I can remember the year I started watching wrestling — 1960. I spent almost every Saturday night with my grandparents. We would watch "Gunsmoke,” "Perry Mason,” the local news at 10. At 10:30 would be the one-hour wrestling show. That was my Saturday night. I got that wonderful experience of being young enough to learn from my grandparents. They were great role models. My parents were great, too.

I was an only child growing up. My mom and dad converted a concrete block milk barn into our home. I was born in eastern Oklahoma — Westville. My dad made a smoker out of a 50-gallon drum. He would put meats on the smoker at six in the morning and then go to work on the highway patrol. My job was to make sure the fire never went out. I got the fundamentals of smoking meat at an early age because it was one of my chores.

My wrestling career started out akin to running away from home and joining the circus in 1974 and I have loved every minute of it. I think I have a few more miles left in the tank and before I focus on growing our BBQ business full time.

We hired Steve Williams, "Dr. Death,” between his junior and senior year in college at OU. And Doc was a wrestler for OU and played football for coach (Barry) Switzer. We hired Steve and worked him into pro wrestling. So that's when I met coach Switzer, about 1980. I was just in awe of him. He was such a charismatic guy. He was genuine and real. He had this uncanny memory.

We're ready to celebrate our 15th year anniversary of "Monday Night Raw” on Dec. 10. Two weeks ago in Charlotte, we did episode No. 757. For one show to be on cable TV for 15 years in primetime without being canceled is nothing short of amazing.

I think that wrestling is a part of the American fabric. Whether it be a large part or a small part is up to the individual, but it's a part of the fabric of Americana.

He (Mike Stoops) and Mike Leach used to watch "Monday Night Raw” when they were looking at tape. They would take a break to watch and that's how I met Mike in 1999. Through Mike, that was my way of meeting the other coaches and of course, his brother, Bob. Since that time, I've become great friends with Bob and all the other coaches.

I know when I did the XFL on NBC, one of the first things the writer from USA Today said was that I was an excitable guy with a Southern drawl. Somebody said did you see the way they knocked you in the paper? I read it, and well, I am excitable and I am enthusiastic. I do enjoy what I do. Whatever I do, I'm going to put everything I got in it. I'm not ashamed of my Southern drawl. It's part of my heritage.

I'm a dreamer. When you stop dreaming, stop having goals – you stop living. My wife, Jan, is a real great motivator. She's in the gym four or five times a week. She's a bundle of energy and a great resource and inspiration for me.

It's not Mr. Ross. It's J.R. It's J.R. to everybody. My dad was Mr. Ross. I'm J.R. — that's just the way it is.