What a weekend. Friday Night SmackDown from jolly ol’ England with the final word before Sunday’s Survivor Series all sandwiched, BBQ’ed of course, by Saturday night’s Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders marquis match-up in college football here in Norman, Okla.

Whew.

The stakes are high Friday night for the enigmatic Jeff Hardy who has the opportunity to wrestle his way into the main event at Survivor Series IF he beats Triple H in this week’s main event on MyNetwork TV … starring MyTazz … according to Michael Cole who still hasn’t recovered from his in-ring two-step with Goldust on Raw a couple of weeks back. But I digress.

The younger Hardy has a lot of folks I come in contact with talking about his antics the past few weeks, and without question no athlete on any brand in WWE has been hotter or more unpredictable than Jeff.

England has warm and engaging people quite unlike its weather as it was cool and rainy there AGAIN this week. Drat … I think I’ve caught the sniffles.

One has to admire ECW Champion Matt Hardy’s resolve as the near, one-legged man teams with R Truth, that’s the truth, to face the tandem of United States Champion Shelton Benjamin and Mark Henry aka the World’s Strongest Man. A little preview, “if you will”, of the Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team bouts we will see this Sunday on pay-per-view.

Can you imagine the humiliation of being the first person eliminated from a team? Remember, when a grappler is eliminated said individual must leave the ringside area immediately and return “to the back” or preferably to the showers.

In case you haven’t heard, John Cena is returning to action this Sunday in Boston which is essentially John’s hometown along with, of course, West Newbury, Mass. I wonder if the massive promotion for the charismatic Cena’s return to the ring to attempt to regain the World Heavyweight Title has offended anyone, say for instance, Chris Jericho?? Jericho has largely taken a back seat to his challenger during the build up for Sunday’s 22nd annual Survivor Series which I think will motivate Jericho immensely.

Cena’s storybook return may not have a happy ending, but then again...

Festus dating Maria … sorry Corn-fed Colossus ... but country boys like you and me generally don’t have a great chance at romance with lovely lasses such as Maria. We call it “out punting one’s coverage” here in Oklahoma (that’s an obligatory football reference) of which I happened to do with Mrs. J.R.

Upon further review from the replay official, perhaps Festus does have a chance with the fiery red-head after all, but he might want to stop using J.R.’s Original BBQ Sauce as cologne. I’m just saying ... (That’s for you Hurricane.)  

The Miz and John Morrison have some Midnight Express tendencies which is mighty tall praise for the talented albeit arrogant, young duo. Why those two aren’t on Friday Night SmackDown full time is beyond me.

This just in … I just was offered 2K for 4 of my OU tickets for Saturday night’s game. BTW Cleveland Indians slugger Travis Hafner and his lovely wife are coming down for the game and to enjoy some … here it comes … J.R.’s Family BBQ! Yee-Haw!! Travis is a big time WWE fan and an even nicer guy for someone who makes millions of bucks hitting a baseball for a living.

WWE.com is looking better than ever and the new media player is awesome. I can see it now … Vice President Joe E. Styles, Esq.

Ezekiel “Don’t call me Zeke” Jackson and THE Brian Kendrick team for the first time on Friday Night SmackDown this week against the WWE Tag Team Champs, Carlito and Primo, who have misplaced their last names. I would love to see an old time, old school tag team rivalry or two ignite on Friday nights. Perhaps this one will. Stay tuned.

This just in … NASCAR’s Jimmy Johnson is slated to attend the OU-Tech game Saturday night and “rumor has it” that he has a hankering for some good “Q” and I know just the place.

Good grief … I’m dropping more names this week than CNN’s Larry King.

Boston … hello.

Doesn’t any one else find it amazing that so many ladies, some full-sized, not that there is any thing wrong with that, have gone bananas over the Great Khali? Even the Sultan of Sideburns, Ranjin Singh, has his share of female admirers from what I hear.

Speaking of “love” … does any one else see a strangely unique resemblance between Kizarny and Freebird Michael Hayes? It couldn’t be that “P.S.” had a “love child” from the ‘80s and that it’s Kizarny. Of course not, that’s just plain stupid. Let’s move on ...   

MVP … we hardly knew ye. Friday night its do or professionally die time for the big spanker from south Florida.  It might be bye-bye bling-bling as Montel’s stock is faller faster than the Dow.

Congrats to Brock Lesnar for winning the UFC Heavyweight Title last Saturday night in Las Vegas. The former WWE Champ is not overly popular with some MMA purists but he is at the top of the mountain just as he was at one time here in the WWE.

Here’s the scoop on Sunday’s Casket Match … Big Show has an apparent fear of caskets, a phobia “if you will”, but I can assure you unequivocally that The World’s Largest Athlete isn’t afraid of the Undertaker. Nonetheless it will be interesting to see who rests in peace on Sunday in Boston. With that said, let’s keep in mind two points, Undertaker has lost a casket match in his career and most importantly Big Show scored the first knockout on the Demon of Death Valley in Taker’s illustrious, Hall of Fame-worthy career at No Mercy.

I hope that you will take a moment and check out www.jrsbarbq.com and read our many, weekly blogs, our Q&A’s and take advantage of our holiday specials, many that include FREE SHIPPING and are priced under twenty bucks! We are also offering some personalized, autographed items for your holiday shopping needs as well, ladies and gentlemen.

See you Sunday in Boston and Tuesday in Albany, N.Y. I should have more stories of the road next week or perhaps even before as I will be traveling by car with the World’s Angriest Announcer, Tazz.

Now THAT’S a reality show … BROTHER!! 

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.      

Thanks for stopping by. I spent a great deal of time here on WWE.com this morning which stimulated me, no jokes please, to jot down 10 thoughts and observations.

1.      It will be hard to win a debate that Friday Night Smackdown wasn't the best WWE produced TV show of the week. Jeff Hardy stole the proverbial show and left those of us emotionally attached to the broadcast with a lasting memory of his memorable evening in Manchester.

2.      I am not exactly clear as to who selects the Power 25 but their selections may be a red light for other issues. Jeff Hardy ranked #4 not to mention the impact that Jeff made in the WWE contract signing that essentially has potentially changed the main event for Survivor Series has to have the youngest Hardy ranked higher than #4. Who compiles these rankings, the same people that do the BCS?

3.      Speaking of the Power 25, the Great Khali's Kiss Cam, earned Khali a #10 ranking? You kidding me?! What's so 'powerful" about the Kiss Cam, Khali's lips or Ranjin's perpetually growing sideburns? I have great respect for Khali but wrestlers have been smooching with full sized ladies since I was young.

4.      I think it's obvious and that we can now confirm the rumor that the Big Show is definitely afraid of caskets to the point of perhaps having some sort of phobia regarding the brass graves. Don't get me wrong as I don't know anyone who actually endears themselves to caskets unless it's a morbid mortician or a Mets fan whose team died a natural death for the second season in a row. Nonetheless the Casket sitting at ringside during the Show-Taker showdown will likely throw the 441 pounder off his powerful game. Show needs to connect with his deadly and massive right hand early and often to survive a dirt nap. 

5.      MLB has started its Free Agency period, an oxymoron if I ever heard one because these overpaid dudes are certainly not free, and I am just thinking out loud why the WWE doesn't have a Free Agency period or trade deadline to stimulate brand movement and to freshen the three brands up on a more regular basis than the annual draft?

6.      Could an argument be made that even though Carlito and Primo are the WWE Tag Team Champions that the potentially best team on Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV starring "MyTazz" is The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel Jackson? The brothers Colon seem to have their minds on the Bella Twins, among other lovely Divas.not that there is any thing wrong with that, than they do on wrestling. It just seems that every time we hear the Tag Champs speak on TV lately it's about the doubly delicious Divas.

7.      Matt Hardy was impressive this week even though he is wrestling tights look as if they were patterned after "Genie Wear" with hard fought wins over Finlay and United States Champion Shelton Benjamin.  ECW is fortunate to have Matt Hardy as their flag bearer. Matt at times has been perceived as underrated but has the ability to beat any one in the WWE at any time.

8.      In all my years broadcasting from ringside, I cannot recall any two athletes swinging the kendo sticks harder and striking each other than did the Undertaker and Jeff Hardy on Friday Night Smackdown.

9.      Did any one notice that Michelle McCool just might have held the ankle lock on Maria a little longer than necessary after submitting Maria in their Divas Title Bout. That might just be me reading too much into it.

10.     Is John Cena for sure 100% physically ready to win the World's Title in Boston at the Survivor Series against reigning Champ Chris Jericho? Has any one seen Cena work out lately? Is Cena spending any time in the wrestling ring? Will ring rust adversely affect the charismatic, strong-as-a-bull Cena? We all know that Cena's will to win will be in place but if one puts themselves in Jericho's place, Cena is seemingly getting all the pub, Cena is getting more exposure on TV than the World's Champion, and many people feel that it is a forgone conclusion that it's a lay-up for Cena and that Jericho loses in Boston. Returning after months of rehab and physical therapy from a serious injury isn't easy even for a super human individual like John Cena especially when he has to beat Jericho and Jericho doesn't have to beat Cena to win the World's Title.

I hope you have a great weekend and plan on tuning into against next week to Friday Night Smackdown, the new ratings juggernaut on MyNetworkTV! If you have time, check out my other blogs and Q&A's plus great holiday gift offers at www.jrsbarbq.com.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R. 

Just as Dorothy said in the “Waffle House Movie” or was it The Wizard of Oz, there is no place like home. Enough already of coughing people, crying babies, anti-deodorites all contained in a flying cylinder known as an airplane for multiple hours. Nonetheless, travel issues aside, I am happy  that WWE has had such success in their autumn, European tour and the live audience that many of you will see on Friday Night SmackDown will illustrate why so many of us enjoy traveling to the England in particular. 

The “Angriest Announcer in the World,” my partner Tazz, actually landed in Manchester on Sunday so he was there an extra day and many of us barely left the hotel in downtown Manchester, the Marriott Renaissance. Tazz was in rare form when I first saw him on Monday as he was enjoying a “pint” and eating, of all things, hummus. I don’t even like bean dip so hummus is definitely out. The only salvation in keeping Tazz from beating up on the housekeeping department in our hotel is that on Sunday overnight, one TV channel played a plethora of NFL games one right after the other until something like 6 a.m.

I missed the NFL coverage but I did get to see plenty of Quincy and Malcolm in the Middle reruns before being able to watch a slew of WWE programming late Monday night, including highlights of the 1989 Survivor Series.

FTR, there are no BBQ places in Manchester than anyone could direct me to, so I reverted to authentic, English fare including one of my favorites, fish and chips, which was served with smashed peas. Ixnay the smashed peas and you’ve got a winner. No salt or pepper results in no taste and reminded me of what I perceive Gerber Baby Food still tastes like … bland.

Let me assure you that if you were somewhat shocked at Jeff Hardy’s actions last week when he got Undertaker disqualified against undefeated, No. 1 contender for the WWE title Vladimir Kozlov then you ain’t seen anything yet. The younger Hardy tangles with Undertaker in a stem-winding main event with extreme rules which essentially means that there are no rules. Considering, at times, that Tazz and I were mere feet away from some of the intense physicality, let me assure everyone on my allegiance to the Oklahoma Sooners Football team and to BBQ aficionados everywhere that this match was nasty. I still can’t believe some of the intensity, and it reminded me somewhat of a match many years ago involving HBK vs. Mankind. You will be the final judge but in my view Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy on Friday Night SmackDown was one of the best TV matches I have seen in a long time.

Jeff Hardy is arguably the hottest competitor in WWE as we speak.

Speaking of Hardys, the often underrated Matt Hardy, you know of whom I speak, the ECW Champion and the United States Champion Shelton Benjamin have a strong, two segment Champion vs. Champion bout Friday night and what’s at stake are the bragging rights and the winner’s share of the purse. I enjoyed this bout a great deal and am all for more two segment wrestling matches on Friday Night SmackDown.

The Brian Kendrick has had a grappling-evangelistic rebirth since arriving onto SmackDown from Raw a few months ago in the annual WWE Draft that was held in San Antonio, not that I am keeping score or still seething about it or any thing like that. When Kendrick added Ezekiel Jackson to the mix, things got really interesting, and it looks as if big things are on the horizon for these two … perhaps even the WWE Tag Team Titles. Kendrick faces Carlito Friday night in a fast-paced one-on-one match, but I suggest you keep an eye out for the large man at ringside, Ezekiel Jackson.

I felt bad for the TV techs that worked the Tuesday night taping in Manchester especially the audio guys, as Tazz and I had one Helluva time navigating through the show with so many audio issues including us not being able to hear each other, well much less others that speak to us in our headsets from time to time. The real killer was we had to turn up our levels so loud so that we could hear each other and ourselves that we may have been a little verbally over the top on this Friday night’s show, but perhaps it will translate into enthusiasm and will not be overbearing.

WWE Champion Triple H and his No. 1 contender Vladimir Kozlov have a contract signing, but it isn’t an ordinary contract signing that’s for sure. Sources say it more closely resembles a WWE.com creative meeting, but I can’t verify that statement. However, did you know that every one who does attend these much talked about dot com meetings have to wear black apparel to appease Dr. Joe E. Styles, EVEN the highly paid corporate executives who tread lightly around the fiery, fade of the Sammartino-like Styles.

Please tell me that I dreamed that Tazz was singing the “Kung Fu Naki” song Friday night on the air. The “Human Suplex Machine” singing jingles is too much. What’s next, The Fink’s private e-mail’s to ring announcer Lilian Garcia?

Here’s a great marketing idea … “Chia Pet” like sideburns on a Ranjin Singh action figure. The Sultan of Sideburns item would be huge globally especially in the Bombay area.

Sources say that The Great Khali is working on an endorsement deal with Listerine Strips that would be the size of Pop Tarts. Kissing all these robust ladies around the world, one could possibly encounter some challenging, international halitosis.

Did you know that WWE Divas have backstage “Kliques” and that there is a pecking order as to who gets in the make-up chair first and can stay the longest? Things aren’t always what they seem, ladies and gentlemen, amongst the lovely ladies of Friday Night SmackDown.

Royal Rumble tickets will be made available Saturday morning at 10 in Detroit for the 2009 Royal Rumble. If you are from out of town check out www.ticketmaster.com. Ah, a nice, brisk Sunday in January in Detroit beats a warm weather city in the winter any time.

Just wondering, but is John Cena returning to action too soon? Watch World Champion Chris Jericho exploit Cena’s neck come Survivor Series, which will be in the shadow of John’s hometown, which may or may not mean a thing as it relates to the outcome of the title tilt.

How great is the college football season this year? It’s been a blast to watch and my Sooners are off this week but are preparing for their nationally televised game on Nov. 22 against No. 2 ranked Texas Tech in Norman, home of the original J.R.’s Family BBQ. It looks like a Big 12 vs. SEC match up in the BCS Title game in January in Miami.

This Saturday the Mrs. and I will likely have friends over to watch the UFC PPV highlighted by former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. former Oklahoma State star Randy Couture. MMA purists hate it that Lesnar was ever involved with WWE, which I find ignorant and ill informed. Lesnar and Couture were both NCAA wrestling stars at great wrestling universities and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Brisco was instrumental in recruiting Lesnar, among others, when I was heading up the talent department in WWE. Lesnar was a teammate of Shelton Benjamin at Minnesota and they each wrestled for Coach J Robinson, an Oklahoma State alum and personal friend of Brisco’s. Lesnar is in his early 30s while couture is in his mid-40s, which might have an effect on the outcome of this match not to mention that Couture will give up approximately 55 pounds to the intense Lesnar come fight time. Couture is such a great strategist with an amazingly resilient will to compete that the smallest of mistakes by Lesnar could be fatal in this bout. However, I am still leaning with Lesnar, ever so slightly, to win this bout even though I don’t agree with all Brock’s comments about his tenure in WWE when it essentially boils down to the fact that the athletically gifted Lesnar simply did not like the travel involved in WWE.

We have several, new holiday offers up as we speak at www.jrsbarbq.com and I encourage you to check them out as many of them offer FREE SHIPPING!  We also write several blogs per week on our site in addition to answering many of your emailed questions. Order your products from www.jrsbarbq.com and get them shipped in plenty of time for the holidays. Many thanks.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.     

After leaving Oklahoma on Friday and touring the “Little Apple” of Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday, leaving my coat in an airport hotel in Kansas City, sitting next to an obsessed fan on a Southwest flight from K.C. to Phoenix, seeing SmackDown steal the show at Cyber Sunday, and becoming a sailor for two hours during the Halloween edition of Friday Night SmackDown taped in San Diego, yours truly is finally back at home base in Norman, Oklahoma ready for some J.R.’s Family BBQ and a big-time college football game as Oklahoma plays Nebraska this Saturday night.

Cyber Sunday was an interesting event in Phoenix, BTW it’s always good to see WWE fan and current Phoenix Sun Shaquille O’Neal, and without question the two Friday Night SmackDown main events stole the show. That’s the story of the “Angriest Announcer on Earth” and yours truly and we are, by golly, sticking to it.

It has been a long time, as a matter of fact I can’t remember when, since I saw two, BIG men as in super heavyweights have a better outing than did Undertaker and Big Show this past Sunday. They moved more like thoroughbreds than Clydesdales and I assure you that both men were being overtly physical. Trust me on that one. Big Van Vader in his prime was the closest thing to the type of athleticism that we saw Sunday from ‘Taker and Show as they beat the hell out of each other.

Much like what Tazz would love to do to ECW’s Matt Striker but that’s another story for another time.

Triple H and Jeff Hardy had yet another strong match at Cyber Sunday. I read on the ‘net, not Dr. Joe E. Styles’ vaunted WWE.com, where some self-proclaimed “experts” thought that this particular match wasn’t as good as their No Mercy bout which is arguable I suppose as everyone has a right to their opinion, but I really liked the WWE Title bout at Cyber Sunday. Younger wrestling fans get bored so easily these days with their short attention spans and need for instant gratification and seeing two guys wrestling multiple times over a few pay-per-views must mentally challenge them.

How would the video game generation have made it through one of the riveting YEAR-LONG series of matches some of the great ones had back in the day?

Mickie James popularity was certainly underscored or she logged on a bunch on WWE.com as I was somewhat surprised that Mickie won the Diva Halloween Costume Contest at Cyber Sunday. Mickie is a ‘net favorite and has been for quite some time, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was. The money in the proverbial locker room area was on Candice Michelle or Kelly-Kelly. I would have bet a bottle of delicious J.R.’s Original BBQ Sauce that a cat fight would have ensued after the winner was announced in the costume contest and, gosh, what I would have given for the Pharaoh of the Fade, Dr. Joe E. Styles to have been there to shriek, just one more time, those immortal words that used to echo throughout the ECW Arena/bingo hall … CATFIGHT!!!  

BTW did I tell you that The King “loves” Kelly-Kelly but that he won’t love her quite as much when she turns the ripe, old age of 25?

Friday’s SmackDown, which airs on Halloween, is quite the broadcast. For the first time in years, yours truly broadcast a WWE program without my black hat. Yes indeed boys and girls Ol’ J.R. will be a sailor this Friday night, which was quite the sight to behold I must say. “The Angriest Man in the World,” Tazz, aka Sgt. Hulka, dressed as a Marine. We did have some good laughs during the evening and I think that WWE fans will see a different side of both of us as we get into the Halloween theme this Friday Night on MyNetwork TV.

To the best of my knowledge, WWE has never featured a Casket Match on SmackDown, but you get one this Friday in the spirit of ghouls and goblins. As the old school wrestling announcers used to say when I was a kid (no jokes, please) “this could be a main event any where in the country.”

Was that Howard Finkel rocking out at a recent AC/DC concert in the Northeast? Here’s a little known fact, but The Fink is one of WWE’s most versed rock historians who once won a free style dance contest at Hebrew school in 8th grade. Rumor has it that many of the NFL touchdown dances are influenced by our own, beloved future Hall of Famer who I hear may return to sporadic ring announcing duties in the near future.

Also, to dispel any other ’net rumors out there The Fink does NOT hate Lilian Garcia. Glad we got that cleared up.

Friday Night SmackDown gets a visit from the outstanding young tag team of Miz and Morrison this week. These two dudes are really good, but don’t take my word for it, just ask them. Can you say woodshed boys and girls because that’s where the brash pair are likely to wind up come Monday Night Raw in Tampa when they face DX … BROTHER!!

I honestly think that younger brother Primo is making older bro Carlito better. The WWE Tag Champs are a breath of fresh air in an otherwise lethargic; overall tag team scene in WWE, but there seems to be light at the end of the tag team tunnel.

Rumors have it that an internal investigation is on-going regarding Ranjin Singh’s bodacious side burns that seemingly grow by the second. “They say” that illegal, follicle fertilizer may be enhancing the growth of the prodigious ‘burns.

Who in the hell is “they?”

Brian Kendrick is fast.

Ezekiel Jackson is big.

Together they might some day be tag champions.

Friday night the trios of Matt and Jeff Hardy along with Rey Mysterio who meet Kane, Mark Henry, and MVP have one Helluva wrestling match (we can say wrestling, right?)  This match alone is worth watching the show notwithstanding Undertaker’s Casket Match and seeing little Jimmy Ross in a sailor suit. The Hardy brothers and San Diego’s own Rey Mysterio are an amazing combination. 

Plus it’s cool to hear ring announcer Justin Roberts pronounce Rey’s name and roll a million R’s.

There is trouble a brewin’ between WWE Champ Triple H and undefeated Vladimir Kozlov. Tune in Friday night and see what I mean.

When does Maria get her title opportunity at Michelle McCool? I guess the SmackDown G.M. has been too busy to set a date.

OK Brie Bella, what’s the deal with you going under the ring so often? Come clean or you’ll be forced to make a six-hour car trip with Tazz and he’ll and make you keep track of the curse words he spews toward his fellow man.

Do you think any little kids in the WWE Universe grow up and want to become “Druids”? BTW is there a “Druid” school? Maybe it’s located in downtown “Parts Unknown” right next to the “Kennel from Hell” down the street from the “Oddities.” Or, then again, maybe not.

This week yours truly answered a ton of your e-mails on our Q&A section of www.jrsbarbq.com plus I write several blogs there each week on a variety of topics. We are also doing a brisk, holiday shopping business of which we are thankful and have a great selection of items priced at under $10 all of which will make super holiday gifts. I hope you will stop by for a visit.

See you Friday night on SmackDown and if you’re around a TV on Saturday, yours truly will be on the Oklahoma sideline when the Sooners take on old, rival Nebraska on ESPN at 7 CT.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.          

Editor's Note: You can read Jim Ross' latest update on the Oklahoma Sooners' matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on OU Insider.

Greetings from under the black, custom made hat from WWE’s resident BBQ provocateur who has voted early and often on this weekend’s Cyber Sunday interactive WWE pay-per-view. Why do I have more interest in Sunday’s entertainment event than I do the United States presidential race that has been marred by the “legitimate media” (an oxymoron if there ever was one) below-the-belt coverage and endless parodies of the candidates? Enough already.

Any more of this nonsense and yours truly will join Tazz in the “Angriest Man in the World” club.

Friday Night SmackDown on MyNetwork TV this week is a stout show lead by an old school-like main event between two of WWE’s all-time top hands, Triple H and Undertaker. This is a big time attraction that was one of the best matches I can recall on free TV in years. I hope that you make a point of enjoying it as I plan on doing from my palatial hotel room somewhere near Manhattan, Kansas where yours truly will be for the Oklahoma vs. Kansas State Big 12 college football game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on Fox Sports.

The Diva competition on SmackDown is getting much more heated, or so it seems to me. Michelle McCool is the Divas Champion, but is the pressure of being the top lady on SmackDown getting to the lovely, athletic tomboy from Florida State University? Maria, the No. 1 contender to McCool’s title, and Maryse, among others, have both upped their games in recent weeks.

I’d love to have Maryse’s cell number to just hear her voicemail message. I’m sure the Fink has got it in his George Costanza- like rolodex. I have to admit that Maryse’s accent affects me much the same way that Morticia Adams’ voice did on Gomez Adams when Morticia spoke French during the classic TV show, The Adams Family.

What happened to Carlito and Primo’s last name? I shudder to think what would occur if someone stole my “R.”

“Did You Know?” Dr. Joe E. Styles … the doctor of dot com … loves Osso Buco … of which my Italian wife Jan can make with the best of ‘em. BTW if you see a wagering opportunity on whether the “father of the fade” will be wearing a snappy, black suit this Sunday in the desert of Arizona I suggest that you take the over.

OK, so the man’s name is officially Kung Fu Naki. Alrighty then … but does he really ride a Kawasaki and did you know that he was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan?

Are R-Truth’s raps available on 8-tracks? My mouth breathing cousin would love one for Christmas. R-Truth may get the popularity vote and challenge Shelton Benjamin on Sunday for the United States Title, but my money is on Benjamin to retain no matter who he faces. I am steadfast that the “Gold Standard” is without question one of WWE’s best in-ring performers.

What in the name of the collapsing New York Mets has happened to MVP and will he ever earn his hefty incentive bonus with his next, individual win? Talk about falling from grace … MVP is beginning to sound somewhat like the Dallas Cowboys’ Terrell Owens who oftentimes squeals like a pig stuck under a gate.

In case you haven’t noticed, there is an apparent new contender in the race for the WWE’s Biggest Chick Magnet.  Miz, JBL’s favorite in-ring performer, had the early lead, but lately it seems as if The Great Khali is narrowing the gap. Speaking of The Great Khali, the Bombay sex symbol, what about those massive side burns of Khali’s sidekick Ranjin Singh? Is there such a thing as follicle fertilizer? Because whatever Ranjin is using is working to create “Side Burn Mania.” Is Khali about to become the “Brad Pitt” of India or perhaps the “Skipper” whereby Ranjin could portray “Gilligan”? I’m just saying…

I would love to see the undefeated Vladimir Kozlov challenge Triple H Sunday, but Jeff Hardy seems to be just too popular to not get the votes he needs to earn another chance at WWE gold. However, if the intense Kozlov starts singing the Russian National Anthem, as an obnoxious Jim Rome would say, I’m out.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin emailed me this week and is looking forward to hooking up for a cold beverage after work Sunday in Phoenix. I hope that the Texas Rattlesnake gets the popular vote and officiates the Jericho-Batista match for the World Heavyweight Championship, because I wouldn’t want to have to deal with Austin if he travels all the way to Phoenix and is “inactive.”

For the record, I’m picking Jericho to retain his title at Cyber Sunday.

Sources say that The King has had computer issues after spending several hours on WWE.com perusing the thousands of Diva photos, especially those of his personal favorite, Kelly Kelly. My suggestion for the drop dead gorgeous, blue eyed Kelly-Kelly, if you have any aspirations of a social relationship with The King, pursue it before your 25th birthday, which I do understand is a few years away. With that said, how many times do you think the Hall of Famer has voted for Kelly Kelly here on WWE.com for the Diva Halloween Costume Contest at Cyber Sunday?

Speaking of voting, yours truly got an e-mail from a fan recently at www.jrsbarbq.com saying that they were voting for Barrack Obama for President because Obama “sounded” like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. What?!

If you are an active member of PETA you might take exception to my broadcast partner’s stylish, suede jacket that he will be wearing on Friday Night SmackDown. Even Tazz’s apparel has an “attitude” and probably argues with other clothing when forced to coexist at the cleaners.

I hope you will check out our ever growing Web site at www.jrsbarbq.com and read our weekly blogs and participate in our Q&A aspect of the site. We also have an online store that “never closes.” However, you can check out but you can never leave.

See you in Phoenix Sunday and San Diego on Tuesday. Be well.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.             

Editor's Note: Be sure to read J.R.'s thoughts on this weekend's Oklahoma-Kansas State football game in his latest post on OU Insider.