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JR's Blog: RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross Show tickets go on sale THIS Saturday, Ross Report Podcast continues to rock, Samoa Joe, Eddie Gilbert, Kerry Von Erich, UFC, Daytona 500 project, WWEShop.com

Posted: Feb 19th 2015 By: Jim Ross

Excited to be bringing our RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross Show to San Jose the Saturday afternoon before WrestleMania at the Rockbar Theater with a 1-3 pm event. The VIP meet and greet function runs from 11 am-1 pm and tickets for our only event during WM31 go on sale THIS Saturday at 10 am pacific time at ticketweb.com. Tickets start at $20 while the VIP tickets are $65. Tickets are limited so I'd suggest that you get your's early starting with Saturday's on sale at ticketweb.com. Let's grill...

Check out this week's Ross Report podcast with my guest and former broadcast partner Kevin Kelly who is now the voice of Ring of Honor Wrestling. Kevin talks about how he got into broadcasting, found his way to WWE, doing an audition with me, his skits with @TheRock, the upcoming ROH PPV and much more. This is a great show that you can download for FREE at podcastone.com, iTunes or listen to right here on our site by simply visiting the homepage. For wannabe broadcasters, Kevin also has some good advice.

I hope that those who haven't will consider subscribing to our podcast for FREE at iTunes as that helps us a great deal plus you won't miss an episode.

Next week Hurricane Helms joins me on the Ross Report to review the WWE PPV Fast Lane which is this Sunday in Memphis on the WWE Network. Plus, we will discuss what our thoughts are on WrestleMania after Sunday's last PPV prior to 'Mania.

Our schedule of Ross Report guests through April are listed on the homepage of our site. Check it out before you leave. Same goes for the updated Q&A's. Did your question make the cut this time around?

Hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Eddie Gilbert passed away. Eddie had a brilliant wrestling mind and was an underrated in ring talent IMO. He grew up in the Memphis territory the son of a wrestler and he started early, as a teen, in becoming fully committed to the wrestling business. Bill Watts tabbed Eddie o be the booker of the UWF promotion during its last days before the brand was sold to Jim Crockett promotions. Eddie introduced me to Paul Heyman and not that long thereafter I made Paul my broadcast partner in WCW on TBS. The desire to be great in all things wrestling put a great deal of personal stress on Eddie and we've all known people under those circumstances who address their stress and anxiety in a multitude of ways including some choices that are not advisable. I have no doubt that Eddie, who died in Puerto Rico of a heart attack much too young, was still alive today that he would be a viable player in the wresting business today.

Growing up in a wrestling territory can be a blessing or a curse as the same things written about Eddie Gilbert could be said of Kerry Von Erich who also died on this date 22 years ago. Too much, too soon and taking the same self destructive short cuts that many wresters did 'back in the day' came back to haunt Kerry as it did Eddie. Both men were upper echelon players within the business and are both remembered by all of us who knew them on this day in history. Our best wishes to the families of both men.

I admire UFC for taking such a strong stance on their on going battle against PED's. The discussed four year ban for violating the new, UFC drug policy is essentially a career ender which means that it will deter some athletes but will only encourage others to cheat using tougher drugs to detect. Nonetheless a new plan has to be put in place to be able to grow the UFC brand of which many of us are major fans. The PED problem in any sport cannot be totally eliminated but, again, all that can be done should be enacted to protect the fighters and to make the brand long term advertiser and TV network friendly.

WWE Fast Lane outcomes are a head scratcher which I perceive as a good thing.

Superstar Billy Graham will be a guest on the Ross Report Podcast dropping on Tuesday April 7 and it was on this date in 1978 that Graham beat WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino in Baltimore to win the title. In excellent villain fashion Graham cheated to win and went on to have a great run as WWWF kingpin before he reluctantly lost he championship to Bob Backlund.

Lots of questions about Samoa Joe leaving TNA and where I think that Joe will end up. I don't know the answer to that question but I can say that I'm a fan of Joe's work and that I feel that he will stay as busy as he chooses to be. Joe could be a valuable asset to WWE as it relates to working with young talents who need to work with someone better than them to learn. Sometimes change can be a good thing for all involved. Nonetheless I ca see how Samoa Joe, put in the proper role, could be an asset to WWE.

Some people seemingly are making a big deal out of Chris Jericho's unique in and out schedule with WWE but when one stops and thinks about it it is the same theory that the territories used to keep a steady flow of somewhat fresh new talents coming into their markets. Fans like 'new' even if 'new' fails at times. That's why promoters back in the day were more willing to try new things and take more calculated risks.

Next Tuesday I will tape an interview with my old friend Shawn Michaels for a future Ross Report podcast that will air in April at this time.

Just because it seems to be getting more topical of late and from my own experience as an administrator, 'wrestling romances' are challenging to make work. While there are notable exceptions to that rule where two parties that are both in the biz have had successful, personal relationships, most of these star crossed romances generally fail. I'm not being a naysayer only a realist. I had too many meetings with those on the roster who needed couple's therapy of which is tough to deliver.

I did some audio work for Fox Sports that will air in one of their packages during the Daytona 500 pre race show. I think most wrestling fans will get a kick out of it. It will likely air in the noon Eastern Time hour on Fox.

WWEShop.com is on fire selling JR's condiments and are fully stocked as we speak. The official grilling season for many will be here before you know it so stock up....and thanks!!

Remember that tickets to my show at WrestleMania on Saturday March 28 at 1 pm go on sale THIS Saturday at 10 am pacific time at ticketweb.com. Get your tickets early and join me in San Jose.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ