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JR's Blog: Extreme Rules Predicitons, RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross News, Ross Report Podcast Updates, Mayweather-Pacquiao, Jameis Winston, Foley's Cheap Pops WWE Network Special, Grill with JR's from WWEShop.com

Posted: Apr 27th 2015 By: Jim Ross

Had a great week down in Orlando observing the NXT TV tapings and doing some RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross Show business before Mick Foley's 'Cheap Pops' WWE Network TV special was taped that will air this Wednesday night. My 30 minute set will not be a part of Mick's special which will be a great, one hour TV special that I encourage everyone to check out.

Speaking of our RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross Shows here's the latest....Saturday night May 16 for the first time we will take our show to Baltimore and the Rms Head Live venue for one show that includes a pre show VIP Meet/Greet/Photo Op private affair and those tickets are VERY limited and ll tickets re on sale at ramsheadlive.com starting at $22.50. My friends @MCWWrestling have been awesome in helping us promote our show. Tickets will be available the day of the event at the venue but I strongly urge you to get yours in hand before the event if possible.

We are working on the possibility of playing the Washington, D.C. Improv in mid August, likely Wednesday August 19, but those details are being finalized as we speak and I should know something this week for sure. Stay tuned as that will be a great opportunity to play our Nation's Capital for the first time. I might even throw in a Robo Cop joke or two....or not.

We're very excited to be returning to New York City on Saturday night August 22 which is the Saturday before WWE's Summer Slam in Brooklyn when we take the stage for one show at the Gramercy Theater. Tickets are on sale now for our NYC show at ticketmaster.com starting at $25.

Plus, we travel to England in June for the first ever London Wrestlecon on June 20-21. Tickets are going fast for this two day event and are on sale at www.psievents.co.uk and this two day event features several WWE Hall of Famers that you won't want to miss.

Then on June 26-27 we will travel to Providence, Rhode Island for what should be another really fun event for all fans at the New England Fan Fest 5 and a variety of packages are available for this huge event at ticketmaster.com.

Wanted to tell you that our film What Now? is getting great reviews from within the film business and is available on iTunes and via VOD on most major cable systems. @whatnowthemovie is a comedy with a heavy wrestle centric theme that I encourage you to check out.

WWE Extreme Rules is tonight (Sunday) emanating from Chicago which always features a hot crowd who lets everyone know how they feel and has always been one of the all time great wrestling crowds in which I ever had the privilege of working in front of in my career. This event doesn't feel to have an overabundance of momentum going into it as many of us are still recalling a great, WrestleMania event just a few weeks ago but here are some predictions that I'll make based on how I would book the event:

WWE Title Bout to be held inside a Steel Cage with Randy Orton's RKO 'Banned'...Rollins has to retain and one can expect a "cast of thousands" so to speak to be involved but hopefully the integrity of the cage will not be overly compromised in the process. Seth Rollins is still evolving as the WWE Champion and he's a great choice for that role as, like many of his successful predecessors, Seth is a "beatable" champion but not tonight. Rollins and Orton should have a great match before all the shenanigans commence one would hope.

US Title Bout is a 'Russian Chain Match' which will, I think, be the first for both men which is always an iffy proposition. Having a run through in a live event would've been ideal but be that as it may I am not a fan of beating the villain in allegedly his type of match but I also find it challenging to see WWE beat John Cena who is doing a grat job of making the US Title mean something since he won it. Unique booking to say the least which isn't a bad thing but I'd have Cena lose the Title, chase Rusev and thus continue to add equity and attention to the championship. That's what I'd do but that's not likely to happen as I could see a Cena-Rusev blowoff match for the Title at Summer Slam if Rusev wins tonight.

IC Title bout between Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett isn't likely to happen due to DB's health status that well could be related to concussion type symptoms but that's merely my speculation. Nothing is more important than a wrestler's health so this bout not occurring doesn't bother me.

WWE Tag Titles has additional meaning since Kidd and Cesaro became champs but I like New Day being the villains as their original casting never worked. New Day must be diligent in learning to become 'bad guys' which is daunting in today's marketplace so I hope the champions retain and that Cesaro uses the Giant Swing.

Divas Title is a tough one for the participants as there is no clear cut fan favorite in this match to create the necessary synergy to have a good match. Both Naomi and Nikki Bella will do their best but it seems on the surface that they're playing with a stacked or loaded deck not conducive for success.

The Chicago Street Fight between Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper could be a potential show stealer but as in many 'Extreme' bouts they will be challenged to have an accepted, traditional street fight in a PG environment. I see Ambrose winning a match that might be the victim of not having enough time but too much time for a street fight in PG Land isn't good either.

The Kiss My Arse Match should be another sleeper bout as Ziggler is that good, arguably the most under utilized talent on the roster, but I'd guess that Dolph will be smooching some Irish backside in Chicago tonight. Sheamus can be a viable, rugged heel if he too perfects the necessary villain traits necessary to be a main event level antagonist.

For Extreme Rules to be successful it will be about the execution of extreme stunts and certainly not the the utilization of blood and guts which doesn't fly in today's world of wrestling and for good reason. I hope that we see winners and losers in each bout and no disqualifications or count outs.

On this week's Ross Report I will be joined by PWInsider's Mike Johnson to review the Extreme Rules event on our podcast that will drop Tuesday evening at 9 ET on podcastone.com, iTunes and on the homepage of our website here at jrsbarbq.com. I have high expectations for Mike's first appearance on the Ross Report as he has strong opinions and amazing 'connections' within the wrestling world. We will also talk about other promotions as well.

On Tuesday May 5 I will be joined by Samoa Joe on the Ross Report. I had a great time catching up with Joe recently down in Orlando at Full Sail University. My Ross Report podcast with Taz then drops on the following Tuesday May 12 with both shows becoming available as usual at 9 pm ET on podcastone.com, iTunes and here on the homepage of our site. You are going to love both these shows.

Some how I made it through the snooze fest night of boxing on HBO Saturday night and I wanted the main event to be good but, alas, it wasn't. Heavyweight boxing is sickly.

As great an athlete as I know Jameis Winston is I can't see him as the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Yes, Tampa Bay needs a franchise QB and Winston is a "local" which doesn't hurt upon his arrival but is he mature enough to handle being under the microscope being the top pick in the draft. I hope that I'm wrong but something about the former Heisman Trophy and FSU great is a disconnect for me. When he speaks, at times he comes off as "working" me as in being somewhat of a con man. Again, I hope that I'm wrong because on the field he has many gifts. Perhaps Tampa coach Lovie Smith can mentor Winston to greatness on and off the field.

Business has been brisk at wweshop.com as many are ordering JR's products to enjoy for the grilling season plus our package make great gifts. www.wweshop.com/jimross.

Picking Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao Saturday night on PPV in Vegas in the long awaited, over hyped boxing extravaganza. A great fight by these two will do great things to help to continue to reinvigorate the sport of pro boxing but a lackluster, pretty boxing match may not. I want to see a fight where both men fight like each are broke and in need of buying groceries for their families. My friend Mauro Ranallo will provide the blow by blow of the international feed of this event with Bernard Hopkins. I'm so happy for Mauro for getting this assignment. He's come a long way from Vancouver and Calgary's Stampede Wrestling.

Working on catching up today on the Q&A's that you've submitted to us here so check them out if you have the time.

Enjoy Extreme Rules and follow me on Twitter tonight @JRsBBQ to hear my thoughts during the show.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ