Random thoughts from under the custom-made, black hat from WWE's resident BBQ lovin' Okie, who is Cleveland-bound this Sunday - right after I watch the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners play the talented Cincinnati Bearcats on ABC from the Sooner sideline.

WWE suffered another injury blow to one of its biggest stars when Shawn Michaels tore his triceps Monday night on Raw in an altercation with Chris Jericho and the Michaels-trained Lance Cade. Yours truly communicated with HBK this week and Shawn said he fully intends to "finish what I started," regarding his issue with Jericho. So that tells me that Michaels, even with a bad wing, definitely will fight Jericho this Sunday in Cleveland at Unforgiven. Even with only one good arm, Michaels is still better than most, but I don't like the future Hall of Famer's chances come Sunday. Jericho is too good and too motivated, and we all know the egocentric Jericho couldn't look himself in the mirror if he were to lose to a man with a torn triceps. The pain may be with Michaels, but the pressure to win this match has slapped Jericho right in the face since the doctor's diagnosis was made public late Monday night.

I would love to broadcast the HBK vs. Jericho battle, but that honor will go to Michael Cole & The King. All is not lost though, as The Tazz and I get to broadcast the Divas Title Bout, among others.

Former WWE Champ Brock Lesnar has signed to meet veteran UFC star Randy Couture in November for the UFC Heavyweight Title. The fight gives Lesnar the chance to enter the history books again: A NCAA Title, a WWE Title and now perhaps a UFC Title for the former University of Minnesota All-American who once headlined WrestleMania.

SmackDown this week is a solid final broadcast prior to Sunday's pay-per-view in Cleveland, where the Browns will play the Dallas Cowboys at 4 p.m. ET. If you watch the Browns game, keep an eye out for Jerry "The King" Lawler, who is a huge Browns fan. The King plans on attending the first quarter of the Dallas game with Browns' G.M. Phil Savage, who's nothing like Mike Adamle, before coming to the arena to broadcast Unforgiven. You can also take the over when wagering if The King will bring back ample amounts of Brown "swag" that he will not share with even his old broadcast partner.

Oh well, one can't grieve forever.

Hey, how about those exciting political conventions?! Have you been glued to your TV sets this week keeping up with all the people talking out of both sides of their mouth just as was the rule in Denver? However, I do like McCain's running mate. She seems like a far cry from a professional politician who seems to have the country's best interests at heart and not her own personal gain. Nonetheless, I am still thinking of whom I am going to vote for in November but I am going to Smackdown My Vote!

There is absolutely NO TRUTH to the vicious rumor that there is a nude, Howard Finkel action figure available in the underground marketplace. However, there is truth in that there is a normally dressed, Howard Finkel action figure now available. Congrats to "The Fink," who has become an inspirational mentor to dot com guru, Dr. Joseph E. Styles, who actually calls Fink "Uncle Howard." Now that's team building, unless "The Fink" decides to cut his hair in the Style-ized fade - then it would be just downright wrong.

Just wondering, but if Bam Neely gets on a roll as an in-ring wrestler, will he earn the distinction of getting another Bam added to his name?

Tazz is so close nowadays with R-Truth that Tazz simply calls the newcomer "R." I embellish somewhat because my congenial broadcast partner isn't "close" with anyone, except occasionally with his immediate family upon such occasion such as the holidays, etc.

Did You Know that Tazz will run over old ladies and handicapped people to be the first to board every airplane on which he is ticketed? No one boards ahead of the former "Human Suplex Machine." No one, dammit!

With the odds 80 percent in favor of the opposition to unseat a champion this Sunday in the Scramble title bouts, my observation is that the most susceptible athlete to not retain his title is one of my favorites, CM Punk. Punk could be as likely to retain his title as Tazz is to join the "Welcome Wagon" group in his upscale, Long Island community. That's too bad too, about Punk not Tazz, as Punk's popularity is growing significantly even though he doesn't fit the "mold" of many World Champs. So what's so wrong with that?

Don't be overwhelmed to see some major surprises at Sunday's Unforgiven because of the unique nature of the Scramble bouts.

Something has to give come Sunday at Unforgiven in the pending confrontation between SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero and Undertaker. Vickie is demanding an apology and the Demon of Death Valley is demanding her soul. As the late, Strother Martin said in the classic film Cool Hand Luke, "What we have here is a failure to communicate." It's hard to see Vickie winning this argument, but if she does, at what price will it be?

Off the record, the lovely French Canadian diva Maryse (sorry, no last name's please) drives many men bananas.

Jeff Hardy vs. The Brian Kendrick this Friday night is worth the wait and merits room on your DVR or TiVo.

Tazz wears no socks during PPV's. Where else but here do you get that kind of info? That's right, nowhere pal.

Triple H has a memorable night on SmackDown this week. Tune in and you will see what I mean.

I don't want to say that Edge is still licking his wounds at his condo in Hell, but we just shipped a case of J.R.'s BBQ Sauce to his rumored address "down South."

You are invited to join us at www.jrsbarbq.com and especially check out our blogs which are updated several times weekly and our Q&A section. I actually read and answer most, not all, of the e-mails I receive.

Check out the upcoming Mr. Perfect DVD as it is really good and is definitely a keeper. Perfect was classic and was called "Dennis the Menace" by Chief Jay Strongbow back in the day as Perfect was perceived as being a tad mischievous. Perfect was perhaps second only to Owen Hart as a world class practical joker. Some of my voiceover sessions with Perfect when we would lay down the audio track for WWE bouts were classic. I also did a two-hour special that only aired in South Africa once upon a time with Owen, who was damn good as a color analyst. Perhaps WWE 24/7 can find that lost gem and get it on the air someday.

If you watch ABC this Saturday afternoon and see a jovial guy wearing a black hat and perspiring profusely it will likely be Good ‘Ol J.R. patrolling the Oklahoma Sooner sideline.

See you on PPV this Sunday and in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. I will be in Milwaukee on Monday, so if anyone knows where a fellow can get a good Brat in the downtown area please let me know. I know asking for good BBQ in Wisconsin might be too much to ask for in all due respect.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.