• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

JR's Blog: The Alberta Experience...MMA's No Fad...Where is Bizarroland?...Buy Some BBQ Sauce Today!

Posted: Aug 14th 2009 By: mikeiles

Thanks for stopping by the site. That 3:30 a.m. wakeup call hit me hard Wednesday morning in Edmonton. It was the first time that I ever arrived at an airport BEFORE the gate agents AND the security personnel. It is suggested that one arrive 3 hours in advance of an international flight and I did that only to literally arrive before most of the airport personnel. I wasn't alone as many WWE folks were there as well.

Traveling every week is challenging....have I mentioned that before?

Two, quick things....if other sites use content from our blogs please don't use every word as that sort of kills the need to drive traffic to this site. Secondly, visiting our store and doing some business there is greatly appreciated.

By saying that last statement, does that make me a "shill" or a "businessman?" Are you an assassin or an errand boy?

BBQ'ed Random Thoughts...

Gosh...Monday was a long day...leaving OKC early in the morning, flying to Denver and then arriving in Calgary mid afternoon a few hours before show time. Luckily for Secrest, I mean Grisham, we were able to do our WWE Superstars match between John Morrison and David Hart Smith before Raw went on the air which was a late day decision. BTW in this match that airs on Thursday on WGN America, one can begin to see how good the son of Davy Boy Smith could be one day. He'll have to add a little sizzle to his ample supply of steak but that can be accomplished. Morrison and Smith had a very solid bout and told an interesting story. Watch Thursday and you be the judge.

After Calgary it was a 180+ mile drive straight north up to Edmonton and even after arriving in Gretzky-land and the former home of the mullet of ESPN's Barry Melrose around 10 it still wasn't that dark. BTW how's that, two hockey references in one sentence?

It was good seeing "Citizen" Storm aka Lance Storm in both Calgary and Edmonton. Lance is a classy and respected representative for the business and was one of the more underutilized talents I can recall in both WCW and WWE back in the day. Lance has a highly regarded wrestling school in Calgary of which I hear great things. I feel that it's likely that WWE will sign some of the Storm Wrestling Academy students as the years roll on.

There are no "Bizarroland" references in the Friday Night Smackdown broadcast that emanates from Edmonton, just for the record.

I did a piece for WWEClassics.com entitled "J.R.'s Picks" (catchy little title, huh) focusing on the Hart Foundation vs. the British Bulldogs from 1985 in Madison Square Garden. One forgets how good Tommy "The Dynamite Kid" Billington was back in the day and how well the Bulldogs complimented each other. I was asked to compare a wrestler in today's market place to Billington and I suggested Tyson Kidd. Tyson has the chance to be special if he stays focused and continues to evolve which only will come with commitment, hard work, and preparation......like all jobs.

Gail Kim really impressed me on Monday's Raw (Love the DVR) and has the potential to be "Stratus-like" if the stars can become properly aligned. Kim's unique look and her athleticism are obviously marketable. WWE Divas having more in ring exposure is a bona fide way to get the audience to emotionally invest in these ladies as more than just simply "Smart, Sexy, and Powerful." (Oh, my!)

Friday night on Smackdown, Morrison takes on C.M. Punk and these two, who have seemingly excellent chemistry, don't disappoint.

Layla, Eric Clapton's favorite WWE Diva, (fellow Brit you know) shows marked improvement in the ring this week in a bout versus Melina who never disappoints with at least one Sharapova-like primal scream. One loud outburst just may have frightened my broadcast partner but I can't be sure as he was wearing a dark suit.

Before I forget it, anyone who honestly feels that MMA is a "fad" unfortunately comes off as badly as poorly executed, "wrestling comedy." MMA has tons of college wrestling programs, among other sources, from which to essentially recruit. Unless amateur wrestling is going away any time soon the MMA world is going to do nothing but get stronger as their rosters will be dotted with quality, world class athletes/grapplers who will be coached up to learn submissions and striking. It's not unlike the NFL becoming the monster franchise that it is thanks in a large part to college football.

It's funny to watch all the speculation and the obligatory debate regarding whether or not New York State will legalize MMA statewide so UFC can have an event in Madison Square Garden, for example. Consider this matter a lock. Don't over think this matter as the economy is in the toilet and new revenue streams are essential for all entities....in spite of partisan politicos who put their personal careers ahead of their chosen jobs as our public servants. (A rare, political rant.)

A little old school "wrestling war" tactic going on this Saturday as Spike TV will air the Lesnar-Mir UFC 100 rematch at the same time, as I understand it, as Showtime airs a Strikeforce event. I still have Lesnar-Mir on DVR so I'm watching Gina Carano.

I can remember when WCW wanted to regularly air mega, WCW cards for free on TBS head to head against major WWE pay per views but the cable companies leveraged Turner Broadcasting to not do so as the cable companies stood to lose significant revenue if the said PPV's died a natural death. WWE did this against Jim Crockett Promotions once as I recall which did a Starrcade, I think, no favors.

Subtleties are imperative in wrestling and there are a couple of these somewhat obscure subtleties this Friday night from Dolph Ziggler and from Mike Knox. See if you can distinguish them.

As a matter of fact Mike "Fort" Knox had a really nice, Tuesday night garnering some attention due to his actions and words that will air on Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV. It was like Todd Grisham, who I enjoy working with because he wants to learn and puts up with my stories while doing all the driving on our road trips, and I were discussing after the Tuesday night taping. To be a star in the squared circle, a wrestler must develop multiple layers of personality traits. One dimensional wrestlers usually don't have a long shelf life. Knox begins to develop new "layers" Friday night. Knox got more significant and memorable "playing time" this week which I feel is a positive. The key will then become, where does it go from there?

How stupid or simply arrogant is Louisville hoops coach Rick Pitino for allegedly having unprotected, consensual sex with a women in "an upscale restaurant?" I was on sports talk station KREF AM1400 in Norman, Oklahoma today from 3:30-4 p.m. and that was one of the subjects that we discussed.

We also talked about how poorly ESPN came off when they did not name Lee Roy Selmon as one of the top 25 college football players of all time. Instead, ESPN included such dubious selections as Vince Young and Charles Woodson, both great players, but omitted Selmon who was arguably Oklahoma's greatest player ever and who was also a #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft (Tampa Bay) and is now in the NFL Hall of Fame. Duh.

For those keeping score of such things as home, this Thursday night's WGN America bout featuring Goldust vs. Sheamus bout is a good one in my view. Granted, neither man is presently on a proverbial "roll" but they have an old school based, fundamentally sound bout that the fans in Edmonton seemed to enjoy. Goldust got a great ovation in the arena and the aggressive Irishman continues to hone his craft and appears to be a "keeper."

This match is another example of trying something "new," mixing up the opponents and seeing how those new matchups appeal to the fan base. The reactions of the fans is the most significant market research any company can utilize. The customers/fans/viewers create revenue and ratings which is the name of the game in the wrestling genre.

If you are wondering who the hottest WWE Superstar presently is in WWE, it's Jeff Hardy. As my late, domino playing friend, Ernie Ladd would say, case closed.

I'm being interviewed this week for an article in a Oklahoma Sooner magazine on Wahoo McDaniel. Most of my Wahoo stories are not suitable for all members of the family, FYI. Nonetheless the former OU football star was one of the most marketable, main eventers in wrestling for years and as tough as any one perhaps I have ever met.

I digress but how would you like to have to go on a long car trip with HLN's Jane Velez Mitchell? Wow! 'Ol Jane would have made a great wrestling valet back in the day. As a matter of fact, there may be some of today's wrestling Divas that are better suited for being valets than wrestlers but, of course, that would be too "rasslin." Sigh.

Take advantage of FREE SHIPPING opportunities in our store and order the greatest BBQ sauce going. Mix and Match a case and share it with others. We'll get it shipped out immediately. Remember, BIG news on our site is coming soon.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, WCW, Jim Neidhart, Ernie Ladd, Wahoo McDaniel