For those in the United States and who may be elsewhere celebrating Thanksgiving, we wish you the very best of this special holiday. And to you that read our blogs here on WWE.com from abroad, we thank you for checking in with us again this week.
The 22nd Survivor Series is in the history books and it was a solid show emanating from Boston in front of over 15,000 fans who sold out the Garden. It was a big night for homegrown John Cena, but perhaps an even bigger night for Friday Night SmackDown's Edge, who left Beantown with his 6th World Title.
Jeff Hardy's bad luck continues in such distasteful ways as he was apparently bludgeoned in the stairwell of his Boston hotel late Saturday night. I did not like reporting on this matter or do I enjoy talking about it here, but the point is that Jeff had more momentum than any one on the WWE roster when fate dealt him another bad hand this past weekend.
The good news for Jeff Hardy fans is that he can redeem himself starting on Friday Night SmackDown this week.
The new WWE Champion who truly and so coincidentally was in the right place at the right time Sunday night in Boston, will kick off Friday Night SmackDown this week on MyNetworkTV, so don't tune in late. The world will get, hopefully, some sort of explanation that actually makes sense and that we can perhaps believe from the new champ; and maybe even from his (still) wife and SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero.
Much like Tony Soprano and his embattled wife Carmella did over the years, perhaps Edge and Vickie reconciled and none of us were made privy to the development. Who in the heck knows except the controversial couple?
One still has to wonder what Edge loves most, The WWE Title, his wife or himself.
I will tip my black hat to the G.M. as she puts together a superb wrestling concept Friday night that will see Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Vladimir Kozlov all in competitive matches. I think fans of in-ring wrestling will enjoy that aspect of Friday Night SmackDown a great deal. I know that these bouts were fun to call in Albany, New York on Tuesday night and each bout had significance, a reason for taking place and a heightened sense of urgency.
If you are keeping score at home, count the number of times that Edge and Vickie call each other "Baby" on Friday night, but please no drinking games on this topic. As my Mama always said, "Moderation son, moderation."
One also has to wonder if the higher up's in the WWE will consider intervening in the apparent conflict of interest between the SmackDown General Manager and the WWE Champion - but that's another a story for another day.
Did You Know...that the "World's Angriest Broadcaster", Tazz, was a bona fide baseball man? If MLB's Bud Selig goes back to selling cars and departs from what used to be referred to as "America's Game," perhaps Major League Baseball would consider Tazz as their top dog. I learned more about the inner workings of baseball from my broadcast partner on our road trip from the Tappen Zee Bridge to Albany Tuesday that I ever dreamed. Tazz has "people."
The Brian Kendrick and his associate Ezekiel Jackson return to SmackDown on Friday night and Kendrick demonstrated why his move to Friday night's with Jackson is working for him. The Brian reminds me in some obscure ways of another Brian I knew in the wrestling biz. What do associates do for the record?
Is the pressure of being the first Divas Champion getting to Michelle McCool, or is it the up and down year her Florida State Seminoles have had for Coach Bobby Bowden? You observe close Friday night and judge for yourself.
For my money, Maria and Maryse are two of the most improved Divas on SmackDown and seem to get better with each outing. Perhaps fellow French Canadian Pat Patterson's influence and mentoring has helped Maryse. What a distinguished couple those two French speaking individuals would make. Karaoke anyone?
O.K., I get it. The Bella Twins are identical. Or so we are told.
Matt Hardy has a spectacular night on SmackDown and the ECW Champion seems to have recovered significantly from his tweaked knee of a week or so ago.
Did you read where the WWE grossed over $15M on their last European tour? That would buy a ton of BBQ at J.R.'s Family BBQ in Norman and Moore, Oklahoma.
Our website is getting a ton of orders, especially the one's that include FREE SHIPPING, from WWE fans who are doing their holiday shopping early. Our products are also available on this very website at WWE Shop.
Are Jesse & Festus related? I'm just curious. Where are the country boys from and it's likely not Jersey. These are the questions that might even "Out Think the Fink." I'm sure Dr., soon to be Vice President; Joe E. Styles will address in future WWE.com ventures. Perhaps the "Dirt Sheet" could do an investigative report on the lineage of Jesse & Festus. Inquiring minds need to know these things. Fans love the dirt, you know!!
Speaking of Miz & Morrison, they have some of the characteristics of great teams of yesteryear including the Midnight Express, the Hart Foundation and the Brain Busters, among other successful entities. I think that this is the team of the future in the WWE as long as their healthy egos allow them to coexist. Great teams rarely stay together forever and it's usually ego issues that drive them a part..or a woman.
Read somewhere that folks were impressed with ECW's Jack Swagger's toughness. No one should be as the former Oklahoma Sooner was a two sport star and a wrestling All-American who allegedly never lost a fight while a student at OU. Swagger will one day wear the ECW Title and could be the most Suplex friendly ECW Champ since Tazz.
Speaking of OU, I will be attending the Sooners vs. the Oklahoma State Cowboys college football game Saturday night about 90 minutes north of where I am at this very moment in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It was really nice of ABC's top play by play voice Brent Mushberger to recognize yours truly on the Sooner sideline last Saturday night during the Texas Tech tilt. If it had been a WWE Diva, it would have been on the home page of this powerful website. :)
So Armageddon is in Buffalo, New York in mid-December, is it? All I can say is bring a coat, but my old broadcast partner The King likely will not as he hates to wear a coat for any occasion. The King must have the blood of an Alaskan, as he didn't even take outer wear to Boston in late November. Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is the sort of worthless info you can't get any where else.
Isn't it sad that some wrestling fans are so obnoxious that it forces guys like Tazz and me to go through the McDonald's drive thru when making our trip from Boston back thru Connecticut to Long Island? It's sad enough that the glamorous life of big time broadcasters has us eating at McDonald's, no offense Ronald, but if one steps out of their vehicle to actually go in to a eatery and doesn't take a photo with everyone in sight and everyone has a camera phone, we become pieces of garbage. On second thought, Tazz not interacting with the public is probably a good thing especially when he is tired and hungry.
Check out our blogs at www.jrsbarbq.com and our Q&A's with fans from all over the world as well. Again, we thank you for your holiday business especially the shirt/cap combos and the personally autographed "J.R.'s Cookbooks."
Always count your blessings and thanks for all the years of support on my behalf. You folks have made this wrestling fan's dreams come true time and again.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.


Jim, here is your first comment on your blog. I have to say good job. I think Kendrick is the future of this business and i would like to here more of your thoughts on him. I am happy Edge is WWE champion, he deserves it. You shoud apply some stuff that happens backstage into your blogs. For example, you can say how people were feeling and may be put some conversations on what they had to say on the blog. i want to try your restaurant so badly but i don't live near there. I will try it someday, hopefully! great job on Smackdown, JR!
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