WWE Jim Ross aka J.R.

The big man himself, Jim Ross (better known as WWE announcer J.R.) updated on his blog, speaking on the subject of Ric Flair coming out of retirement and returning to the ring. Here are some of the highlights:

- Ric called me last Sunday morning and we had a nice talk and I could tell that “Naitch” was getting “the itch” to get back in the ring. He might be feeling somewhat burned out regarding all the autograph shows and meet ‘n greets that he’s done over the past several months. One can only imagine how much flesh Ric has pressed since retiring. Ric’s driver’s license may say that he is 60 years old but he still has the spirit and constitution of a 30- something year old, for better or for worse, depending on one’s perspective.

- Can Ric still perform in the ring at a competitive level. Hell, yeah. Should he? Well, that’s another question that’s a little tougher to answer.

- I think every one should chase their dreams and do what it is in life that makes them happy and that is legal and ethical because there are no guarantees how long our time here on Earth will be. I chase my dreams every week as I still love “calling” wrestling matches. My wife says broadcasting wrestling is my “calling” and she may well be correct, as usual.

- But this isn’t my call. I do have an opinion. It almost changes from day to day as a matter of fact. In a perfect world, for me, I would love for Ric to not risk life and limb at 60 and not wrestle again. I don’t want to read of Ric Flair wrestling in a high school gym some place.

- However, if Ric can return to a major stage and perform occasionally then I have less a problem with the matter. But here is the bottom line….my thanks to Stone Cold….it’s Ric’s life and he should do whatever he wants to do at this stage of the game that makes him happy.

- If Ric’s act is going to live again, it needs to play “Broadway”….. for a limited time only. WHOOO! What’s your thoughts on the subject? Just because Ric Flair might be able to, should he? There are certainly enough people in the world who think his time is over, but does it matter what other people think? Would you go to see him in the ring again?

Jim Ross posted on his official website, where he reveals that he spent Saturday night in the emergency room with “sharp pains in his upper left chest.” He was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. He wrote the following:

I had an interesting day Saturday as I spent several hours in the emergency room with some sharp pains in my upper left chest. I had been experiencing these knife like pains for a few weeks but they also coincided with my return to the gym so I really didn’t think any thing was that wrong. I made the mistake of mentioning this matter to my wife on Friday night and by Saturday morning I had no choice but to go to the hospital or be driven nuts by my over protective and loving bride. The diagnosis was walking pneumonia so it was a good thing that I followed her instincts. My Dad died of complications following a bout of pneumonia that went uncared for as Dad’s lungs eventually filled with fluid which caused him heart failure at age 64. I plan on being in Corpus Christi Tuesday night for the last (thank goodness) Smackdown doubleheader of which the first program taped is Friday Night Smackdown # 500.

Whatever the pain actually is, we hope this isn’t a sign of something more serious for the famous WWE announcer. A couple of weeks worth of knife like pains surely can’t be a good thing.

Wow isn’t WWE Announcer Jim Ross popular at the moment? Well he has updated the blog section of JRsBarBQ.com again, and here’s some of the highlights:

His Smackdown debut at Tuesday’s tapings: “My first Smackdown experience with Mick Foley was well received internally and I thought it showed that we have the potential to be an entertaining team. We will work diligently to get better each week. Much like The King and I, Mick and I are great friends with a great deal of mutual respect which is not in long supply in this business. With that foundation to build upon, there is no reason that we can’t evolve along with the Smackdown brand itself which as anyone can see has a viable, new roster with many fresh faces and a much higher corporate priority than it ever has.”

Rumors that he was told in advance that he was being moved to Smackdown: “I have read that I knew that I was leaving Monday Night Raw prior to the draft. Wrong. I had no clue as to the move….had no travel booked to go to Houston, including no hotel room there booked prior to Tuesday nor did I take an extra suit to wear Tuesday night as I thought I was coming home, as usual.”

Speculation that he is behind Vince McMahon’s stage “accident”: “There has also been some amazing stories that ‘J.R.’ is in some way a part of the Mr. McMahon business that occurred on Monday Night Raw at the end of the evening in San Antonio. Unless these amateur Oliver Stone’s have ‘inside sources’ that are feeding them info that I have not heard this one is also another lame theory.”

“Changing his tune” on being moved after posting an angry blog on Tuesday morning: “I have also read where I have ‘changed my tune’ which is essentially true, I suppose, but this ‘change of tune’ wasn’t a result of being reprimanded as some have suggested but simply a matter of cooler heads (mine) prevailing. However, the reprimand theory does make for a better story.”

Jim Ross has quickly posted a follow-up blog on his website actually apologizing for his comments in his first blog earlier today.
Ross wrote: “Changes in one’s life take some adjusting to especially at my stage of the game. This week I received an unexpected change in my professional address. Within hours of writing an emotional blog, I am positively moving on. I am going to do all I can to make Smackdown the best program the WWE produces.”

He also added: “The abruptness of the “trade” shocked me. I most likely responded in a non professional way in the eyes of some fans. That’s their prerogative and each has the right to their opinion, As do I. Not to be cliche, but wrestling has been great to my family and me. I owe it to the business to ‘man up’ and to kick ass on Smackdown. That’s my plan. My emotions are what they are and I will not apologize for my candor or honesty. My feathers were ruffled…poor me. I still bring bona fide passion to every broadcast and fully expect to deliver come show time.”

Ross ends his latest post by saying: “For those of you that were offended by my earlier rant I apologize. For those that think “old J.R.” can’t get the job done, I suggest you sit back and watch. I wish my good pal The King and Michael Cole great success but my professional priority is to help Smackdown kick ass. In more ways than one, “the game is on.”

You can read the blog in its entirety here.

Ever since the draft, we’ve been hearing mixed reactions from fans on the decision. Well now we’re even getting mixed reactions from WWE employee’s too. Apparently Jim Ross almost quit the WWE last night after being drafted to SmackDown. He posted this new blog on his official website earlier today, stating that he was informed of the decision the same time fans were when they were watching on television. That’s not very nice of the WWE.

Below is J.R’s Own Words from JRsBarBQ.com:

As many of you know, I was “drafted” to Smackdown Monday night in the “random lottery”. Obviously that means I will be leaving Monday Night Raw and my long time partner Jerry Lawler.

I am not happy about this surprise development.

I also contemplated calling it a career Monday night and not going to Houston to tape SD.

After speaking with my wife and thinking on this matter until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, I have decided to do the right thing for the fans who care and the talent who care and begin my new assignment.

It has been explained to me that the WWE’s Smackdown tenure on My Network is a high priority within the corporation. Allegedly, my presence is needed in that effort.

Many are speculating about when I learned of this development…the same time those of you were watching at home. I should have detected something with the demeanor of certain individuals either thru their plastic, poker faces or the perceived smirk that I thought I might have seen on some of their faces during the day.

As far as going to Connecticut each week to do Smackdown post production, that’s not going to happen. Either Mick Foley can handle it or the WWE can install a DSL line in my home to facilitate the work.

I will miss working with the King as the wrestling biz is one in which a guy can count his legit friends on one hand…even after a 30 plus year career. King has been like a brother to me….albeit an “older brother”. We will remain friends no matter that our team has been corporately imploded.

I believe that I have been strongly loyal to the WWE no matter the hands that were dealt to me over the years. In my tenure there I have earned a good living of which I am thankful. I will fulfill my commitments that I have made because unlike many in the business, my word is still my bond.

I can’t predict how long my Smackdown tenure will be, but I can promise that no matter how long or short it is that I will do my utmost best while sitting at ringside. I am not the kind of man who will “phone in” a damn thing.

My sincere thanks to all of you who have supported me on RAW over the years. I hope I was able to provide you a memory or two. Hopefully, we can create new memories now on Smackdown.

Based on my professional experiences, I look at each broadcast as potentially my last, which helps keep me motivated. So with that said we begin another chapter in my crazy life in the unpredictable world of ‘rasslin.

I still plan on attending RAW in my home market of OKC next Monday and I hear that tickets are still available. Any one have any extras?

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Wow, well, its safe to say that J.R. is NOT happy with the way things are turning out.

It’s been no surprise to those listening that recently, famous WWE Announcer Jim Ross had been quite vocal about changing brands in his weekly online blogs. He says that most fans probably don’t care about announcers changing brands and that the moves should be reserved for the wrestlers, pretty much indicating that he wasn’t too keen on leaving his position on Raw.

Well, judging by J.R.’s reaction at the announcement, he didn’t look too pleased to say the least.

Aside from now being split from his longtime co-worker, close friend and travel buddy Jerry “The King” Lawler, Ross’s travel routine will be totally different. After all WWE has put Jim Ross through over the years and as somebody who has so much going on outside of the wrestling world (his restaraunt chain, offers to commentate college football on a regular basis), its shocking the WWE would pull this on him.

Taken straight from JR’s blog last Saturday regarding the draft: “I swear that I don’t think that even as I write this on Saturday that the draft has been finalized. If you are like many wrestling fans, including me, and like surprises then Monday night is certainly the night for you. I would wager a case of “J.R.’S BBQ Sauce” that virtually no talent knows for sure what fate awaits them come Monday night,” Ross wrote. “I was asked by a WWE fan in the DFW Airport on Friday afternoon if I thought any of the announcers would be drafted and I answered “no” because at the end of the day does any one truly care who announces what brand and the same goes for the referees. I would be shocked to see any draft pick wasted on an announcer or a referee as WWE fans want to see major superstars change addresses and begin new rivalries along with making fresh matches.”

So what’s your thoughts on the draft? Change for change sake? Good moves for all?