champion finally looking strong and the only thing that I'd have done differently would be to give Dolph and Cesaro (he has no first name) more time.

Bella vs Bella exceeded my expectations and now let's see if the vignettes for the next 30 days live up to others that we've seen such as David Von Erich and Sunshine along with Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll.

Solid tag title match but the Rhodes boys could have added a few more subtle, heel twists in their execution for my taste. The right team won and it keeps the Usos on the title hunt. Lots of spots and not so much body part work but that could be said of virtually every match on the show.

Mildly surprised to see Cena vs. Orton HIAC match in the middle of the show but it was well placed. Both men worked hard but my primary issue was the selling and the kicking out of so many established finishers. Nonetheless no one can complain about the effort and now it would seem that Orton can move on and away from Cena and allow his issues with the Authority to manifest themselves.

The US Title bout was a comedy "let me up" segment on the show with Sandow arguably stealing the spotlight from Sheamus and Miz. I still think that Rusev would make an impact as the US Champion and Sheamus is ready for a hot, heel turn.

Show vs. Rusev was fine for what it was but I received feedback from fans outside the USA who felt that Rusev represented his country as a hero which is understandable but perplexing considering that he's cast as a villian in this production. I like the upside of Rusev as he continues to learn the heel nuances needed to be a antagonist star and he will become more valuable to WWE. I'd suggest that Lana watch/study Sherri Martel as a valet to understand better the psychology of how to master that role. Nonetheless, I like the Rusev/Lana combo and expect Mark Henry and Big Show to have a conflict sooner than later.

There is no one that is a bigger fan of both AJ Lee and Paige than me but their match needed a clear cut heel and it did not feel as if it had one while watching it. I think that these two are talented enough to have opened the PPV if that was the call. I assume Paige is cast as the villian and if so she needed to throw in some nuances throughout the match and simply screaming at her "friend" Alicia Fox isn't enough. Nonetheless, both AJ and Paige are skilled from bell to bell and if given the time to truly develop their rivalry these two could entertain us for months to come.

Happy to see that Ambrose and Rollins got the chance to close a major event as that responsibility isn't easy and some talents aren't suited for the role and simply can't handle the pressure. These two are ready for that task and they did a good job with what was laid out for them to execute. Some fans are complaining about the Bray Wyatt interference that caused Rollins to win but perhaps it will work out that was the best way to get the masses to turn on Wyatt who has been largely perceived as a "cult favorite."

Like all the heels on the WWE roster, Wyatt will have to learn to 'retreat' from time to time to add that needed element to his tool box in order to be a true villian. If villains don't cheat, lie, bitch, moan and retreat with some degree of regularity then they are not heels.

Enjoyed the "New Stooges" Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble who are this generations's version of Pat Patterson and Jerry Brisco who added so much to the Attitude Era as Mr. McMahon's side kicks back in the day.

The key to the controversial ending to HIAC is going to be how it is addressed Monday night on RAW. WWE is creatively obligated to provide some answers to the questions posed Sunday night in Dallas.

Check out my contributions Tuesday in the USA Today Sports section on this week's college football mock selection committee. I've got FSU, Mississippi State, Alabama and Oregon in my top four which is obviously going to change due to scheduling over the next few, combustible weeks. I'm curious to see how the others have voted as none of us know the results until Tuesday morning.

My Sooners travel to Ames, Iowa this Saturday to play Iowa State at 11 am. The Cyclones are never an "easy out" at home and this one is one I'm likely going to have to watch on TV with so many projects looming including extensive work on our autobiography and some new projects such as a voice over demo reel that we've been asked to compile that has a a legit shot at doing some significant projects.

Again, thanks to all who are subscribing to the Ross Report podcast via http://www.podcastone.com where you can easily click on to the iTunes link to subscribe for free. Your subscriptions help us immensely in the ratings and with our advertisers who keep our show free with their support.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ