Hi everyone, I hope all are well and enjoying life. Things are busy here in Oklahoma as we continue to work on opening J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q  Restaurant, which looks like it will be ready to open in June. It is amazing what kind of team effort it takes to get something like a restaurant up and running, as we want our first location to be as good as it possibly can be. This is a great learning experience for me and I am fortunate that we are surrounded by highly competent folks who do this sort of thing for a living and are nice enough to take Jan and me under their wings and teach us the restaurant biz. I know what tastes good and what good service is after eating on the road for the past 30 years or so, but there is so much more to creating a great restaurant and we don’t want to be “average,” as that simply will not be acceptable. When I am not traveling for the WWE or doing WWE business here at home, we spend a great deal of time strategizing about “J.R.’s Bar-B-Q”. It is hard to believe we will be open in approximately 2 months!

I left OKC Sunday for LaGuardia via DFW in time to get to my hotel room in Bridgeport to watch the season premier of “The Sopranos” (as planned), and like any other great piece of writing, the episode had me wanting more. One has to assume that the body count will escalate considerably this week even though I will be in Milan, Italy and will have to wait until I return to see the 2nd episode of the last run of my favorite TV program. The turf war between the New York and New Jersey families will be shocking when the final body count is taken if my instincts are on the money. Greed, betrayal, and unpredictability (sounds like some wrestling promoters’ meetings from back in the 70’s and 80’s that I attended) will be vital ingredients one has to assume during the final days of arguably the best TV show to ever air on HBO.

The life of a WWE announcer might not be as glamorous as one might expect. The King and I shared a dressing room, normally a storage room, with others Monday night. That’s not a bad thing, but we had no bathroom, no shower, and no place to actually sit and prepare for our show. This is really not that unusual nor is it a deal breaker as this business teaches one to adapt to all situations and circumstances. “Poor us”.

After Raw in Connecticut, The King and I drove ourselves back to NYC  to stay at a LaGuardia Airport hotel property. We arrived at the hotel about 2 a.m. and each had 4:30 a.m. wake up calls in order to turn in King’s rental car and then to catch EARLY flights home. We did get to hit a McDonald’s along Interstate 95 on the way to LaGuardia where we dined on chicken only and no carbs. Ah, the sweet life… some McDonald’s chicken, a Diet Coke, and less than two hours sleep!

This week, as a matter of fact this month’s travel, is packed. Saturday I leave for Milan via OKC to Atlanta to Milan. We arrive Sunday morning in Milan and have a day to get “right” before Raw Monday night, which will be the first time Monday Night Raw has ever emanated from Italy. Then it is the first flight back to Atlanta for me Tuesday morning and then connecting back to OKC.

I suggested to the Mrs. that I was thinking about spending the time between the Milan and London RAW shows in Amsterdam, but she did not think that was too funny. So I will return to Oklahoma after Milan and then leave again on Saturday April 21 from OKC to DFW to London for the April 23 Raw in “Jolly Old”.

Add another PPV, Backlash, to the mix on Sunday April 29 and Monday Night Raw in Nashville on Monday April 30 and this month is an ambitious one for sure.

Nonetheless I would not trade my job with anyone I know, to be honest with you. Collin commented that he felt it was too early for King and me to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hell Collin, I still don’t know if I belong there at all, but nonetheless there are others in other fields who still work in their chosen lines of work who are members of their respective Halls of Fame. The WWE Hall of Fame is a constant source of discussion and I almost dread it next year as it brings some obsessed, passionate and sometimes crazed individuals out of the woodwork with their relentless suggestions as to who should be inducted and who should not. I am happy I am no longer in the selection process. I repeat I am NO LONGER in the HOF selection process.

The atmosphere behind the scenes at the HOF was as most would expect it was a bunch of storytelling, and much like fishing tales; the first liar did not have a chance. Honestly, if someone ever decides to film the afternoon of the HOF, it would make for some great TV in the form of a DVD extra.

Lance asked about Cody Rhodes, who spoke on his father’s behalf at the HOF and from what I can tell Cody has the chance to be a special talent in the WWE in the future. If Cody is allowed to stay “down on the farm” until he is ready and isn’t “picked too green,” the son of the American Dream can be a main event level performer in the WWE for years to come. Cody’s maturity and understanding of many of the nuances of the biz remind me of a young Rock back in the day. Things others have to be taught come naturally to Cody. Nonetheless I would make sure Cody has no less than 2 years in the developmental programs before I exposed him on worldwide TV. I probably just jinxed this ultra-talented kid, but he is a blue chipper who I am really looking forward to watching hopefully become a major star. I am really pleased that he has his Mama’s genes in him, as he is a handsome and truly athletic young man. (Only kidding, Dream!)

Varish wanted to know my thoughts on Kennedy. I have said here many times that I really like Kennedy’s potential and feel the new “Mr. Money in the Bank” has the ability to be a main event level talent for years to come. Again, Kennedy has some “Stunning Steve” qualities about him, which is damn sure a good thing. As long as Kennedy, or any young talent, realizes that this business is a long and challenging journey and that they never STOP learning – he will be fine. Untimely injuries are the kiss of death in this biz, as is bad attitudes such as “I know it all” or “The rules don’t apply to me.”

Some fans speculate that WM23 was HBK’s last major Wrestlemania moment. I could not disagree more. Unless Mother Nature taps Shawn Michaels on the shoulder and says “it’s time,” then I see HBK having more ‘Mania moments especially considering Shawn is still arguably as good an in ring performer as there is in the entire WWE. HBK is a by product of the wrestling territory system which has provided him invaluable tools to make and to keep HBK as a main event level talent for the foreseeable future.

Hugh in Ireland… Thanks for checking out our site and for the kind words about my voice the day after `Mania. I pushed the envelope too much in Detroit and paid the price. I was actually apprehensive Monday night in Bridgeport about how my pipes would hold up during the two hour RAW broadcast. Luckily we got through it. Hot tea, lemon and honey did the trick. For the record, my Mama’s homemade recipe for a sore throat was hot water, whiskey, honey, and sugar and was called a “Hot Toddy”.

Chris wanted to know about the term “goofy as a pet coon”. When I was a boy, a friend of mine had a young raccoon they had caught in the wild. They tried to domesticate the coon and kept it tied to a stake, with a collar around the coon’s neck. The coon paced constantly. The coon was mean and hated to be tied up and was never going to become a traditional “pet”. The coon became crazier by the day and was finally turned loose and wasted no time in returning to the woods. Hence the term “goofier than a pet coon”.

I attended the Annual OU Red-White game last Saturday with my good friend Bud Hebert, who was the Orange Bowl MVP in the early 80’s after picking off 3 Florida State passes in an OU victory. The Sooners look to be a consistent QB away from having another championship contending team and the three athletes competing for the QB job can all play. “Swamp Root” Hebert likes redshirt freshman Sam Bradford to win the starting job.

Shahaf in Israel commented us that the McMahon-Trump story was big news there. The WWE got amazing coverage globally on the world’s most famous head shaving easily surpassing Britney Spears’ manic buzz cut.

Rick- I am not up to speed with the pending Jerry Lawler-Hulk Hogan match that is being talked about for Memphis. Knowing how these deals often fall apart at the last minute, I would be somewhat surprised if it ever happens, but I have been wrong before as many of you so gleefully remind me more often than not.

Kassandra- My best wishes on your 6th hip surgery. Stay positive and persevere. Easy for me to say, but that’s how I hope you approach this next challenge.

Someone asked how an independent contractor can be under contract. Easily and it is done legally and ethically every day in many walks of life. In other words, one doesn’t have to be an employee to be contracted to a particular company.

Chris- The last I talked to Big Show, and it has been a while, he was happy, positive, and was working diligently at losing weight and improving his quality of life. Show told me he had many “irons in the fire” and none were of the wrestling variety. I will never forget Mrs. J.R. feeding the big fella during the very early days of him signing with the WWE, and Show ate an ample supply of homemade biscuits and nearly a whole jar of delicious apple butter, one of my all-time favorites too.

Jimmy- it was good to see you in Detroit and thanks again for the beverage you provided me at Gibson’s in Chicago, one of America’s great steakhouses, last year at WM 22.

I encourage you to read some of our archived blogs, as many of your questions have already been answered. With my time becoming less and less available I will do my best to answer as many of your comments as possible, but many of your questions have already been addressed. Plus, I prefer to not take a verbal whipping because I did not answer your particular comment. If I want to be verbally abused I can call an ex-boss or ex-wife and get my fill.

Have you tried our Beef Jerky? It is delicious and affordable and we are working on being able to ship it worldwide. Many of you have tried it and your feedback has been super. Thanks for supporting our site with your purchases. Everyone here really appreciates your business.

Be well and we will have more blogs still to come this week.
J.R.