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JR's Blog: JR Addresses Fat Jokes..Savage the Broadcaster..Taz' Dojo..HBK/WWE 'deal'..Unsung Stars of MNR..Will Wrestling Managers Return?

Posted: Dec 24th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all and to all some random thoughts....

The volume of emails and Tweets that we have received regarding the 'fat jokes' directed toward Vickie Guerrero this week on WWE TV has been staggering. Not all were negative as many fans enjoyed the segments in question and called them 'laugh out loud funny.'

Other, however, have expressed displeasure and some have provided us with some extreme analogies.

One emailer scolded me as if he knew me because I said that the segment did not offend me and that it reminded me of a 'TV Roast' and it was the 'good guys' having fun with the villain (Vickie G.) The live audience loved the segment or so it seemed to me by what I was hearing and seeing.

By endorsing the comedy bit, I've been accused of being the kind of person who causes incidents such as Columbine. Columbine? Really?

Because I actually found the topic in question to be funny, I've also been accused of not having any 'guts.' I seriously doubt that individual would say to my face and often wonder if some seemingly obsessed fans are just as hellbent on the really important things in their lives as they are about a pro wrestling TV show.

Hey, I get it if every one doesn't like the same things that I do and I appreciate reading various points of view. However, to compare what happens on a pro wrestling show to a tragedy such as Columbine is ridiculous.

I have often times been a critic of what I perceive to be lame, not funny, poorly executed, ill timed comedy bits on a TV wrestling show.

While being a fan of comedy in general, a big fan by the way, I am not generally a fan of wrestling comedy because it often times falls flat due to talent execution or the subject matter. However, I felt that the Vickie/Cena/Dolph/Lawler stuff from Monday was highly entertaining.

I also understand those that proclaim, sound almost too vehemently, that young, TV viewers need to not see things that they might want to emulate in real life. I've always felt that's where the PG rating came in to play to a large degree because the definition of PG is parental guidance. Parents, guide and educate your children especially in today's world of expansive and often times controversial cable TV.

If a two hour wrestling TV show that much impact over a child, then that show seemingly overrides the parents impact and influence on their children's lives. If that assumption is close to being accurate, then we've got bigger issues in this country than I perceive.

Moving on...

From this fan's perspective three of WWE's most talked about and viable performers on TV right now are all essentially non wrestlers. Michael Cole, Vickie Guerrero and Jerry Lawler have all had significant 'moments' on WWE TV over the past several weeks and one could assume that more of those impact performances lies in the future. Smart promoters monetize those TV persona's that are stimulating to the audience and have motivated the fans to make the all important, necessary emotional investment in their TV characters.

Hopefully, some of WWE's young talents will observe the nuances of how these three aforementioned individuals have accomplished their success as all have taken different paths to achieve such, by and large.

An emailer asked me how I liked broadcasting with Randy Savage. Savage was a little challenging not because he lacked skill or knowledge but because he was extremely unpredictable about what he was going to say and when he was going to say it. Macho Man certainly kept one on their toes.

It rarely happens here on this site but I get slammed at Twitter @JRsBBQ about me being 'too lazy and unmotivated' to return to the airwaves on Monday Night Raw. Amazingly some fans actually think that we broadcasters select our own gigs, where we work and when we work. For some reason some fans don't get it that WWE Upper Mgmt makes those calls, not the announcers. Plus, I've never done any thing to be perceived as lazy or unmotivated.

Come on , man!

Emailer...I definitely feel that WWE or any other organization could easily revitalize wrestling managers, for the lack of a better or a more contemporary term as what is perceived as old would be new again. Perhaps that will occur in 2011 as several people I can think of would make excellent ringside reps for talents who need just a little extra help/sizzle.

Some have asked about the You Tube video Shawn Michaels recorded this week regarding his arrangement with WWE. I am not privy to that info but I still firmly stand by the fact that I do not see HBK ever wrestling again but he can be a magnificent asset to WWE in a litany of other areas. I also don't see Shawn becoming a weekly character on a TV show.

We've gotten some amazing feedback from those that have received our products over the past few weeks. Many, many thanks.

I hope that you will continue to let us know how you are using the products as we are always interested in sharing the various, creative ways that our sauces, ketchup and mustard are being utilized.

Great TV rating on Tuesday night for Smackdown. Biggest rating in years as best I know. That's the difference in being on a network such as USA as opposed to their sister network, the fledging Syfy Network. USA is a monster among cable networks and being on a lesser entity, as other wrestling shows are as well, is simply a daunting task.

Really happy to hear of the initial success that Taz' dojo is having. Taz will coach up wrestlers with experience and remember this is not a dojo for beginners. I highly recommend that young wrestlers check Taz' new biz out. It's based in Long Island, New York as many of you already know.

I really enjoyed working at the announce table with Taz in WWE.

What's next for Nexus? Big question here on this site from a multitude of folks. It seems as if John Cena is moving on to CM Punk, which I personally think will be stout, but I can't see Nexus evaporating. I predict that Nexus will return in some shape, form or fashion in the near future and how they address their internal issues could potentially be interesting TV.

Emailer....CM Punk has natural abilities at the announce table and is the most refreshing new broadcaster to come along in WWE or the biz in general in a long time. Again, I am looking forward to his budding rivalry with John Cena in the upcoming weeks. I can only assume that Punk will focus on wrestling and not announcing but I can also see how he could do both, at least occasionally, on Raw.

I've updated the Q&A section of the site. Some good questions this go around. Some however did not make the cut for a variety of reasons.

On my way to pick up another shipment of freshly made JR's Beef Jerky. Our Jerky biz has been a tremendous seller but nothing compares with how well we are doing with our new, Main Event Mustard. Mustard and Chipotle Ketchup are universally considered not to be seasonal and we hope that you will keep them in your fridge full time. In our house, BBQ sauce isn't seasonal.

Be well...be safe...and have a Happy Holiday Season.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.