Good to be back in Oklahoma for a few days prior to departing for London on Sunday to get ready for Tuesday night's Smackdown TV Taping at the O2 Arena.

It's always busy in WWE and particularly so this week. A three hour Raw that turned into 3 1/2 hours for young Todd Grisham and yours truly as we called our WWE Superstars match for Thursday night's inaugural broadcast on WGN America. These are the marathon nights when one wishes that he had not had that last cup of coffee or was at least wearing king sized Depends.

Nice trip late Monday night riding from Atlanta up to Knoxville with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco as we got to share some hilarious road stories which made me want to think more seriously about writing a book, someday. If you get a chance to watch the Brisco's on WWE 24/7 On Demand, I strong suggest that you check it out. Even though tag team wrestling these days isn't as prominent as it once was when the Brisco's met teams like the Funk's or Ricky Steamboat/Jay Youngblood those bouts were amazing.   

Smackdown had a viable draft. Keeping such SD stalwarts as The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, Edge, and Umaga helped the Friday night cause. No brand has a more prominent star than 'Taker who stock has risen even more since his amazing victory over the equally amazing Shawn Michaels at WM25 which saw the "Demon of Death Valley" go an astonishing 17-0 at Wrestlemania events. 

Adding Rey Mysterio back to Friday night's is huge especially for WWE's ever growing Hispanic audience. Rey is a marvel considering that he is not physically the biggest dog in the hunt but the King swears that size is a non issue. 

CM Punk somewhat quietly had one of the biggest years of any WWE Superstar ever in 2008 after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Edge in Oklahoma City in June. I remember that night well as it was my "farewell" to Raw after being drafted a week earlier to Smackdown. Punk can reach new heights on Friday nights I assure you. 

Chris Jericho, 2008 Slammy Award winning Superstar of the year, is uber talented (how about that descriptor, Stocky?) and arguably no one is better at what they do than the brash and arrogant Jericho who has starred in Japan, Mexico, and most prominently in WWE. Don't discount the fact that Jericho is the man who beat both Stone Cold and The Rock on the SAME night to become the first ever Undisputed Champion in WWE. Jericho is a BTP, big time player. 

I expect huge things out of John Morrison especially now that he isn't saddled in a tag team which will provide Morrison the chance to create his own individual legacy. Morrison has some Mr. Perfect-like traits as he is so athletic, flexible, and creates eye opening, innovative offense. John Morrison is a main eventer waiting to happen and he needs to grab the old, brass ring and make some noise. 

Dolph Ziggler is another talent who has all the physical skills to be much better than some perceive. If Ziggler can someday get past personally introducing himself to the world and simply focus on beating people in the ring he can be a player. I love the athleticism that we often see in WWE and Ziggler has a load of it. Point being is that Ziggler knows the fundamental skills of wrestling which heretofore have been somewhat kept under wraps.  

Another wrestler with a significant upside is Mike Knox who is now a Friday Night Smackdown talent. Knox, at times, reminds me of a young Bruiser Brody with his body type and, of course, that bushy beard. Knox is a raw boned, tough human being who is much more cerebral than perhaps some WWE fans are aware. Knox really caught my attention several weeks ago during, of all things, a succinct albeit memorable backstage interview on Monday Night Raw. Knox needs to be Knox but him watching some Brody DVD's might serve him well. 

Separating Hawkins and Ryder, much like separating Miz and Morrison, will help Curt Hawkins pave his own way on SD and my instincts tell me that if given the slightest opportunity that Hawkins can evolve into a potential main eventer. Hawkins reminds me of a young Edge and we all know that the Ultimate Opportunist has done well for himself in what has been a Hall of Fame career. 

No one can convince me that Shelton Benjamin can't be a major star in WWE before all is said and done. Benjamin is so good physically that he seemingly loses his mental focus at times. Benjamin is like the golfer who can shoot birdies all day and then all of the sudden lose focus and shoot a basket full of double bogeys. Benjamin needs some of R Truth's brashness to go along with Shelton's pure athleticism and then a true star would be born.

Charlie Haas, an Oklahoma native, has all the skills inside the ring to be excellent but oddly enough Charlie seems to feel more comfortable impersonating other stars. Who will we be seeing on Friday nights? Hopefully no more of Haas' impersonations of good, 'Ol J.R. Whose idea was that any how??

I'm pleased that my new broadcast partner Todd Grisham and I were not separated via the draft as I am having fun in my new role of being an analyst. Our team will grow each week and we fully expect to be WWE's top broadcast team as there can be no other options from where I sit. Fans perhaps don't realize that the announce teams like or should like to compete with each other.  

It's hard to believe that Backlash on PPV is literally just around the corner and the Dunkin' Donuts Arena is a complete sell out. It should be a physical and emotional night in Providence and remember that the beverages are cold as ice at the Friendly Tap of former WWE referee Tim White. 

Every Hall of Famer is proud to be in the elite and exclusive group of inductees but none prouder than our pal "The Fink." Howard Finkel has long been deserving of his HOF distinction and wears his ring with pride just as he should. I replaced wearing my classic 1974 Oklahoma National Championship ring that the Mrs. purchased for me years ago with my WWE HOF ring so you can see where the WWE Hall of Fame ranks in my world as no one loves the Sooners more than 'Ol J.R.

If I had a SD "wish list" it would have been for our brand to have obtained the services of ECW Champion Jack Swagger. This Perry, Oklahoma native and former OU All American wrestler is going to be special if he continues to improve as evidenced by his competitive encounter with World Champ John Cena Monday night on Raw from Atlanta. Swagger's got an attitude problem but his in ring skills are untapped. Swagger has eaten his share of food at J.R.'s Family BBQ in Norman, Oklahoma just off I-35 at exit 109. Smoked turkey and rotisserie chicken were his favorites if my memory serves me correctly.

SD did well in the Diva department too and I am anxious to see WWE Womens Champion Melina take on the likes of Gail Kim and Michelle McCool, among others including Eve, Alicia Fox, Layla, and Candice Michelle.

Nice seeing Henry Godwin in Knoxville Tuesday night with his 6'8"-320 pound, college football playing son. Henry's son plays offensive tackle at Carson-Newman and is set to graduate in December with hopes of playing in the NFL. Perhaps if the NFL doesn't pan out, the WWE may come calling.

BTW we have some cool, black "J.R.'s BBQ" caps that are autographed and priced at under $10 at our website, www.jrsbarbq.com. We also have our best selling,"J.R.'s Cookbook" which is loaded with photos and stories from the road including some easy to execute recipes available for under $10 and they are autographed as well. You'll find these and many other items including our world famous BBQ Sauce in our on line store that never closes. 

Thanks for stopping by. Boomer Sooner!

J.R.