I just wanted to check in and thank the WWE Universe for all their thoughts and prayers during my most recent Bells palsy attack which marks the 3rd time this wacky ailment has gotten to me.

My medical care has been timely and I got started on the meds I needed the very night I was stricken which was Monday when I was on my way to Columbia, S.C. to tape Friday Night Smackdown. There was some scary moments on the plane as many Bells palsy symptoms are akin to having a stroke which, luckily, wasn't my issue.

The healing process for this disease is slow and requires patience, something that my friends will tell you that I have not been blessed with an over abundance. I had my 1st attack in 1994 and the second one in 1997 which took me about 4 months from which to return to broadcasting.

I don't feel that this particular incident will take that long to heal from but, again, only time will tell. I know this...I will remain positive and I will be back at ringside "Sooner" than later.

Thanks to my friends Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler for taking up the slack in my absence in Columbia while my regular partner Todd Grisham was on his honeymoon.  King and Cole will handle the announcing for Smackdown Friday night and they will, without question, do a great job. 

I can only assume that perhaps Michael Cole, The King, and Todd will handle the PPV Sunday in Pittsburgh. That's only my assumption but no matter who broadcasts the show it is shaping up to be an interesting one from where I sit.

Ol J.R. won't be hard to find Sunday night as I will be in Norman at our home watching Bragging Rights on PPV.

The 7 man tag intrigues me and I know that SD is the underdog and Raw has a strong team but one never knows how these multiple person bouts will come out. For Smackdown to win it will take some good fortune and perhaps Raw imploding somewhat but that's what makes these events interesting....not being able to clearly call the winners. However I have a hard time thinking any team captained by DX won't win a big, PPV bout.

When a champion defends his title in a multiple person bout said champion loses his "championship advantage." In other words disqualifications and count outs can't salvage ones title. The Undertaker enters the Fatal Four-way as the World's Champ but when the bell rings he loses his advantage and has the same standing as C.M. Punk, Batista, and Rey Mysterio. This one feels awfully unpredictable and seeing a new World's Champion crowned wouldn't shock me. 

Hopefully, I'm wrong as the Undertaker is one of my all time favorites and can still dominate any match that he is in no matter the competition. All the Deadman's opposition are challenging but keep an eye on "The Animal." He's big and dangerous, is Batista, and he seems particularly hungry like the large carnivore that he is.

I have always been a fan of Ironman Matches and the 60 minute version of the Cena-Orton saga this Sunday in "The Igloo" has me waiting with great anticipation. I text John Cena good luck today because he will need it against his great rival and one of the great, young stars to come along in WWE in years, one Randall Orton. Mr. RKO seems to be able to always rise to the occasion but for some reason I think that we haven't seen the best of Cena just yet but this Sunday at Bragging Rights I feel that we will. 

Yours truly is going with Cena to win at Bragging Rightsand stay on WWE's flagship broadcast, Monday Night Raw. 

BTW that's no knock on SD but I spent many, many years on Raw and know that it's still the top TV priority in WWE even though SD has seen vast improvement too over the last year or so thanks to the superstars who do their thing inside the squared circle. 

Back to Ironman Bouts, I still vividly remember some of the 60 minute bouts that I have personally seen including Harley Race vs. Dory Funk, Jr., Jack Brisco vs. Danny Hodge, Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat, and Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels. There have been others that I've seen but those just popped into my head.

The potential show stealer Sunday night in "6Burg" might be the Morrison-Miz contest pitting two of the brightest, young stars currently performing in WWE. The former tag team partners know each other well, are both athletic, and both have healthy egos. This is a great opportunity for these two to display their wares and I am anxious to watch it on PPV this Sunday. 

Many of you have written to me at my BBQ website some amazning messages. Check them out at www.jrsbarbq.com. 

We also updated our popular Q&A section of our BBQ site today and will be blogging on a somewhat more regular basis while I heal from this bump in the road. Our on line store also is still offering FREE SHIPPING on both our BBQ Sauces and our dee-licious Chipotle Ketchup plus our 97% FAT FREE J.R.'s Original Beef Jerky. I think you'll love them and encourage you to try 'em.

Thanks, again for everyone's support as I sincerely appreciate all the heartfelt wishes and the prayers that are coming my way. There's no better group of folks any where than the WWE Universe and for that I am thankful. 

Be well and continue to count your many blessings. I know that I sure am and I look forward to seeing all of you again soon at ringside. God Bless.  

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.