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JR's Blog: @TNADixie on Ross Report Podcast, JR's Japan WK9 report, Superstar Billy Graham, The Grappler, Bullet Club, Shop for JR's Online

Posted: Jan 8th 2015 By: Jim Ross

Thanks for stopping by and let's get to grilling....

Wrestle Kingdom 9 Thoughts:

Overall a wonderful trip...long flights but great service by Delta Airlines...enjoyed traveling with Jeff and Karen Jarrett...Tokyo Dome Hotel is the place to stay when working the Tokyo Dome...the food was fair except for the giant, breakfast buffet at the hotel...

Left OKC Thursday January 1 and arrived in Tokyo Narita on Friday afternoon January 2 around 4 just in time for rush hour traffic. It took us about 2 hours to travel by bus from the airport to the hotel. Yep...got me a little nap on the bus ride to downtown Tokyo.

Other than having a less than stellar meal on Friday night it was uneventful and everyone was ready to get horizontal. The hotel was loaded with fans and one collector even offered me 5K for my hat of which I refused but the next time I go to Tokyo I might be tempted to take half a dozen hats and sell them if that crazy price holds up.

Saturday we had a function at the Noah Dojo where I got to know some the talents and had really nice visits with Tanahashi, NJPW's top talent & IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Nakamura, the IC Champion and arguably the most charismatic talent on the roster, and Okada who is only 27 and will be their top hand sooner than later. Tanahashi is a rock star to the fans and is one of the most pure, psychologically sound wresters that I have seen in years. Nakamura was influenced artistically by Freddy Mercury and Michael Jackson but the sizzle stops once the bell rings as he's a trained killer in jiu jitsu, kick boxing, and has had multiple MMA fights. Nakamura is loaded with charisma as is Tanahashi. Okada is only 27 but has 11 years experience in the pro wrestling business and will be the top guy there in the future. His drop kick is a thing of beauty and I've never seen a better one.

Matt Striker and I wanted to truly broadcast and not narrow cast this event inasmuch as we focused on the new fans to this brand. Some established NJPW fans have taken me to task on Twitter regarding this philosophy but I would not change a thing. In order for the PPV to make money it had to draw new viewers of NJPW so that was our game plan going in. Having to adjust to new equipment and to each other we had a rougher start than I'd have wanted but as the show progressed I felt like we came together well. Funny story....I think that the TV Asahi folks forget that we were there as we were never counted in to the start the show or to the video packages and not even off the air. We went by our instincts and it seemed to work out pretty well. Yes, we worked the entire four hour PPV plus sat there for the 30 minutes or so pre show festivities and never heard ONE WORD from the TV truck.

Heard a great story while there that MMA legend and Pancrase founder Suzuki likes to arrive at the live events early and get in the ring with the 'young boys' aka rookies and newbies and work out with them. I'm told that everyone always knows when this occurs because they can hear the young wrestlers screaming. Suzuki teaches them to be tough and how to legitimately sell. Being a MMA fan, to be able to call the Suzuki vs. Sakaraba match at WK9 was a huge thrill or me. Some fans had been waiting their entire lives to see these two in the ring together.

The final three bouts of the show were as good as I can recall broadcasting in years. Great in ring psychology, a logical pace, uniqueness from match to match, physicality to an almost uncomfortable degree to watch degree and crisp execution. They reminded me somewhat of the WM25 bout between HBK and Undertaker, Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold at WM13 and a handful of Flair-Steamboat bouts. Emotion, execution, and energy all in place with that magnificent, New Japan physicality. It was a fan's dream.

The North Americans on the show represented themselves amazingly well. Gallows/Anderson, Smith/Archer, Ring of Honor's Fish/O'Reilly, the Young Bucks and all the others were excellent. Some of them did not even look like the same guys as when I last saw them. I assure you that the North Americans who work in NJPW are all keepers.

The rookies and newcomers to the organization live and train in the dojo and while functional they are not 5 star spas. These men are there to learn to wrestle at a high level of intelligence and physicality and for those that can survive it they come out the other side with wonderful skills. Plus, they do manual labor while living in the dojo IE janitorial work, etc.

AJ Styles has raised the level of his game and is arguably one of the top 10 wrestlers in the world today for my money. If AJ doesn't become the IWGP Heavyweight Champion again in 2015, I will be shocked. The Bullet Club, think nWo or DX, is selling tons of merchandise and that's no exaggeration. It's reminiscent of the hottest days of Steve Austin as it relates to merchandise. It's everywhere....and they are largely heels. The Bullet Club is a creative masterpiece and displays classic booking. Japanese fans are no different than many North American fans inasmuch as they enjoy some of the antics of the villains.

New Japan has a plethora of top, young talents which makes one think that this organization is going to be strong for years to come.

I'm not sure what the future of GFW and NJPW working together again is but, if they do, it would be hard for me to say no to an offer to come aboard for another show. Time will tell but if this was my last pro wrestling event, I picked a damn good one on which to go out on.

@TNADixie aka Dixie Carter the President of TNA is my Ross Report podcast guest as we speak on podcastone.com, iTunes and here on the home page of the site. Dixie talks about the TNA re-launch at length and her plans for rebuilding her brand. Next week on the Ross Report I will be joined on Tuesday night at 9 pm ET by one of the all time great masked wrestlers, Len "The Grappler" Denton who was a big star in the territory days. His stories of some of the top stars he worked with and learned from are priceless. Plus, on Tuesday I will speak with Superstar Billy Graham for a future Ross Report Podcast about his colorful and controversial career when he was one of the biggest stars in the world. You can hear my visit with Dixie now and it's getting super feedback.

Remember to shop with us online a WWEShop.com, americansoda.co.uk and beyondtheropes.co.uk for all our delicious JR's Family BBQ products.

Smart booking by WWE to add Seth Rollins to the WWE Title Bout to be held at the Royal Rumble on Sun January 25 in Philly. With Champ Brock Lesnar, #1 contender John Cena, and now Rollins all in the match could we see the WWE Title change hands twice in one night? Never say never, right?

Speaking of the Royal Rumble, my RINGSIDE with Jim Ross shows are both on sale at www.axs.com with tickets for both shows in Sayresville, NJ and in Philadelphia starting at $20. Sayresville is Friday night January 23 at the Starland Ballroom at 8 with the VIP meet and greets starting at 6 pm. On Sunday afternoon, the day of the Rumble, we are at the Trocadero Theater in Philly with the VIP Meet and Greets starting at 1 pm and the show starting at 3. You will be out of the Sunday show in plenty of time to make the Royal Rumble which is only about 10 minutes away.

Again, tickets for both shows start at $20 and are on sale at www.axs.com and everyone who buys a VIP ticket will get a FREE bottle JR's Original BBQ Sauce which is our top seller.

The Q&A's elsewhere here are updated.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back and see us again.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ