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JR's Blog: ROH COO Joe Koff on new, Ross Report, Waterloo NWHOF, RAW Review, Maximize Payback Minutes!

Posted: Apr 27th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Hello every one on potentially stormy Tuesday here in Norman, Oklahoma. It's likely going to be hunker down time for us later today. If you're in the predicted storm area be careful and be smart. Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff is my guest on this week's Ross Report Podcast on www.podcastone.com, iTunes and here on the home page of the site starting at 9 pm ET tonight (Tuesday). This is a fabulous conversation thanks to Joe's candor and honesty. Subscribe to The Ross Report for FREE at iTunes and never miss a show as they will be automatically downloaded into the device of your choice.

One of the most enjoyable, fan friendly events that I attend annually is at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction weekend on July 21-23. You can find the full schedule of events at www.nwhof.org/waterloo. Chael Sonnen, JJ Dillon, Dave Meltzer, Lex Luger, Bob Backlund, the Iron Sheik, and the late Joe Blanchard will all be honored. I can't recommend this event and the museum itself enough. It's a fun, casual weekend where fans have amazing access to the stars. You can also call 319-233-0745 for information. I'd love to see you there.

I'd be curious to know how long Joanie Lauer was being prescribed Ambien and Xanax. Long term use of either is totally unadvisable. The extended use of Ambien can be especially destructive as I can attest. I talk much more about this matter regarding Chyna's death last week on this week's Ross Report podcast that features ROH COO Joe Koff.

Bravo to WWE TV for the terrific video tribute that they presented to honor Chyna on Monday Night Raw. I was honored that my voice made the edit for the highlight package.

No AXSTV airing of New Japan Pro Wresting this Friday night due to the network's outstanding coverage of the NOLA Jazz Festival. Big plans are upcoming regarding AXSTV's coverage of the G1 Tournament. Stay tuned for the details.

Watched excepts of Monday Night RAW from Hartford, CT via DVR and found the broadcast to be what I perceive this Sunday's WWE Payback event will resemble. That's a sound, in ring presentation that will feature many yet to be established talents who can individually help their respective causes in Chicago Sunday night through their in ring performances.

In other words Payback will likely be long on steak and shorter on sizzle that perhaps other, recent major events on the WWE Network.

Enjoyed the Shane-Stephanie interaction and nothing on the show really blew their piece of business away IMO. I'm all for a departure of the villain authority figure role for a while and if that means Shane gets the eventual nod from Mr. McMahon, then so be it. That works for me.

Tweeted on @JRsBBQ that I enjoyed the AJ Styles vs Sheamus match. Fundamentally sound, good pacing and selling and the conclusion was logical and believable. AJ has been well booked since his Royal Rumble debut in January.

Nice storyline as to whether the duo of Gallows and Anderson are on AJ's team or if there is another agenda at play. Lots of right ways to pull this matter off with impact and meaning. AS a viewer, I still need to know more about who the Bullet Club is/was/will be.

Another well produced video featuring the rivalry that exists between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Some of the best storylines are rooted in varying degrees of fact as is this one highlighting the duo's Montreal roots and the early days of their careers. Good story telling.

Apollo Crews is beginning to build momentum thanks to him simply winning all his matches in impressive fashion. (Funny how tht works.) I'd like to see Apollo take it easier on this knees but his flying style, he's certainly a thick flyer that's for sure, is inherently challenging to one's knees thanks to the landings. Crews is a helluva prospect and has a legit chance to be a main event player for years to come. No guarantees but hes got all the tools or so it seems.

Just my two cents but Stardust has much more potential and skills than he's positioned to demonstrate especially in a three minute TV bout such as his outing with Apollo Crews Monday night.

Seems as if losing to Brock Lesnar in a Wrestlemania Texas bout, that some fans actually felt that Ambrose should win, has gotten Dean over more since before his April 3 loss in AT&T Stadium. No reason that Ambrose vs Jericho Sunday should not be a superb bout if they have the time needed to tell that story. I'm thinking somewhere around 15 minutes or so bell to bell.

Miz, Maryse and Cesaro entertained me in their segment. Hope that their match Sunday will be just as entertaining if not more. Maryse has helped her husband's presentation IMO while Cesaro is a main eventer waiting to explode. I still think that an 'over' Cesaro vs Brock Lesnar is a match that I would pay to see and I usually get in for free.

The audience is passionate about their feelings toward Roman Reigns which isn't all bad. If there were crickets then that would be bad. Most fans are booing but they are also making noise which is encouraging. I'm not even sure any more what reactions the live audience would provide us viewers if Reigns was turned in to a full fledged villain. Just my take but how Roman Reigns has been booked may be the single biggest reason that fans are so reluctant and resistant to accept him as a fan favorite. That may sound over simplistic but today's audience is more complex and knowledgeable than their predecessors of any generation and as a society few like being 'force fed' any thing. It's that defiance thing.

Roman Reigns is a talented, valuable piece of talent who's a long term, work in progress and his TV persona isn't close to being refined as it will be say by WM33 in Orlando for example. Patience is the key here for all, however, in the age of defiance patience is a fleeting trait.

Hear my comments on Chyna being inducted into the WWE HOF on this week's Ross Report podcast. Also how can ROH work closer with WWE or should they? The Ross Report Podcast awaits.

Remember that all Ingles Markets through out the southeast USA carries JR's BBQ Sauces, Chipotle Ketchup and Main Event Jalapeno Honey Mustard. If there is an Ingles in your area we appreciate you supporting our products via their fine stores.

Online shopping for JR's is easy and fast with reliable home delivery at www.wweshop.com and www.americansoda.co.uk which serves our fans in the UK and Ireland.

Rumor on the street has it that another potential investor/buyer of the TNA Impact Wrestling brand is in the mix. I have no idea if that is accurate but whoever invests, and someone needs to do so for TNA's sake, needs to hit the reset button after thoroughly evaluating the talent roster and at least initially crafting their product based on what their talent roster is best suited. I've enjoyed recent broadcasts on POP TV of TNA's show but the general perception seems to be overly negative regarding the maligned brand that a fresh start seems to be logical.

The Q&A's here on the site are updated.

Time to look toward the stormy, volatile skies of Oklahoma and see how bad a mood Mother Nature is in today. Be well.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ