Ah, the times they are a-changing – and upon further review – for the better.

This Friday night will be my first broadcasting voyage with my new partner, Mick Foley, and I am looking forward to watching the airing of Friday Night SmackDown with great anticipation. Mick is one of my oldest friends in the biz, which as most vets will attest, is a business where a guy can count their bonafide friends on one hand – which is akin to most forms of sports and entertainment. Mick Foley is a great human being, a bestselling author, a legit Hardcore Legend and a student of the game. Not a bad combo for this Okie to deal with I assure you.

Upon getting drafted my reactions were one of shock and surprise. I was never disappointed about coming to Friday Night SmackDown as I am a loyal viewer of the broadcast and have been for years. Hell, I broadcast the very first SmackDown way back in the day. Friday Night SmackDown is an integral facet of WWE and I am going to put forth my best effort and make it even better.

However, after “playing for one team” for so many years and establishing routines and relationships, particularly with “The King,” I wasn’t immediately prepared to change addresses. I likely did not endear myself to some with that attitude, but I have always been honest with my feelings, and my emotions for the product are authentic, sometimes to a fault.  

After all, Monday Night Raw was never about “me.” It was and always will be about the product. Announcers’ jobs are to embellish the product and to enhance the Superstars who perform in the ring. As Shakespeare said, “the play is the thing.” (Down here in Oklahoma we like to say the “sauce” is the thing, but that‘s another story.)
 
I want to wish Michael Cole nothing but continued success, and I hope he has as many years and as much fun on Raw as I had. I know Michael will have a blast working with Jerry Lawler just as I will in teaming with Mrs. Foley’s baby boy.

But just so everyone knows where this Sooner stands, and I consider this to be an important point, Mick and I have one goal: To become the best broadcasting team in WWE on the top TV show in the company.    

The SmackDown roster has a new look and feel that will likely result in enhanced energy and an exciting, fresh dynamic for the broadcast.

Opportunities abound on SmackDown for the new athletes who now call it home. Getting a future WWE Hall of Famer in Triple H is a coup. The WWE Champion is at the top of his game, no pun intended, and will set the standard for the roster – and it will be a high standard to say the least.

Jeff Hardy is arguably the most popular Superstar in WWE by many observers’ accounts. Don’t take my word for it, as all you have to do is listen to the WWE fans’ response when the “Ultimate Risk-Taker” is introduced. Jeff Hardy’s career should reach its zenith on Friday Night SmackDown, much to the delight of Jeff Hardy fans around the world. I can foresee great things in the future for the younger of the two, talented Hardy Brothers. 

No one should ever underestimate the abilities of Umaga. Athletic, super heavyweights are a rare breed and Umaga is an amazing athlete. Umaga may end up being the greatest Samoan wrestler ever when size, power, and athleticism are all considered.

From where I sit, Mr. Kennedy, Carlito and Shelton Benjamin are all main-eventers waiting to happen. If all three of these talented men wrestle to their full potential, all three are future champions.  

I love Brian Kendrick’s “upside” – no matter Brian’s perceived “lack of size” which is a non-issue in my eyes. Think Rey Mysterio here. 

Trevor Murdoch has the heart of a champion, and I would never tell anyone with a great work ethic (and who had the benefit of sitting under the legendary Harley Race’s learning tree,) that their wrestling dreams could not come true. Murdoch could be a real sleeper on SmackDown as a wrestler not a singer.

DH Smith was born and bred to be a wrestler, and my instincts tell me that Smith has a mean, aggressive streak that we have yet to see. When any “insiders” talk about young wrestlers with unlimited potential, DH Smith’s name always comes up.

These are just some of the new individuals who will be provided the opportunity to build their WWE legacy on Friday Night SmackDown. Plus, the list of incumbents lead by the World Heavyweight Champion Edge is extremely impressive as well. Edge is arguably the best in WWE doing what he does.

The Friday Night SmackDown roster, from top to bottom, is as good as any roster has been in WWE in years.

In the meantime, let’s not forget that Night of Champions, a pay-per-view exclusive emanating from the sold-out American Airlines Center in Dallas this Sunday, will further shape the new landscape of WWE. With every match a title bout, something’s got to give in “Big D.”

Don’t think that I won’t be in Oklahoma City on Monday for Raw, as it is one of the biggest nights of the year in my home market. J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q is a co-sponsor of the event, which will rock the home of the future OKC NBA franchise. I might score a ringside seat for the show, but I will definitely want to experience the OKC/Raw experience firsthand. I might even hand out thousands of huge signs that say www.jrsbarbq.com just for the hell of it. That was a joke, by the way.

Plus, I am looking forward to SmackDown next week in Tulsa, which is where my journey in wrestling began in the ’70s. It will mark the first time that I have broadcast a wrestling event there in at least 20 years. UWF Wrestling made Tulsa its TV home for some red-hot Sunday nights under the leadership of Cowboy Bill Watts, who still lives in the area. It will be like old home week.

Life is good … and so is the BBQ!

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.  

Editor's Note: You can read J.R.'s previous Superstar of the Week columns at his column archives page.