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JR's Blog: New, JR's Blog, Controversial Sonnen to The Ross Report, Taker & HBK at the Rumble??, 30 Minute Iron Woman Match, Who's Wrestling's Best Villain?, Lita and The King Still in WWE

Posted: Dec 7th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Today is the day that another Ross Report podcast drops at iTunes, and podcastone.com and this week we follow a strong @MattHardyBrand show with the controversial and opinionated Chael Sonnen plus my thoughts on the ROH PPV and WWE's TLC show. A new TRR drops every Tuesday night at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT and if you subscribe for FREE at iTunes your show will automatically download into the device of your designation.

As WWE prepares to present a potentially stout line up at January's Royal Rumble in San Antonio we are also busy laying the promotional ground work for our own show. RINGSIDE with JIm Ross rolls into the Improv at River Center in San Antonio at 2:30 pm prior to that night's Rumble event in the nearby Alamo Dome. Tickets for my show starts at $25 and I always encourage you to grab one of the few VIP tickets that we make available to enjoy the entire meet/greet/photo op/personal autograph access that will start at noon in SA and end at 2 pm. Our show will then start at 2:30 to allow me a "freshen up' break and the hilarity and entertainment will end at 4 pm. Ticket info is a www.rivercitycomedyclub.com.

If you are in SA early that weekend I invite you to join me at the River City Wrestling event on Friday night January 27 at 6:30 pm at the Turner Club in Kirby, Texas. For info and tickets visit www.rivercitywrestling.net.

I like that both Lesnar and Goldberg are both in the Royal Rumble match as it should help move tickets locally for the Alamo Dome extravaganza. I'd love to see an official announcement that both HBK and Taker are going to be on hand in some role as to add to the marketable nostalgia for the event. The two legends do not need to wrestle but being creatively utilized in some manageable manner would help the event feel bigger and more desirable to attend.

RAW THOUGHTS:

This week's RAW was one of the better three hour excursions to be presented by WWE on their flagship broadcast in a few weeks. 180+ minutes is daunting nonetheless but that's another essentially mute point that none of us need to give the old, soap box treatment.

Bold move to put a promo segment to close the show especially when the promo segment is going to be done by a talent with little, long promo, show ending experience. This was a classic, VKM 'calculated risk' that paid off nicely.

The Charlotte-Sasha Banks rivalry has been well scripted and produced and on Monday night all involved executed their roles well.

I find it shocking that some people, even many within the business, are complaining about how many times the two women have wrestled each other which I simply don't understand. I feel that both women have the skill set to carry out a long arcing storyline but in today's microwave climate patience is not a virtue with today's fan base for the most part.

The 30 minute Ironman, (why not Ironwomen BTW?) match will be a challenge to Sasha and Charlotte as it will require a logical pace, timely selling, a on going, under lying thread to their match I.E. someone has a dinged body part and it is exploited. I applaud WWE and the two ladies for this booking and wish them the best of luck in telling a great story while continuing to advance their gender's place within the "man's world" of pro wrestling.

Roman Reigns should buy Chris Jericho a bottle of Y2J's favorite beverage for helping make Reigns look extremely strong Monday night in many logical ways. Jericho is the best pure 'heel' in the business right now for my money and he brings a great learning experience to every one that he works with in a WWE ring. Nice match on Monday night.

Who else does this service on this regular of a basis as Jericho does seemingly every week?

Enjoyed KO vs Zayn but it felt like a bit of an afterthought within the broadcast. Might just be me.

I like Jack Gallagher largely because he is unique and brings something a bit different to the presentation. Plus, he seems mechanically and fundamentally sound with is unique look and mannerisms.

Good to see a much leaner Big Show back on TV and I applaud him for his weight loss which has to make Show healthier and more marketable for WWE and others.

BTW, is a well booked, one off, match between Show and Lesnar down the road viable? I know it's been done but what does that really matter if the story is compelling?

While I admire WWE for trying to do something entertaining outside the arena such the Enzo and the married, Rusev family piece of business, it simply did not resonate with me. Perhaps, in hindsight it was too long, I just don't know. Fewer talents than ever have legit strengths in this area.

Sources tell me that the ROH PPV of last Friday on the FITE TV app did the best numbers that ROH PPV's have done to date on FITE. Congrats to ROH as the aggressive, in ring wrestling show that delivered inside the ropes and at the box office, too.

The WWE is in the process of trying out new, broadcast talents including those from the outside the WWE envelop who have a fan's point of view to contribute to WWE's pre game shows for RAW and SD Live. The formats of these shows are being tweaked to make them more viewer friendly and cost efficient as it relates to overall production costs including travel related expenses.

For those asking, Hall of Famers Jerry Lawler and Lita are both still with the company.

If you are going to be in the Phoenix, Arizona area on Thursday January 12 please join me for the RINGSIDE with JIm Ross Show at Stand Up Life. It's our first event in Arizona and we will be doing one show including a VIP meet/greet/PhotoOp/Autograph function. Visit www.standuplive.com for info and tickets and try and join me for the fun, the stories and the unfiltered Q&A's.

Paul O'Brien and I have until February 1 to complete my autobiography and we are on track to meet our deadline. We are both cautiously optimistic about our progress and what we have written. Our publishers want to have the book in stores by the fall of 2017. I can't wait for you to read it.

www.wweshop.com has an order of JR's in route to their distribution center and WWE Shop will be fully stocked for online shopping any hour now. In the UK, Ireland and Europe you can get fast home delivery online via www.americansoda.co.uk.

Updated Q&A's await elsewhere here.

Please bookmark our site and invite others to visit as well. Thanks!

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ