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JR's Blog: New Blog, JR Joins ITV, RAW & SD LIVE Feedback, Undertaker Update, RINGSIDE in Nashville & Toronto

Posted: Oct 20th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by our site. The new, Ross Report is up and running and I invite you to subscribe for free at iTunes and they will automatically download each week's show when it drops on Tuesday nights at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT into the device of your choice. This week I talk Goldberg, Paige, Conor McGregor and more plus I am joined by multiple time HOFer JJ Dillon. You can hear our show for free right here on the homepage of this site, on iTunes and via www.podcastone.com. Thanks for supporting our efforts.

Exciting news earlier today in the U.K. as it was announced that I will be joining ITV there for a TV taping in Manchester on November 1 to hopefully and eventually relaunch the classic, World of Sport TV show that aired on ITV in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. The show will feature many of the best wrestlers in the world from Britain. There is no shortage of wrestling talent in the U.K. and I think that we will be able to present the motivated and talented roster to have some terrific matches for this awesome opportunity for every one on the broadcast.

It's great to be blessed with another chance to broadcast pro wrestling and this time on a huge, media outlet that has a giant footprint over a significant region of the world.

RAW THOUGHTS: Solid show that was highlighted by the return of Bill Goldberg who closed the show late in the third hour to reveal his decision as to whether he would or would not compete with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in Toronto on Sunday November 20. The segment worked in a major way IMO and the fans seemed t embrace the Oklahoma native warmly.

Personally, I would not place Goldberg vs Lesnar last on the card at Survivor Series and I also think that they can tell a solid story in approximately 15 minutes bell to bell. I'm very curious to see the match that I hope fans will be intelligent enough to reserve judgment on the match until they see the presentation.

I'm arguably more interested in the Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens business than any other personal issue on the RAW brand. Rollins certainly helps that storyline as well but the magic that might be an Owens-Jericho match/rivalry is measurable.

The enhancement match formula is new again to many viewers of pro wrestling but it is still an effective tool to help advance the TV persona of a wrestler. Braun Strowman is being developed before our eyes as the enhancement match formula plus being on a thinner roster after the brand split is beneficial to the giant strongman.

Enjoyed the Cruiserweight content for the most part but the cruisers need to work on their speaking skills or so it seems to me.

​SMACKDOWN LIVE thoughts: Not sold on all the hocus pocus that's intertwined in the Bray Wyatt-Randy Orton storyline but I'm willing to allow it to evolve because I'm a fan of both talents. I honestly think that Orton is more effective/comfortable as a villain and I've long said that Bray Wyatt has the potential to be a big time, character 'face.

I see a valuable upside in Luke Harper whose skill set will allow him to perform with anyone and have solid to excellent bouts.

Curt Hawkins is a solid in ring hand but this presentation feels somewhat forced therefore it will likely be challenged to 'get over' unless the creative going forward better encourages viewers to gravitate to the talent. These are the times when the talent has to add as much of what they truly feel to their personas should be.

Enjoyable presentation with AJ vs Ellsworth as that storyline got a few weeks play and seemed to have have been generally accepted by the viewers. Ambrose maximized his minutes here, too.

Good luck to Paige on her neck surgery today but something tells me that the drama and controversy surrounding the suspended WWE talent hasn't ended.

WWE working ahead and being able to promote 'next week's' main event on their two, primary tv shows is a plus.

Regarding the litany of Undertaker questions that we have received both here on our site and via Facebook and Twitter @JRsBBQ, the Deadman apparently had a minor hip procedure completed recently. This procedure will have little to no bearing on Taker performing at WM33 in Orlando next April based on what I know. It also doesn't mean that Taker will compete on the grand stage in 2017 but at this point I'd be surprised if he didn't. If the next Wrestlemania is Taker's last one, then one has to assume that WWE will do nothing but capitalize on this golden opportunity market the career and accomplishments of the Undertaker with an historic weekend. To this entire matter, one can merely say. "Stay tuned."

Tickets for our two, RINGSIDE with Jim Ross shows in November are still available including a limited number of VIP tickets for both events. We are excited to bring our show to Nashville on Wednesday night November 9 at Zanies and tickets start at only $25 at www.zanies.nashville.com. We will kickoff Survivor Series Sunday in Toronto at The Second City with a 2:30 pm show that will end by 4 pm and the venue is a merely leisurely walk to the ACC where WWE has sold out the venue for their huge show. Tickets for TO are available at Ticketmaster Canada and at www.livenation.com.

The Q&A's here are updated so check them out if you have an extra minute or two.

Enjoy your day!

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ