It will be great to be back in the Crescent City this Sunday night for WWE's next PPV offering, Extreme Rules. New Orleans was one of the primary hubs for the Mid South Wrestling territory that I cut my teeth in back in the day. Being able to work in a wrestling territory was the greatest education someone in my profession could ever receive. 

New Orleans used to rock in the days when such stars as the Junkyard Dog, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Dick Murdoch, Killer Karl Kox, Butch Reed, the Rock 'n Roll Express, the Midnight Express, Ted DiBiase, Ernie Ladd, Magnum T.A., Terry Taylor, Dr. Death Steve Williams, the Fabulous Freebirds, and, of course, Cowboy Bill Watts, among other greats, were raising Cain in the downtown Municipal Auditorium not to mention on Bourbon Street. 

One quick story regarding New Orleans, Dick Murdoch and I were strolling down Bourbon Street after a Thursday night event when Captain Redneck took a shine to a particular young woman who was frequenting a local watering hole. A couple of New Orleans Police Department officers happened to walk in and see us and started a conversation about that night's Mid South event. Murdoch was much more interested in talking to the woman than to the police. One of the policeman leaned over to me and whispered in my ear that Dickie was talking to a man dressed in drag, IE a drag queen, of which many roamed the streets of New Orleans in those days. The officer asked if I was going to warn my somewhat inebriated and slightly obnoxious friend of what he was about to discover and, after hearing the rabid Texas Longhorn fan verbally bash my Oklahoma Sooners for most of our long drive to New Orleans that day, I told one of New Orleans' finest that, of course, I would handle it. However, for some reason I must have forgotten because the great Dick Murdoch discovered that she was a he in a most embarrassing way standing there at the darkened, smoky old bar. Old Dick was a real piece of work. 

Now on to my fearless, BBQ'ed predictions that will likely entail some shameless plugs for J.R.'s Family BBQ in Norman, Oklahoma:

The much anticipated Hog Pen match fearing Raw G.M. Vickie Guerrero vs. "Santina Marella" (sort of ties in to the Murdoch story)....I'm picking Vickie to get "slopped' but to retain the title of "Miss Wrestlemania." Hopefully Cole and Lawler can throw in an obligatory "pulled pork" reference there somewhere. 

United States Title in a Fatal Fourway....Kofi Kingston retains defeating MVP, William Regal, and Matt "he of terminal, broken metacarpals" Hardy. Kofi is going to evolve into a major star in WWE and he's not losing the U.S  Title 6 days after winning it, right? The dangerous element in these multiple participant bouts is that the champion doesn't enter with an advantage. First man to score a pin or submission wins so keep that in mind.

John Cena vs. Big Show in a Submission Match. By simply doing the math I'm going with Show. No STF=no win for Cena unless he's able to pull the proverbial rabbit out of his cap. Will Cena introduce a new submission maneuver Sunday night or will Cena tap or lose consciousness to the World's Largest Athlete's lethal submission hold.  

Triple Threat Match for the ECW Title.....Tommy Dreamer shocks the world and then cries. I hope that I'm right on at least the first part of this prediction as I'm picking against a fellow Okie in Jack Swagger. Dreamer has earned this potential "moment."

WWE Title-Steel Cage Match- For the record, why can't it just be a cage match? Why does it have to be a "steel" cage match? What else would a cage be made of, brisket?? I'm going with Orton to beat Batista come hell or high water.

Samoan Strap Match- Umaga vs. C.M. Punk....again, do the math. How does a man the size of Punk drag a 350 pounder around the ring and touch all four top turnbuckles in succession? I love Punk's toughness but how many ribs can one man eat? Umaga wins his match with his strap made with his leather from his island. Case closed.

Intercontinental Title-No Holds Barred- Rey Mysterio defending against Chris Jericho. What holds are usually barred by the way? Never mind....I'm going with Jericho. I don't think it will be a good night for our amigo Rey. 

World Title Bout-Ladder Match- Edge defending against Jeff Hardy. I hope this match closes the show but even if it doesn't I doubt that it can be followed. For my Smackdown eyes, this is the clear cut main event. Now that I've stepped off the soap box, I'm going with Edge to retain the title. I think this match has "classic" written all over it and could easily go Jeff's way. Edge just feels bullet proof these days and sometimes Jeff takes that one chance too many and one chance too many in a Ladder Match can be fatal. Nonetheless, I can't think of two better men to compete in a Ladder Match for the World Title than Edge and Jeff Hardy.

Hurricane Katrina was brutal to the great city of New Orleans and I hope that the folks in New Orleans and the surrounding area will join us Sunday night for some fun and excitement. Lord knows the folks of Louisiana deserve it.

I do think that Extreme Rules will leave many fans talking and that the landscape of the WWE will be greatly affected by Sunday's results.

We are writing blogs, answering Q&A's, and offering some great deals on our BBQ products at our "Q" website that I invite you to visit, www.jrsbarbq.com. 

Todd "I Love My  Hair Gel" Grisham and I will be ready to rock Sunday in New Orleans, Monday night in Lafayette for WWE Superstars, and Tuesday night in Biloxi for the taping of Friday Night Smackdown. BTW Smackdown will again this week will be WWE's most exciting and dominate television program but don't take my word for it. Watch it for yourself.

It's funny but every town we travel to, especially in the South, for me, has it's own unique and individual memories. I remember playing dominoes with WWE HOF'er Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd in Lafayette and hearing future NFL HOF'er and all time great quarterback Brett Favre telling me about attending wrestling events in Biloxi and saying how he cheered for the Fabulous Freebirds when the majority of fans were booing the 'Birds out of the building.

I expect some of my friends from the New Orleans Saints to be in the arena Sunday night and I hope that you enjoy "Extreme Rules" too. 

Have a great week and always count your blessings. 

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.