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JR's Blog: New, JR's Blog, 2nd Universal Champion is Seth Rollins?, "Rodney Has Gas" RIP Mr. Fuji, Goldberg WWE Bound?, @FinnBalor to Ross Report Podcast

Posted: Aug 30th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Excited to be talking with @WWE @FinnBalor Monday night for this week's The Ross Report that drops Tuesday night at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT on www.podcastone.com and iTunes where you can subscribe for FREE and have every episode automatically downloaded into the device of your choice and never miss a show. Again, it's FREE for you to subscribe and by doing so you certainly help us. Thanks for considering and certainly for all of you that do subscribe to our show at iTunes.

Tickets for our first, RINGSIDE with Jim Ross show heading to Zanies in Nashville on Wednesday night November 9 go on sale this Tuesday morning at http://smarturl.it/Jim_Ross_FB. Info at zanies.com.

WWE anoints a new, Universal Champion tonight on Monday Night RAW that should garner a nice TV audience. One would assume that WWE would want over three million viewers for this broadcast. Will WWE get three segments out of the Fatal Fourway bout to replace the injured Finn Balor as the Universal Champ?

My random guess is that Seth Rollins will emerge victorious in the main event tonight to become the 2nd Universal Champion. One would think that the three non winners in this match will be logical, opponents for Rollins to face and could Seth hold the title until Wrestlemania 33 when perhaps it could be Rollins vs Balor for the Universal Title in Orlando.

Booking Kevin Owens to be the next Universal Champion doesn't bother me at all, by the way but I'm not counting on it. Obviously, booking Big Cass to 'look good' will be in play as it should be but his time simply hasn't come yet, IMO. Reigns is still a work in progress in the art of constructing a fan favorite and his issue with Rusev interests me more than Roman Reigns in this title picture Monday night.

Rollins is a unique talent in that he has a significant skill set but his in ring work more closely resembles traditional, fan favorite stylings than the antagonist side of things. Rollins is so athletic that he, much like AJ Styles, is so athletic that many fans enjoy a large part of his work which makes it hard for either man to be a pro wrestling villain.

Lots of smoke regarding Bill Goldberg returning to WWE for a special, farewell promotion culminating at Wrestlemania in Orlando which @Goldberg is open to discussing. If Bill's reps don't price him out of the process, I can easily see WWE bringing the native Oklahoman back as a special attraction centered around a main event level match in Orlando.

One question might be could one produce a meaningful "TV angle" and have Goldberg's first match be at Wrestlemania, which is what I would likely prefer, unless a handful of key matches could be promoted that would increase revenues for all and get Bill sharp for WM33. WWE has all the video that they need to rebuild Goldberg for today's audience plus they have the ability to record his journey back which could be some compelling content. In addition, this arrangement could also benefit WWE 2K17 in which Goldberg has a huge presence.

If one of the two C's, cash or creative, doesn't rear its ugly head, then there is no reason that this deal cannot get done. If this potential partnership does materialize, and it's a win-win affair, then I wholeheartedly endorse Goldberg at WM33 in a big way.

As I understand it, no official talks have begun on this matter and there are no guarantees that they will occur.

Sad to hear of the passing Sunday of Mr. Fuji who was one of the great, tag team specialists in the pro mat game for years and who was known as a great bump taker and remarkable heel beginning in the 60's. Most fans know Mr Fuji as the evil manager in WWE for years and who managed some of thr WWE's biggest stars for decades. Harry Fujiwara was deeply involved in my first Wrestlemania which was 1993 in Las Vegas when his salt throwing cost Bret Hart the WWE title vs 600 lb Yokozuna and just before Hulk Hogan beat Yoko in a hastily booked title match to win the WWE Title for the last time as I recall.

Once at a TV convention meet and greet in Vegas in the mid 90's, I was appearing with Fuji and Yoko when Yoko returned to the meet and greet while having severe, and I mean severe, issues with horrific flatulence. The odor was loaded with vengeance, to put it mildly, and I vividly recall Mr Fuji quietly telling my wife Jan and me that "I think that Rodney has gas."

Indeed he did.

RIP Mr Fuji who can now pull his many pranks in Heaven.

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

This week's The Ross Report podcast will feature three, new guests that include @FinnBalor, NJPW's Matt Sydal and Ricky Morton of the Rock 'n Ross Express on a new show that will drop at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT Tuesday night @PodcastOne and @iTunes.

Remember that we are on the last few days of our Slobber Knocker tee shirt promotion where the proceeds go to help raise funds for Headlock on Hunger. Please help us if you can at www.represent.com/JimRoss.

Fans who are planning on attending Wrestlemania in Orlando are grabbing tickets to our two RINGSIDE shows there at www.ticketfly.com. Tickets start at only $25 but are limited.

Thanks for stopping by and remember that I posted multiple blogs here last week that I invite you to read.

Have a great day...

Boomer Sooner!!

J.R. @JRsBBQ