Before heading out the door to catch my mail plane to Bakersfield from OKC, I just wanted to do a short updated blog.

These are responses to a handful of your emails:

Yes, Test has been suspended for violating the WWE Wellness Program. I assume this is a 30 violation.

I don’t necessarily see Marty Jannetty back as a full timer in the WWE but I could certainly see Marty as a coach in the developmental system some day.

Please…NO Ding Dongs on Raw unless you’re referring to the chocolate snack cakes of the same name with a cold glass of milk.

Chris Benoit is a treasure, a future Hall of Famer, and, arguably, may be underutilized on Smackdown, so I suggest he be traded to Raw for a “player to be named later.”

I prefer reality based wrestling personas as opposed to cartoon-character personas. My favorite wrestlers have a always been really close to who they are naturally.

I know zilch about who is going into the WWE Hall of Fame including The King and me. I can’t explain why some performers are considered as others are not. If your favorite doesn’t get in this year, there is always next year, right? I really suggest that all fans just relax and let the process play out. No matter who goes in or who doesn’t, it won’t affect anyone’s quality of life or long term happiness. I know I was on the short list at one time and am patiently waiting to hear the results. Many deserve going in, prior to yours truly, which I am sure some of our loyal emailers will point out. Somehow, I hear Savage fans preparing an uprising.

I am not against squash matches. They have their place on occasion. The Monday Night Wars saw promoters use PPV attractions and viable main events for TV programming and ratings in the late 90s.

I don’t perceive that hazing is an issue in wrestling and rarely happens in this generation, unless some young kid shows a total lack of respect on a frequent basis and then they may get a reminder that they aren’t as cool as they perceive. Rookies should be seen and not heard, unless asked.

Toronto vs. Vancouver?? OK stop the madness. I made a simple compliment of how great the Canadian fans were and now we have Vancouver fans woe is me’ing it about a lack of PPV events that I have ZERO to do with scheduling. I do agree that Canadian, Carl DeMarco does a great job representing Canada for the WWE.

If forced to pick a winner between the WSX vs. TNA, I would likely give the nod to TNA. As far as any company over taking the WWE….not likely in my lifetime.

London and Kendrick could be their generation’s Rock ‘n Roll Express and that is a Hall of Fame team I’m talking about. Morton and Gibson were awesome…really awesome!

The champion should always be introduced last in my view. Yeah, I know that’s old school, but so am I.

Kenny has great potential IF he never suffers a broken nose. Only kidding. Kenny has a huge upside, but he must avoid injuries and the mental games that some young stars play on themselves. Stay grounded, stay focused and always be willing to learn and the sky is the limit for Kenny or any other potentially great young wrestler.

I talked to The Big Show the other day and he indicated that he felt good. He’s losing weight the right way, is on a regimented workout program and sounded really happy. I think Show needs an extended break from wrestling for his own physical and mental health and no matter what he decided to do later in life, I am a supporter of the big fella who I signed to his first WWE contract.

Hello to Woody in Iraq and my sincere thanks for protecting us and for serving your country so honorably. I will inquire about more WWE PPVs being made available in your neck of the woods. God Bless and stay safe.

I prefer doing play by play, which is the role I have always done with the exception of a couple of stints with Tony Schiavone on a few Clash of Champions broadcast, including the first one and for a series of Monday Night Raws when Vince McMahon was the play by play man.

Have I ever seen Jim Cornette angry? Uh, yeah. As in hundreds of times, including when he beat up his car, attacked a rental car’s steering wheel in Vancouver, and would get so upset that he would get terrible nose bleeds.

I would love to see an undefeated Undertaker vs. an undefeated Edge at a Wrestlemania in the future, but first they both have to stay that way at “The Event.”

Coolio, if that is your real name, I was using a figure of speech when I referred to my wife making “award winning” meatloaf. And you chose to address meatloaf when responding with the tenor of catching me lying to you…… about MEATLOAF?! Shenanigans???

After all that happened to yours truly in WCW regarding back room politics and distrustful executives playing mind games with who ever would bite, being the last voice heard on Monday Nitro was kinda cool for me I must say.

There seems to be a dangerous trend that many young wrestlers feel the need to be able to execute high risk maneuvers and stunt-like moves before learning wrestling/crowd psychology which is the “kiss of death.” Fundamentals come before how good you look in the team photo, or how many flips and crash and burns one can execute.

If Magnum T.A. had not been severely injured in a car crash, he would have been a multiple time NWA Champion and most likely a multi-time WWE Champion. Mag was a future Hall of Famer who still may be inducted some day. Terry Allen, his real name, was a student of the business and learned psychology from a variety of greats including Bill Watts and Dusty Rhodes.

Does HBK have another “run” in him as WWE Champion? Are you kidding me? Absolutely, but we will find out conclusively on April 1 at Wrestlemania.

WWE does college internships and to learn more about them go to the WWE Corporate website or contact the WWE Human Resources department.

I sure hope OKC gets another PPV and I am lobbying for it even though I will probably get assaulted or something comparable if we do. My luck in OKC with the WWE has run from bad to embarrassing at times but, I still hope the Oklahoma fans get a big event at the Ford Center someday.

The Undertaker wears gloves because he is a striker and he doesn’t want to break his hands. There is no endorsement deal that I am aware of just protecting the Demon of Death Valley’s mitts.

When I grill and I am in a hurry I use propane. When I have time to enjoy the process, I use charcoal. However, my favorite form of cooking is “Smoking” which cooks the meat with the smoke created from the smoker box which is usually filled with hickory wood. The smoked meat is NEVER over direct heat, only surrounded by smoke. That’s where “Low and Slow” comes into play. Our Norman eatery will be open in late April or May and I hope many of you are able to sample our food for yourselves. We will also do catering and mail order business.

I do remember Taker being hurt and Cowboy Bill Watts was his substitute in Tulsa vs. Mankind Mick Foley.The crowd loved it, as I recall, even though no one can adequately replace the Deadman. Foley looks back on that night as a special one for him as he had never been in the ring with Watts prior to that night. I drive thru Proctor every time I go to Westville from Tahlequah.

I am a fan of many professional poker players and watch a ton of Poker on TV. Doyle Brunson is my all time favorite but there are many great players I like, including Canada’s Kid Poker and even bad boy Phil Hellmuth. I would love to play in a tournament some day or perhaps even do some commentary at a Poker event.

Wrestling or Football? If I could be the voice of the Oklahoma Sooners Football team on radio, it would be a dream come true, but I would never want to do it at the cost of NOT doing Monday Night Raw. Let me assure you that I could do both if the stars were ever aligned properly but only when Bob Barry, Sr. says it’s time for him to “hang it up,” which I hope is not for a long time. I feel the same way about the ‘Legendary Voice of the Georgia Bulldogs” Larry Munson.

Louisville got themselves a helluva coach in Steve Kragthorpe from Tulsa University. Kragthorpe is an offensive guru and if he can recruit good players to TU, he should be able to recruit great players to Louisville. Good hire by the Cards. I think Frank Broyles has served Arkansas admirably, but I also think it is time for former Coach Broyles to enjoy the twilight years of his life. He is north of 80 and speaking for myself, if I am lucky enough to live to be 80, something I sure as hell don’t want to be going to the airport every week.

Adrian Peterson should be one of the top 3-4 picks of the upcoming NFL draft. I have an ample amount of AD signed gear that will be on display in our Bar-B-Q place in Norman. I got to know AD well and he is a great young man who deserves to be wealthy and happy. I hope he has a long NFL career but he needs to be willing to step out of bounds on occasion and to “get down” and not take so many big hits, to last more than 5 or so years. We will miss AD, but the NFL is getting a 220 pounder who can run a legit 4.3 forty and who is tough…really tough.

I am not familiar with Nozawa. I have heard of him, but have not seen him in the ring. I am told he is exceptional.

“Jim Ross and Gerald Brisco have been doing a lot of complaining about the recruiting efforts within the WWE” says the usual “unknown source.” Without pulling out the soap box, that is not entirely accurate. It sounds like we are all in the 9th grade again. Brisco and I both share the same vision of what we like in a potential wrestling recruit. Sometimes those types of athletes are tough to find and when they are found, sometimes they are simply the wrong kind of person for the WWE and don’t fit in the locker room, which is important. The WWE is a “team” in essence and non team players need not apply.

Crazy Horse indeed can talk. Tough little guy too, as evidenced on Showtime recently. The disqualification on the main event left me scratching my head. I did not like it, but I also don’t know the ins and outs of the MMA rules.

The next few episodes of the Legend’s Roundtable were awesome. If one likes controversy, these next installments are for you. I do not know when they will be edited and ready for air, but I assume it will be a few months. Good stuff and worth the wait.

For those patiently awaiting shipments outside the U.S., we will be updating the online store to allow for non-food purchases soon! Plus, from my family to yours we sincerely appreciate your business.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 18th, 2007 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Wrestling, Personal, Website