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JR's Blog: Tuesday Update...OKC...BBQ Biz...Mad Dog...No Fedor?...Canseco vs. Herschel, Oh Hell No! Beef Jerky Biz is Rocking!

Posted: Mar 2nd 2010 By: mikeiles

Whew...what a day yesterday was here in Norman. The restaurant had a great day of biz and the WWE sold out the Ford Center for the first time ever. Plus, our on line sales in February showed a 300% increase over last February and even exceeded our January sales numbers which set a record from last January.

It was great seeing so many of my friends from the WWE world Monday at the Ford Center. It is always good to catch up with long time acquaintances and how they and their families are doing. If I was asked once, I was asked a 100 times, "When are you coming back?" I don't have the exact answer to that question but my standard and honest response remains the same and that is that my goal is and always has been to return to WWE at Wrestlemania 26. If all the necessary arrangements can be made from a business perspective then that goal will hopefully become a reality. There is really no more to this story than I told the live audience during Raw while the show was in a commercial break and that I would "hopefully" see them at Wrestlemania.

Bret Hart and I had a long conversation Monday of which I enjoyed immensely. Bret is one of the all time greats, a WWE HOF'er, and has battled thru amazing adversity in overcoming a serious stroke to get to where he is today. Bret, as we discussed, will never be "100%" but his heart and spirit are strong and he will no doubt do all he physically and mentally can to provide the fans their monies worth at WM26 versus Mr. McMahon. I personally can't wait to see this attraction. Bret and I even talked casually about doing some appearances together, perhaps even some Q&A's, if all the details could be arranged. I would love that opportunity and feel that we could provide those in attendance a interesting evening of entertainment. This is all drawing board stuff and may never come to fruition but it was fun to brainstorm. I think that I need to meet him in his Hawaii home to discuss further.

Shawn Michaels and I talked at length Monday about a variety of topics including the Mid South days in OKC when the wrestlers used to wrestle at the Myriad, still across the street from the Ford Center and renamed, every other Sunday at 2 p.m. and then they would drive the 100 miles to Tulsa via the Turner Turnpike to tape two, one hour Mid South Wrestling TV shows beginning at 7 p.m. Shawn is another extraordinary athlete and a man who I respect so much and who has maintained his amazingly high level of performances inside the ring even though he's north of 40. It's hard to name many men ever who have been better in the ring in any era and especially in a big match environment that HBK. I sure can't.

If fans don't invest in WM26 to see Undertaker vs. Michaels 2, one has to wonder why. As mentioned earlier, I hope to be in Arizona to witness WM26 live but I wouldn't miss the event on PPV for any thing.

The Mrs and I had lunch with Jerry Lawler on Monday at our place in Norman. For the record the King had the Slobber Knocker combo which is a three meat platter with two sides. My pal had ribs, sliced brisket and pulled pork for the record....and fried okra and our homemade mac and cheese. Plus, a fried, chocolate pie ala mode.

Edge also dropped by late Monday afternoon for our groceries. He text me that he was "packed" as he continued his drive up I-35 to Wichita For Tuesday night's WWE taping.

Sources also saw Dolph Ziggler dining at J.R.'s Monday afternoon. We appreciate the WWE stars joining us and being cordial to all the fans and guests of our joint.

Nice to see the double tough, legit badass Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The second Montreal native to be enshrined, Pat Patterson being the first, was a great amateur in the late 40's and is widely regarded as one man that even the tough wrestlers never wanted to cross. Bill Watts has told me of some classic, bar fight stories involving Mad Dog battling frisky patrons in the AWA that always had the same results and they were not positive for the civilians. Mad Dog once opened the airplane door in flight on an AWA flight from, as I recall, from Minneapolis to Denver unbeknown and shockingly to the other wrestlers who were traveling on the small, private aircraft. Tragedy was averted. Mad Dog was wild and fearless especially when imbibing in an adult beverage. Plus, Mad Dog's distinctive promo skills were money and are still vivid in the minds of many fans who grew up watching "The Dog" in the American Wrestling Association (AWA).

No Fedor on CBS's Strikeforce show in April is a tough break for the organization and the network. Fedor is Strikeforce's biggest star at this time which speaks to the fact that the promotion needs and is endeavoring to develop more box office stars that are TV friendly.

I do think that Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson will be a good main event and the two athletes should have a physical, entertaining fight.

Read where Jose Canseco is looking to dip his toe in MMA waters again and is suggesting that he fight Herschel Walker. There is no doubt that this fight wouldn't garner plenty of publicity but I can't see much of it being positive publicity. I do agree that many would tune in to see Herschel kick Jose's ass. Jose Canseco in a legit MMA fight is reminiscent of back in the day went some old school pro wrestling promoters would book the wrestling bear once a year. It's a pure, gimmick/freak show attraction. I guess Canseco needs a payday and is willing to get physically beaten for the cash. For pure entertainment and hype a Herschel vs. Canseco MMA fight might be like a side dish to a more mainstream and acceptable entr?e.

Somewhat surprised to see Cole Konard sign with Bellator. Nothing against Bellator as Konard is a big time prospect that one would have thought that either UFC or Strikeforce would have publicly coveted and perhaps they did and I just missed it. Two time, NCAA Heavyweight Champions with an aptitude for MMA don't grow on trees. Perhaps Cole establishes himself in Bellator and then migrates to another organization.

Follow my escapade's on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JRsBBQ as I have done a better job editing myself as to not unnecessarily ruffle any sensitive feathers. Half my BS is just joking around but I can also see where having to be so succinct on Twitter can pose unneeded consternation.

We'll have those new packages that will still include FREE SHIPPING in the USA debuting on the site any day now or so I am told. Might be tomorrow. Thanks for your business and support of this site as your orders are what keeps us rolling.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, MSW, Jerry Lawler, Pat Patterson, Bill Watts, AWA