I’ve always felt that living back at home in Oklahoma was more like living in “Paradise Alley” than “Tornado Alley” but that wasn’t the case this week. Luckily for my family we survived the week’s weather in tact of which we are thankful. It’s amazing to see who checks on their friends when these situations occur … and who doesn’t. Our family appreciates those that did I assure you. But as the King always says, “One can’t grieve forever.” So let’s commence with laying the SmackDown!

It was great to see Ric Flair back on WWE programming this week as he added excitement to Monday Night Raw in Oakland, Calif. “Naitch” still has “it” -- that magical intangible that cannot be manufactured or replicated. I don’t know what Ric’s future plans are as they relate to WWE, but I, for one, hope that we see Flair in Houston in some shape, form or fashion during WrestleMania week festivities … as long as he isn’t wrestling. Flair’s verbal exchange with Chris Jericho Monday night got Raw off to a rousing start and was arguably the best aspect of the broadcast.

Christian returning to WWE wasn’t a huge surprise as the speculation of “Captain Charisma” rejoining WWE had been on going for weeks and weeks. However, I was shocked to see Christian show up on ECW and not on Raw or Friday Night SmackDown, which would have been my personal preference. Certainly Christian provides ECW a marketable boost and with Evan “Air” Bourne about to return from an injury along with ECW Champion Jack Swagger progressing so well, even though the last couple of weeks have not been stellar for Swagger, Sci Fi’s Tuesday night show starring Slammy Award winning announcers Todd “I’m funnier than people think” Grisham and Matt “I despise pronouns” Striker has received an extreme makeover in the wink of an eye.

Speaking of ECW, has Natalya officially joined the ECW roster?  

The locker room gossip Tuesday in Fresno had a great deal to do with the upcoming WWE Draft to be held live on Raw on Monday, April 13 in Atlanta. Last year’s Draft was held in June, a memorable evening for yours truly, and resulted in several major roster shifts. The 2008 Draft also proved that anything can happen in WWE. Change can often times be good for all involved and it certainly feels like good timing to shake things up within WWE and essentially start a new “season” of entertainment with some new faces on all three brands.

I wonder if any of the broadcasters will re-locate this time around. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit, not that I am advocating any changes. 

There seems to be an issue brewing regarding the United States Title currently held by Shelton Benjamin between the “Gold Standard,” MVP and Chavo Guerrero. MVP actually got a significant amount of cheers in Fresno when he faced Chavo Guerrero, which you will see this Friday night on SmackDown. The United States Title is one of the most prestigious titles in the game and if you take a look at the men who have held this title and what they have gone on to accomplish, it is impressive. The United States Title merits the increased focus that it is seemingly about to receive.   

The big news regarding SmackDown this Friday night is the return of Jeff Hardy as the former WWE Champion addresses his recent professional and personal turmoil underscored by figuratively getting stabbed in the back by his own brother Matt. I was surprised at what Jeff had to say about the challenges in his life, but you can judge the Extreme Enigma’s comments yourself Friday on MyNetworkTV. Jeff certainly had a different mindset than many would have taken.

There is a strong tag team match on Friday Night SmackDown featuring the only two, true teams in the entire WWE, when the WWE Tag Champions Carlito and Primo Colon face the World Tag Team Champions Miz and Morrison. There is a little something extra at stake in this one, which you will see Friday night at 8/7 CT. Nonetheless, this is one of the better tag bouts seen on TV in recent weeks. I hope that after the WWE Draft that some new teams are formed to challenge the respective tag team champs and add some much needed spark to tag team wrestling in WWE.

Speaking with R-Truth prior to the SmackDown taping this week, his smile and some aspects of his personality remind me of a young, Junkyard Dog from back in the Mid South Wrestling days. However, R- Truth’s opponent this Friday night, Ezekiel Jackson, physically reminds me of JYD and to some degree Hacksaw Butch Reed as far as size and strength are concerned.

Maria gets her long awaited and much sought after match with Michelle McCool, who hasn’t made many friends lately, but Maria needs to be keenly aware of what one wishes for. One would assume that McCool will want to dispatch Maria quickly and then press SmackDown G.M. Vickie Guerrero for a return match for the Divas Title with Maryse.

As a matter of fact, where has Divas Champion Maryse been lately? Other than a brief stint on commentary a few weeks ago that made even the World’s Angriest Announcer Tazz almost jovial the Divas Champion has been rather low key.

Perhaps she’s caught in a room full of mirrors and can’t find her way out. Or, maybe she’s doing some wrestling and/or karaoke training with fellow French Canadian Pat Patterson. They have a fair amount in common you know.

There is one hellacious, Fatal Four Way on tap in the main event this Friday night on SmackDown featuring Triple H, Undertaker, Vladimir Kozlov, and Big Show. Our beloved boss Vickie Guerrero made this match because many feel she wants the four combatants to physically damage each other just hours prior to her hubby and Jeff Hardy joining the aforementioned quartet Sunday in the Elimination Chamber. For my money, this main event was better than any match on any wrestling TV show this week.  

No Way Out on Sunday should be a fun night in Seattle as there are several good matches on the card that Tazz and I will be watching from a great seat at ringside. We only have one match to broadcast, that being the main event which is for the WWE Title inside the Elimination Chamber. I would hope that this match closes the show and why wouldn’t it?

I see Jack Swagger beating Finlay in a physical contest for the ECW Title and hopefully the referee will be smart enough to not fall for the old shillelagh trick again. Finlay is an outstanding mat wrestler as well as being tougher than a $2 steak and doesn’t need a distraction by his son or the use of a wooden weapon to beat anyone. Christian has sauntered into the ECW Title picture, which must make G.M. Teddy Long happy after ECW losing Matt Hardy to SmackDown for no compensation, which made Long look like “Ned in the First Reader.”

One has to love Shane McMahon’s passion and intestinal fortitude as we have all seen Shane O’Mac risk life and limb in the ring. However, I can’t see Randy Orton losing on Sunday after winning the Royal Rumble. Mr. RKO is building momentum heading into WrestleMania XXV to challenge either the World’s Champion or the WWE Champion. Orton vs. Shane is a “No Holds Barred” match, which should eliminate any lame officiating issues and will likely see both men pay a steep physical price that could haunt each of them for quite some time.

The WWE Universe, and you know who you are, would likely be shocked to see John Cena lose the World Title in Raw’s version of the Elimination Chamber Sunday, but it obviously could happen. If it does happen, the complexion of WrestleMania XXV certainly changes. Would that be a bad thing?

Don’t blink Sunday or you might miss Shawn Michaels stealing the show at No Way Out when he faces JBL in a bout with significant financial implications. I’m certainly not saying that HBK winning Sunday is a lay-up, but if Michaels loses I will be one surprised, BBQ aficionado. No one wrestles on pay-per-view, especially in one-on-one matches, better than HBK. And even though JBL may be morally and fiscally corrupt, the self-made millionaire is a jock at heart and JBL rises to the occasion when he gets the opportunity to play in a “big game” such as this.

BTW … HBK is a HUGE fan of J.R.’s 97 percent FAT-FREE Beef Jerky, which you can order from our Web site at www.jrsbarbq.com. Yes, that’s a gratuitous plug, but it also happens to be the truth. 

Speaking of J.R.’s Family BBQ, my pal Stocky Balboa, arguably the toughest human to ever grace the halls of Stamford Catholic High School, is hooked on our Jalapeño Honey Mustard, especially good on Italian cold cut sandwiches and on turkey and chicken sandwiches. With grilling season just around the corner,  I’m sure we’ll also keep Ol’ Stocky stocked up, no pun intended, in J.R.’s Chipotle Ketchup, which is the crowning achievement on any burger or steak. Please take a moment and check out our on line store today for some great products that many WWE Superstars swear by and for some cost saving “deals” that you will appreciate.

The “Human Suplex Machine” aka “the World’s Angriest Announcer” aka “Mr. Long Island Baseball” and I will be driving from Seattle on Monday to Portland where we will have ample opportunity to critique No Way Out, “knock” many people (IE A-Rod), talk sports, especially the “Junior Ducks” and debate on where to stop for lunch but Cracker Barrel always starts out at the top of our list of “possibles.” The SmackDown announce team does indeed live a glamorous life ladies and gentlemen.   

Boomer Sooner,
JR