Thanks for dropping by and checking out our blog. Between processing orders for bottles of sauce and merchandise on our BBQ website www.jrsbarbq.comand traveling for WWE, things have been hectic as we've been as busy, as my Grandpa would say, as a fruit merchant. That's not a complaint by the way.

Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV is a solid broadcast that I encourage you to check out if for nothing else but to enjoy the return bout between Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title.

I defy any one to watch this match in its entirety and honestly proclaim that it wasn't one of the best bouts ever on SD.

If one likes old school wrestling that is void of wasted motion and head scratching maneuvers that make little or no sense, then this is the main event for you. Two future WWE Hall of Famers rock the house with Jericho looking to become the only 10 time Intercontinental Champion in WWE history.

ESPN, despite all their talking heads (sans Jonathan Coachman) who love to often times, with their witty banter, make the stories that they cover about themselves and not about sports, would make Friday night's Mysterio-Jericho title bout an "Instant Classic."

Friday Night Smackdown arguably has two of the top young talents in all WWE in John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler and they face each other on SD this week. At this early stage of their evolution, wins and loses always count but not nearly as much as as it will when these two men finally reach regular, main event status and are competing for titles.

C.M. Punk seems to be slowly losing favor with many of the fans who once supported him but who am I to say without proof that Punk doesn't have an eye injury? Punk vs. Jeff Hardy will take place for the World Title in Philly at the Night of Champions in a couple of weeks in a contest that feels as if it has enormous pressure on Jeff to win the title for his own sanity and well being.

Jeff Hardy can beat C.M. Punk, without question, but whether or not Jeff can do it with excessive self imposed pressue on himself is another question for which I don't have an answer.

Jeff faces Kane on Friday Night Smackdown which is never a fun task as Kane has returned from an extended leave and looks to be fresher and healthier than he has been in a while. I still get questions as to whether or not Kane will ever return to wearing his mask and to that one I say, "I don't know." We do have an authentic Kane mask, the last one he actually wore, on display at J.R.'s Family BBQ in Norman, Oklahoma just off I35 south of OKC at exit 109.

It looks as if Jerry Lawler has thrown his crown into the race for Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee in a specially called election that will be held this fall. The Mayor's job is a full time position which would mean that if Jerry were elected that he would have to suspend his WWE responsibilities while being his hometown's chief executive. This is no publicity stunt and Jerry is very serious about helping his community of which he should be applauded. I wish him the best of luck and hope that the citizens of Memphis recognize that Jerry is not a professional politician but merely a man devoted to making is hometown a better place to live for all the folks who reside there.

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Brisco and I talked Thursday just a few hours after Jerry under went heart surgery to repair some birth defects in his ticker with which the Oklahoma native just recently discovered. The surgery was successful and hopefully Jerry will be at his lakeside home in Tampa beginning his recuperation by the time you read this. BTW you can see many of the greatest stars in wrestling history by checking out WWEClassics.com.

We now have our new, J.R.'s HOT BBQ Sauce in stock along with our famous Chipolte Ketchup and they are both available at www.jrsbarbq.com with immediate shipping. We also have case prices, 12-18 ounce plastic bottles, for your convenience that includes FREE SHIPPING to many areas. 

It was great seeing the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase on Raw Monday night. Ted and I both got our starts in Mid South Wrestling working for WWE HOF'er Cowboy Bill Watts back in the 70's. One of the greatest and most talked about issues to ever air on Mid South TV involved the late Dick Murdoch, DiBiase, and then NWA Champion Ric Flair. 

I hear that former Mid South and UWF alum, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, may be writing an autobiography. I would love to read of Jim's journey from Glens Falls to SMU to the NFL to working with Watts and then McMahon not to mention Hack's battle with cancer. The happy go lucky Jim Duggan many WWE fans have known over the years was a brawling, physical, tough, son of a gun in Mid South and was a far cry from what the vast majority of fans remember him being on WWE TV. Jim Duggan was one of the biggest stars Cowboy Bill Watts ever developed and arguably may rank only behind the Junkyard Dog. 

I think it is a great tribute to their uncles, Bret and Owen Hart, for the Hart Dynasty to wear the pink and black colors in their ring attire. I am anxious to see Natalya Neidhart get involved in the Divas scene on SD at some point in the future. 

Good luck to former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar this Saturday night during his title fight at UFC 100. Lesnar will be unfairly booed by many in attendance because he was once in WWE which makes little to no sense to to whatsoever. Lesnar's in ring, catch as catch can wrestling skills were developed in WWE just like many of the young talents we watch weekly on ECW.

I thought Ricky Ortiz had his best TV outing since he's been in WWE in a losing effort against the charismatic and exciting R Truth Thursday night on WWE Superstars on WGN America. Ortiz is a big, strong athletic man who should continue to improve if he doesn't get to immersed in all this "Rally Up" business. 

BTW I'm still waiting for my invite to throw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game and sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. One of my broadcasting heroes, the late Harry Carey, was able to pull it off with a cold beverage so why couldn't this Okie? I'm just saying.

How's this for planning ahead....I have my travel handled for getting from Lincoln, Nebraska to Omaha to Chicago to Manchester, England to Sheffield, England in November already put to bed. I will be attending the OU-Nebraska college football game on Saturday and then flying to the UK on Sunday arriving in Manchester EARLY Monday morning.

I recorded some TV commercials for the United Way early Friday morning with the likes of Heisman Trophy winners and former OU Sooners Steve Owens, Billy Sims, and Jason White that will air soon in Oklahoma. How I got into such elite company is beyond me but flattering nonetheless.

The WWE/Topps Trading card set that I did some writing for will be out in October. For trading card and memorabilia collectors I think that you will really enjoy them. 

I got a kick out of the interaction on ECW this week between ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer and newcomer Abraham Washington....if that is his real name. Dreamer may have found his post wrestling calling as he demonstrated a quick wit and verbal creativity that bodes well for TV broadcasters in this genre.

Enjoy the grilling season with the world's greatest BBQ sauces from www.jrsbarbq.com while you spend quality, family time during these beautiful, summer months. 

I also hope that you enjoy Friday Night Smackdown and SD's #1 broadcaster, sorry Funaki, Todd Grisham and his trusty sidekick, that would be me, as we hope to see many of you in Miami, Florida this Tuesday night for the next taping of Friday Night Smackdown.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.