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JR's Blog: Alvarez on Ross Report Podcast, JR on Austin Podcast, RAW Feedback, Book Update, Dusty Remembered, JR England Bound, Rhode Island Next, Mid Atlantic Memories

Posted: Jun 17th 2015 By: Jim Ross

New, Ross Report podcast drops tonight (Tuesday) at 9 pm ET/6 Pacific on podcastone.com, iTunes and here on the site's homepage. My guest is the outspoken @BryanAlvarez of the Wrestling Observer and the most ubiquitous man on wrestling radio who has plenty to say about WWE MITB, Impact Wrestling (WOW does he!), ROH, UFC and much more including the late, Dusty Rhodes. It's a super sized show that you will enjoy. Plus, I'm a guest on the Steve Austin Podcast that is available now as we reminisce about "The Dream." Steve's podcast is available at the same locations as is mine.

Heading to England soon to participate in PSI Events huge, first ever London Wrestlecon this Saturday and Sunday at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel featuring multiple WWE Hall of Famers. For more info visit psievents.co.uk as tickets will be available at the venue and online sales have ended. Monday night June 22 I will join Shawn Michaels in Manchester, England at the Comedy Store for one show which will be HBK and my first show together. Tickets are VERY limited and ae available while they last at the box office or online at www.thecomedystore.co.uk. I will be doing a pre show meet and greet in Manchester but tickets for this are also getting scare.

Next weekend, June 26 & 27, I will travel to Providence, Rhode Island to participate in the 5th New England Fan Fest. Another packed lineup of stars and personalities including Goldberg, Lita, Mean Gene, The Fink, Eric Bischoff, Jim Cornette, Maria Kanellis, Barbie Blank FKA Kelly Kelly, Larry Zbyszko, Alberto El Patron, Melina Perez, and many more stars including multiple WWE HOFers. For info and tickets go to www.newenglandfanfest.com. This is one massive event that you don't want to miss. Plus, they will be selling JR's products at the convention on Saturday as well with no shipping or handling costs. Come and say hello and stock up!

Cleveland RAW Thoughts:

This Raw had a good beginning, a viable middle and a great close with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman returning to confront WWE World Champion Seth Rollins. To ever do a 'great' three hour TV Wrestling show is going to be challenging but this show definitely had its moments and took a nice step toward the next WWE PV which is, luckily, four weeks away.

Kevin Owens had a memorable night but his power bombing rapper Machine Gun Kelly seemed to be enjoyed and not jeered by the live audience. Nonetheless, @FightOwensFight is making positive strides to become WWE's top villain. I hope that he succeeds. He's a throwback in many ways and I enjoy him not trying to be a "cool villain."

As mentioned the return of @HeymanHustle and Lesnar was well timed although I'm somewhat surprised but not disappointed that it will be Lesnar vs. Rollins at Battleground PPV in St Louis in approximately one month and not at Summer Slam although that's still a possibility. Lesnar is a legit monster and has more of the 'IT" factor than any one in WWE for my money. I look forward to some verbal jousting from Heyman and Rollins in the coming weeks while Lesnar stays at home and eats red meat.

Owens vs. Ziggler was well executed and again demonstrated Owens upside and the fact that Ziggler is, arguably, underutilized.

Enjoyed the Ambrose vs. Sheamus match a great deal. Solid throughout although I'd have liked to have seen Ambrose sell his damaged leg a little more consistently to forward the story from MITB vs. Rollins. Both men have had good weeks without question.

I hope that WWE gets Ryback on a roll because my instincts say if he's booked to be dominate ala a Goldberg or Warrior that Ryback can elevate himself and the IC Title substantially.

My guess is that when Wyatt vs. Reigns happens on the road that the crowd will be significantly divided. Both men then are swimming up stream. Still think a well timed turn by Reigns would help him in the long haul and that Bray Wyatt still feels like he would be a valuable, character fan favorite.

The WWE team is to be commended for the production of the Dusty Rhodes tribute that aired on the WWE Network after RAW. It was moving and stellar and a loving tribute to my late friend of over 30 years. I still remember when Dream and Andre came into Mid South on Christmas night in 1978 and won the US Tag titles beating Ernie Ladd and Stan Hansen in the finals of the tournament. No one thought the two, massive stars from outside the territory would leave as champions but owner Cowboy Bill Watts shocked the fans that night in New Orleans in the Superdome. A month later the titles were declared vacant due to 'prior commitments' keeping the champions from defending the titles in 30 days. BTW...Ladd and Hansen defeated Jack and Jerry Brisco on the way to the finals.

Go out of your way to watch the WWE Network special on Dusty. Plus, there's some great stuff online featuring Murdoch and Rhodes in tag team action. I found myself watching You Tube matches until LATE in the night after RAW concluded.

www.wweshop.com is shipping JR's products daily as business as legit picked up big time and for that we thank all of you who shop with us online.

www.prowrestlingtees.com/jimross ships ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD in sizes up to 5X. Check out all the different tees that you can select from at this fan friendly site.

We are making some positive strides on our book and hope to have it completed by year's end if not a bit sooner and ready to hit the shelves by Wrestlemania Texas in April. Most challenging process I've ever attempted to do.

Take a look on the home page for my appearance schedule including the NWA Legends Fan Fest in Charlotte July 30-August 2 plus RINGSIDE with Jim Ross Shows August 19 @dcimprov, Washington D.C., and August 22 @GramercyTheatre in NYC. It's going to be an exciting summer. Visit www.nwalegends.com for more info on this 'must attend' event especially on Thursday night July 30 when the documentary premiers entitled 'Mid Atlantic Memories.' Film makers need your help in producing this epic story of the great, Mid Atlantic territory including the 60's-80's. This film is going to be extraordinary from that I've seen and I'm excited to be a small part of the process.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

Be well and tell a friend about our site plus encourage them to subscribe for FREE to the Ross Report Podcast at iTunes. Subscribing helps us greatly. Thanks!

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ