Hello from Norman, Oklahoma ... the home of J.R.'s Family BBQ and the Oklahoma Sooners. My upcoming weekend will be filled with OU football and WWE's Breaking Point in Montreal ... and of course a little old school, slow smoked BBQ. All great slices of Americana ... except the Quebec part which is French, of course.  

Congrats to the Fink for doing a Hall of Fame job Monday night working with TV legend Bob Barker. No one has done more wearing a sequined jacket since Michael Jackson's glory days than Howard Finkel did on Raw. It was good to hear Howard's voice again on WWE TV.

Friday Night SmackDown this week is a solid show and is coming off the heels of more than 3 million viewers watching last week on MyNetworkTV, which is a significant accomplishment. 

We are doing great business with our two BBQ sauces and our Chipolte Ketchup plus our 97-percent Fat Free Beef Jerky which you can buy on line at www.jrsbarbq.com. My thanks to the WWE Universe for your support.

Montreal, Quebec, is a city with a great wrestling heritage that spans many decades. It's too bad that many fans only know of Montreal wrestling for the 1997 Survivor Series as the city has a renowned history within the wrestling business. I'm sure that the fans in Montreal will be in rare form Sunday night or at least I hope so as the live audience plays a huge role in how good a show is and how it is perceived on TV.

When looking at the card and making my predictions, I must say that this one is especially challenging. It's hard to say, in my view, what's going to happen and, honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

So ... of the matches and info that I received from Stocky Balboa and his crew of young Turks that work for WWE.com ... here we go:

The Great Khali vs. Kane ... this one could be held in a bowling alley considering that it is the man, as I understand it, who beats his opponent into oblivion with a Singapore cane that wins the match. Two huge men swinging for the fences and each other's head likely makes for a short bout and I see Kane winning this one. This is a SmackDown contest.

Christian defends the ECW Title against William Regal ... this could be the sleeper bout of the night especially if this match exceeds 12-15 minutes in duration. These two athletes have good chemistry and a high skill level. Christian will be lucky to hold on to his title with Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson both at ringside, if that is the case. Assuming that Regal has his allies with him, I see Regal winning the ECW Title at Breaking Point. Josh "I Love Charlie Weis" Mathews and Matt "Mr. Baseball Trivia" Striker will have the call of this title bout.   

Chris Jericho and Big Show vs. MVP and Mark Henry for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles ... rough start of the week for Jericho and Show, who might be mistaken for the world's largest, angriest Amish man, as Monday Night Raw wasn't kind to them. The World's Strongest Man and Montel Vontavious Porter are an impressive duo but I see the tag team champions retaining their titles in a close one. I'm not sure who will call this bout but it might be your erstwhile SmackDown duo of Grisham and J.R. or it could be the "vintage" team of Michael Cole and The King.

DX vs. Legacy ... submissions count anywhere ... this specific match will be a first for me. This Raw bout will likely be unpredictable and it's "highly unlikely" (a subtle, Gorilla Monsoon reference) that the match will end in the ring but I think it would be cool if it did. Any time a match leaves the arena for any extended length of time it seems as if the live crowd is taken out of the mix. Nonetheless this wold be a tremendous coup for Legacy to win but I just can't see either Legacy member making Triple H or HBK submit on PPV. DX wins.

Randy Orton defends the WWE Title against John Cena in an "I Quit" Match. The loser must say "I Quit" as I assume the referee will be carrying a wireless mic to document the proceedings. Orton and Cena are certainly no strangers to each other and this sort of match really depends on who wants it more and who is willing to resort to whatever it takes to make the other verbally "Quit" to the world. Cena says he won't say "I Quit" and considering that's the only way that he can lose I'm hanging my black hat on John Cena to regain the WWE Title in what I perceive to be the last match of the evening. 

For the record, the best "I Quit" Match I ever saw was Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum TA many moons ago. You can watch this timeless piece of business on www.wweclassics.com. Or was it Flair vs. Terry Funk when I worked with Gordon Solie? Nonetheless they are all there on www.wweclassics.com.

The SmackDown main event is for the World Heavyweight Title featuring CM Punk defending the championship against The Undertaker in a match that must end via submission. Based on the research that I have been provided, The Undertaker has never submitted in WWE so if The Demon of Death Valley does so Sunday it will be a first and will give the pious Punk some major bragging rights. Even though Punk has won many titles, defeating The Undertaker via submission on a WWE pay-per-view will be the most memorable achievement in the "Second City Saint's" career. My heart says The Undertaker wins but my head, for some indescribable reason, says to give Punk a slight nod. I hope that I'm wrong but I go with the champion to retain. 

Punk might not "supposed to win" according to many fans but the best "team" doesn't always get the "W" using my Sooners' loss to BYU last Saturday night in Dallas as an example. However, BYU found a way to win and I think perhaps CM Punk will do the same thing against the future WWE Hall of Famer.

Just guessing and based on the number of bouts that I have been provided, I would suggest that another bout might be added to the event. My assumption is that it might be another Raw bout.

I do have it on pretty good authority that John Morrison will be defending his IC Title soon against Dolph Ziggler but that it will not be at WWE Breaking Point. This budding rivalry has the potential to be "special," in time.

I read where Lilian Garcia twittered that her last day in WWE will be on Sept. 21. Lil has been a stalwart on Monday Night Raw for a long time and has one of the most beautiful singing voices around. The South Carolina native beauty will be missed and will be hard to replace as no one sings the National Anthem like Lilian Garcia.

Back to Barker, I remember when the ageless performer fought a gallant battle against his graying hair for many years until he finally said the heck with it. Reminds me of the late Wahoo McDaniel who kept his hair dyed blacker than the ace of spades long after it had turned white and up until he passed away a few years ago. 

I did an interview Monday while I was laying over in Chicago for "Sooner Spectator" magazine about Wahoo who was one of the wildest characters outside the ring I've ever known. Legend has it that Wahoo was traded from the New York Jets because the former Sooner was wearing rookie Joe Namath out with their nightly escapades. Wahoo's golf outings with Mickey Mantle and Lee Trevino were also some classic stories.

I had dinner with Jerry Lawler and our friend Michael O'Brien Sunday night at Gibson's Steakhouse location near O'Hare Airport. Great meal and even better catching up with my old broadcast partner who is in the thick of things in the race for Mayor of Memphis.

Yours truly will be up at 4 a.m. Sunday morning to catch my OKC to Chicago to Montreal flights arriving, hopefully, by around noon Montreal time. If I don't make it for some reason, I'm sure my youthful partner Todd Grisham can find someone to sit in the "side kick's" chair and knock out the handful of SmackDown bouts that are scheduled for WWE Breaking Point. Todd is a quick study and I have every belief that he will become one of WWE's top broadcasters for years to come if he continues to grow in a challenging albeit rewarding role.

If you would like to read more of my blogs, browse our Q&A Section, or take a quick tour through our on line store, please check out www.jrsbarbq.com today. 

Boomer Sooner to all!

J.R.         

EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the latest analysis and upcoming game previews about Oklahoma Sooners football by Jim Ross at OUInsider.com. This week, J.R. previews the Sooners' matchup against Idaho State.

Greetings from under the black, custom made hat from Norman, Oklahoma....the home of J.R.'s Family BBQ.

Great to be back in Oklahoma to enjoy a sunny, 80-degree day with Oklahoma Sooner Football and hickory smoked "Q" in the air. I must admit that my 3:30 a.m. wake up call had me nearing my personal "Breaking Point" Wednesday morning but a wise man once told me that "sleep is your enemy."

This Friday night's Smackdown broadcast was one of the most fun and exciting programs that I have been a part of in a long time. Without question, Friday Night SmackDown seems to be on a roll as it relates to bell-to-bell action over the past several weeks. This week, in my biased opinion, the SD crew does it again and perhaps even continues to raise the bar. 

The Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison bout for the Intercontinental Title is so good that it could have occurred at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania and felt right at home. I'm not hyping, I'm just saying. 

You be the judge for yourself, but if you don't enjoy this title bout that features amazing athleticism and drama then Ol J.R. doesn't like BBQ ... and you know that isn't true.

Also, I think that you will thoroughly enjoy the interaction between Matt Hardy and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk which kicks off and wraps up a heck of a night. 

Punk is raising his antagonist game to new heights and continues to add new "wrinkles" to his repertoire. The "Second City Saint" is proficient in submissions and he better be if he expects to retain his World Title in Montreal at WWE Breaking Point because, to the best of my knowledge, The Undertaker has never submitted and certainly not in a title bout. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

It looks like Kane and The Great Khali will continue their in ring issues until something gets settled in a battle of the big men. I don't look for any Khali/Kane bout to ever be 60 minute classics, but they will be unique as they pit to legit super heavyweights.

One thing is for sure ... if this business was only about "looks," I would have found a career in radio.

Are Chris Jericho and Big Show WWE's version of the "Dream Team"? Can MVP and Mark Henry capture the Unified Tag Team Titles at WWE Breaking Point in their upcoming, one-fall encounter? My money is on Jericho and Show until someone shows me the money ... so to speak.

How badly is Michelle McCool injured? I've heard of no trips to Birmingham, Ala., where they love the Governor, or so sang Lynard Skynard, to see Dr. James Andrews. Could this be a well-orchestrated ruse by the talented Women's Champion? 

BTW I did not know that Melina was such a relationship therapist. If I would have known, I could have drummed up some business for the former champ over the years. My point is to live and let live. If Maria and Ziggler are happy then so be it. I think Dolph out-punted his coverage, but that's just one man's opinion. Some say I did the same with Mrs J.R. 

Traveling with Todd Grisham is like traveling with a rock star inasmuch as my partner is smart, sexy and powerful according to a hefty lady at the Sheraton Hotel in Cleveland this week. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being hefty or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Hefty ... healthy ... full-figured ... it's all good or so says a man that will never model Speedos. Traveling with the former soccer star helps keep me young and THAT is a good thing and there's always a laugh or two on our journeys.

My latest Oklahoma football blog is available at www.ouinsider.com. It's a short read and will be up on Thursdays weekly and is  entitled "J.R.'s 7 Points to Ponder."

Don't forget that every Wednesday at 5 p.m. I can be heard on the Sean and John Show on Houston's 1560 The Game, sports talk station. They do the streaming audio thing at www.1560thegame.com. We'll talk some WWE, too.

Getting The Undertaker back on Friday Night SmackDown is akin to the New England Patroits having QB Tom Brady in the lineup. The man who is 17-0 at WrestleMania returns this Friday night on SmackDown, but, as always, The Phenom keeps everyone guessing as to when and where. But trust me, The Demon of Death Valley is NOT a no-show. Set the DVRs.

BTW Dolph Ziggler will face the IC champion at WWE Breaking Point, but I am under the impression that it will not be a submission bout. 

To clarify things, Orton defending the WWE Title against Cena in an "I Quit" Match ... Punk vs. Taker for the World Title is a Submission Rules Match, and DX vs. Legacy is a Submissions Count Anywhere Match. All other bouts, as I understand it, are traditional contests. Nonetheless I like the new, fresh concept and am anxious to see a sold out Montreal crowd raising cane for this long-awaited PPV return to Quebec. 

We have some unbelievable specials being assembled for our BBQ site at www.jrsbarbq.com that you should be ashamed of yourself if you don't check them out. 

I am having a blast watching WWEClassics.com on this very site and wholeheartedly encourage you to sample it too. I love the classics just like I love classic rock. 

Thanks for dropping by and I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. Life is good in the world of SmackDown and I am thrilled to be a part of the SmackDown team especially when the in ring action is so hot.

Check out our blogs on www.jrsbarbq.com and feel free to email me your questions there on our Q&A section of that site. 

Be well and count your blessings....

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.            

EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the latest analysis and upcoming game previews about Oklahoma Sooners football by Jim Ross at OUInsider.com. This week, J.R. previews this week's matchup against BYU.

Random, BBQ'ed thoughts from under the black, custom made hat from Norman, Oklahoma....home of J.R.'s Family BBQ Restaurant.

Summerslam delivered the summertime goods in LA. I think Fan Axxess helped create a nice "vibe" in the Staples Center area that helped feed the enthusiasm level of the 17,000+ that were in attendance.

Also, starting the broadcast off hot as in Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC Title never hurts any thing either.

Years ago the late/great Eddy Guerrero expressed his displeasure to me in being in the first match on a PPV. Eddy felt it was "a slap in the face." We had one of our many personal discussions and I pointed out how important it is on a PPV to really get the show started with substance, get the audience to emotionally invest early, and to set the tone for the night. Eddy "got it," with a smile, and promptly went out and stole the show as I recall.

On a blog post last week on www.jrsbarbq.com I predicted that Summerslam would likely have some significant surprises but I certainly did not forecast the surprise return of The Undertaker. That was a heck of a way to end Summerslam and I will refrain from the obligatory "it was a Smackdown Main Event that closed the show" dribble. 

Guest host idea for Detroit....#1 draft pick of the Detroit Lions, QB Matthew Stafford, who will have more fun guest hosting Raw than he will as the signal caller for the Lions this season.

The main event for Friday Night Smackdown this week, as most every one should know by now, is for the World Title inside a "solid," steel cage (are there any other kinds of cages used in wrestling?) pitting Champion C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy. Awesome presentation and you can trust me on which I speak.

"It's BIG Jerry, Big!" (Obscure Seinfeld reference.)

While reading "Norm" in the Las Vegas newspaper, great stuff by the way if one enjoys celeb and sports "dirt," and saw where Mr. McMahon celebrated his 64th birthday after Monday night Raw at a swanky eatery called Moon located in the Palms Hotel. I guess my invite got lost in the mail. Nonetheless my belated congratulations to the Chairman of WWE on his birthday and for being the "big toe" of WWE.

Saw a photo of the coolest man in the world,Jack Nicholson, Lorne Michaels (SNL Big Cheese), and Sir Paul McCartney sitting behind home plate at a New York Yankees game this week. A couple of observations, I would wager a slab of the world's greatest ribs that the seats were freebies.....why was Sir Paul the only one NOT wearing shades....and was that Stocky Balboa in a dark suit sitting near this impressive entourage providing security?

The Rise and Fall of WCW DVD is getting lots of play from various sources. This controversial DVD has some folks singing its praises, including me, and others blasting it for a variety of reasons. As Bruce Wayne once said, "I THINK I have a plan." The purpose of producing a controversial DVD, in addition to selling many, many units and earning mucho dinaro, is to create talk and this recent release has successfully done so. When I originally reviewed this DVD last week at www.jrsbarbq.com I mentioned that I watched it until about 4 a.m. one morning and especially loved the bouts that were included. Critics of this who have BBQ'ed yours truly like a Brisket need to understand that my opinion is just that, my opinion. I also have a unique perspective on this subject as I lpersonally lived through it which would give me a different point of view than one who watched all the developments occur from afar. Bottom line, as Steve Austin would say, is that every one should watch the DVD and then draw their own conclusions.

Old friend and former wrestler now Pro Bass Fisherman, Pat Rose, the world's most dangerous angler, has become affiliated with Secret Weapon Lures. Good deal for Pat and a good deal for Secret WEapon Lures. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to drop your line in the water. 

ANOTHER guest host idea for Monday Night Raw....Paula Abdul. Unlike Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Paula would actually arrive at work on time, coming straight from "happy hour," if need be and dance her way to the ring at the top of the show with The Fink. Without question, this couple would epitomize the marketing phrase of "Smart, Sexy and Powerful."

"Turning Point" will be a unique PPV presented by WWE in Montreal, home of Georges St. Pierre of MMA fame, and aptly enough the main events at "Turning Point" will be submision bouts in some form or another. When pins are eliminated from the equation, wrestling bouts depart from the norm and new ground is traveled. There is no shame in losing a match via submission and I am surprised that more competitors today don't better utilize submission maneuvers. Manipulation of an opponent's joints negates size and strength advantages one might have to overcome. 

The Wrestlemania 25 special airs on most NBC stations this Saturday night at 9/8 central. Check your local listings as some markets airing of the network premier of WM25 may vary. I got a sneak peak at the presentation of the Undertaker-HBK match and it was emotionally awesome. 

Friday is the last day of our HUGE SALE at www.jrsbarbq.com. Just wanted to throw that in there as "baby needs new shoes." Check it out...if you will. 

Just a casual observation but my photo used on this website makes me look like "The Hanging Judge" Roy Bean....who, for the record, was a ruggedly handsome man.   

The photo looks like I am either auditioning for a role in a western film or that I just returned from a "local, medical facility" after my annual check up from Dr. Heiney. 

UGH.

I'll be writing a succinct blog this football season for www.ouinsider.com which will be posted at the end of the week during the season. If you are a football fan, that's American, tackle football, then I invite you to check it out.

I strongly suggest that you join us this Friday night for Friday Night Smackdown (was I just redundant?) as the Cage Match for the World's Title is a thriller and the broadcast is an emotional roller coaster from its start to the very end of the night.

That's it for this week....I've got to go sell some BBQ Sauce and some Beef Jerky. Be well and always count your blessings.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.  

Lots of exciting things going on this time of the year and in the WWE Universe, gosh that's a catchy phrase, nothing is more exciting than Summerslam which will be held this Sunday from the sold out Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast exclusively on pay per view.

Yours truly has broadcast many, many Summerslam events and even broadcast one on syndicated radio with the late, great WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon many years ago. It has been inferred on more than one occasion that your favorite Okie has a "face for radio" which has a "better heard than seen" connotation to it.

There is a great deal of controversy and speculation regarding the SD Main Event at S'Slam which features Jeff Hardy defending the World Heavyweight Title against C.M. Punk in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. Many members of the WWE Universe, there's that phrase again, feel that the TLC match is the most anticipated bout at Summerslam and it may well be.  

But I don't think that the TLC Bout will close the pay per view. That's just a personal assumption and we all know what happens when one assumes.

Jeff is not 100% physically and not being 100% going into a TLC match isn't the best of conditions for which to defend ones World Title. With that said, Jeff Hardy will be lucky to leave LA with his title in tact and coupled with Punk's ladder match successes at the lat two Wrestlemania's, which have been well documented, one could make valid argument that Punk wins Sunday.

The final TV word on Summerslam will air Friday night on MyNetworkTV during the two hour broadcast of Smackdown starring Todd Grisham. 

BTW traveling with Master Grisham is like pulling up to a Sonic Drive In in Minnesota with Brett Favre. We're talking free, diet cherry limeades here.

Looks as if John Cena, gotta love his "John Deere-like" new swag, has finally maneuvered Mr. RKO right where Cena wants the WWE Champ. Cena and Orton going one on one hasn't happened in a while on PPV and unless Orton receives a government assisted bail out my World Famous J.R.'s BBQ Sauce is on Cena to once again become WWE Champion.

Orton losing the WWE Title might be, in Orton's mind, you know where he allegedly hears voices, as perplexing as Louisville Hoops Coach Rick Pitino at his wife's family reunion.

The biggest clearence sale in the history of J.R.'s Family BBQ starts this Friday where we have created some amazing packages that feature FREE SHIPPING to the USA and CANADA! These will be limited time offers so check them out exclusively at www.jrsbarbq.com.

Don't burn any daylight, Pilgrim, on this massive sale!

Rey Mysterio defends the Intercontinental Title against Dolph "Don't Call Me Zig" Ziggler at Summerslam. Even though I fully expect Mysterio to well represent in his home state, don't be too shocked if Ziggler upsets Rey. BTW what is Ziggler's finishing maneuver called? I've ad-libbed "Zig Zag" and I also heard some "locker room dirt" that it was called the ZZT. 

Although it might be tempting, Ziggler better resist staying up too late the night before S'Slam enjoying the company of his lady friend Maria. Dolph partying all night in LA Saturday would be about as stupid as Plaxico Burress unnecessarily shooting himself with his own gun while hitting a night club in NYC months ago which has completely derailed Burress' NFL career. 

Cryme Tyme may have predicted a victory for Sunday's Undisputed Tag Team Title tussle with Chris Jericho and his rather large partner, The Big Show, at Summerslam but my brisket's on the defending champions. Nothing against the fellas from Brooklyn but Jericho and Show seem to have too much big event, championship experience for Shad and JTG to overcome.  At least, that's one man's opinion.

While I'm thinking about it, my sources tell me that Edge has begun his physical therapy for his surgically repaired Achilles tendon this week. This type of injury is  usually about a 6 month recovery period as we anxiously await the "Rated R Superstar's" return sometime in 2010.

Edge will be all over our big sale this weekend as I'm thinking that he loads up on his favorite, J.R.'s Chipolte Ketchup, and orders on line at www.jrsbarbq.com where Edge can get FREE SHIPPING no matter if he is in Toronto or Tampa.

Yours truly will be headed to Dallas on September 5 to watch the season opener for the Oklahoma Sooners as OU will face the always dangerous BYU at the new, Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. From what I have seen, Cowboys Stadium would make a great Wrestlemania site in a few years as it is a state of the art facility and could seat 100,000 people for a Wrestlemania event.

Kane, the Undertaker's brother, takes on the Great Khali, Ranjin Singh's brother, at Summerslam, Wrestlemania's brother, in a bout where I will quickly change into my bowling shoes and attempt to avoid any physical interaction at ringside with these two, huge participants.

For the record, I, personally, have no brothers, BROTHER!

Just in case you might be up EARLY on Sunday morning and wandering around downtown LA, I will be doing a high secret project for the Food Network in a covert location near the Staples Center starting at 6 a.m. Should be an exciting start to a long, challenging day for this Oklahoman.

WWE Women's Champion Michelle McCool joins Todd Grisham and his trusted sidekick J.R. on commentary this Friday night and I was impressed at how well McCool handled her guest shot.

Some wrestlers, as we have all heard, have about as much business doing commentary as Ol J.R. would modeling Speedo Swimwear. Not a good fit....so to speak.

Mike "Fort" Knox is an interesting individual and his journey down the Smackdown walk of life continues Friday night in a physical match-up with Finlay. Knox certainly seems to thoroughly understand the human anatomy and what makes said anatomy ache.

This just in....while Howard Finkel was in Charlotte, North Carolina last weekend flaunting his well deserved WWE HOF ring at a fan convention, it was discovered that it was actually for the "The Fink" that the descriptor "Smart, Sexy, and Powerful" was first used. 

Of course, you can hear the first ring announcer to ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame regularly if you are enjoying WWEClassics.com as am I.

If you like to save money, get FREE SHIPPING, FREE SWAG, and have been waiting to sample some of J.R.'s Family BBQ products, your time has come! The biggest promotion we have ever launched is starting Friday for a limited time only. Head to www.jrsbarbq.com for all the info and thanks for visiting us there.

Enjoy Summerslam this Sunday on PPV, Raw in Las Vegas and Smackdown/ECW this Tuesday in Phoenix.

Stocky Balboa approves this message.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. 

It's hard to believe that Summerslam is virtually upon us as the mega PPV is one week from this Sunday in Los Angeles. That means that all the WWE TV broadcasts between now and then will be dotted with S'Slam content and, hopefully, a few surprises.

I think surprises in wrestling are good things. It's like getting an out-of-the-blue inheritance from an unlikely source such as The Fink, Stocky Balboa, or even the reportedly frugal Mr. McMahon. 

Getting Shawn Michaels back for Summerslam is a boost to the WWE Universe and gives Monday Night Raw a much needed shot in the arm as HBK is simply a one of a kind performer and is one of WWE's greatest assets.  I can hear it now on an impassioned Monday evening..."VINTAGE Shawn Michaels.....Oh, My!"

Getting Shawn Michaels back on Monday Night Raw would have been the equivalent of the Minnesota Vikings signing a fit and ready Bret Favre to play quarterback this year.

Todd Grisham, who is like traveling with Ryan Secrest inasmuch as being a young, rock star like personality, and I enjoyed our jaunt through Alberta early in the week. Grisham found out that Tim Horton's is not a place for steak but can handle ones donut needs famously.

It's funny how roles change over time as years ago I was the "driver" on road trips with Gorilla Monsoon who told me endless stories of the biz and helped me grow as a broadcaster. Now days, Todd does the driving and I ride shotgun and tell him the stories and hope to assist in making him a better, wrestling broadcaster. I am still working on my "side kick" skills.  

Of course the most famous illustration of mentoring in WWE was when The Fink mentored Lilian Garcia back in the day. What a striking couple they were at the Hertz counter.

Friday Night Smackdown is the best, wrestling TV show produced by WWE this week. Yes, SD once again takes the WWE's top broadcast, Monday Night Raw, to the woodshed. 

You don't have to accept my hyperbole as you can watch the broadcast Friday night on MyNetworkTV and judge for yourself. I will admit it isn't as enjoyable on mute and I will tip you off that Grisham and I look as if we just returned from a baby shower as he wore pink and I wore blue. Where else can you get this insight on the inner sanctum of WWE?

Friday night is headlined by C.M. Punk trying to finally get a victory over John Morrison after Morrison has lite Punk's fire twice and is 2-0 against the Straight Edge Superstar on Friday nights. 

Punk and Morrison have great chemistry and their rivalry feels fresh and new to me which is always appealing to any fan of their favorite genre. Plus these two really get physical with each other.

Yours truly has always thought that there was "something" unique about Mike "Fort Knox" beyond me comparing him from time to time with the late Bruiser Brody.  BTW that comparison has drawn the ire of some on the Internet who, between treating their acne issues, have condemned me for drawing the comparison. The irony of that is that most likely those making this particular criticism never saw Brody in person much less knew him personally as did I. Knox has a impactful evening this week on Smackdown and let's leave it at that.

It has often been told to me that I "out punted my coverage" when I married my Pittsburgh native, Italian wife Jan and that is a contention of which I can't deny. However, when one talks about "out-punting their coverage" what's the story with the giddy Maria and her new boyfriend Dolph Ziggler? I wish them all the happiness in the world but for some reason I just don't see a happy ending in this relationship. Can't Maria do better?   

Does Maria remind anyone else of actress Goldie Hawn who has dated her boyfriend Kurt Russell now for 26 years without marrying him? For those of you that know who Heidi Montag is but not Goldie Hawn perhaps you should do a Google search and obtain more info.

I am told or "sources say," if that's more provacative, that the SD Divas are shocked at how strong Layla is especially her hand strength. Layla, who is London born and bred, isn't the biggest Diva on the roster but may be the strongest pound for pound. Layla, one of my favorite Eric Clapton songs, shows noticeable improvement in the ring this Friday night as she meets the "screamer" Melina.

Jeff Hardy, who is the most popular superstar in WWE as we speak, will defend his World Title at Summerslam come hell or high water from what I am told. The Pious Punk has done his best to physically damage the North Carolina born World Champ but we've all seen Hardy's resilience over the years in the face of long odds.

The TLC match may not have over joyed Punk when he was given the news by still-on-probation, SD GM Teddy Long but this match does Jeff Hardy no favors either. The Championship will hang about 20 feet above the ring and both wrestlers start off on equal footing when the bell rings. So there is no championship advantage and the first man to climb the ladder and possess the title belt is the champion. Tables, Ladders, and Chairs may be Jeff Hardy's downfall at Summerslam especially with Jeff's neck injury and Punk's success on the big stage with Ladders.

Remind me not to buy any motivational books written by Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino who was allegedly caught in a dalliance with a women in a "high end restaurant" which is the media's description, not mine.

It would appear that Kane and the Great Khali will meet in the ring at Summerslam but that's not official but what I hear on the grapevine.....that's a Credence Clearwater Revial/John Fogerty reference for you baby boomers. If Kane and Khali do square off it won't be a Brisco-Funk, Steamboat-Savage, British Bulldog-Hart Foundation classic but interesting nonetheless. I may change into my bowling shoes to call that one. 

Speaking of the Bulldogs-Hart Foundation, check out an upcoming installment of "J.R.s Picks" (no, not nose but a selection of outstanding mat classics) coming soon on WWEClassics.com. We look at a 1985 bout from MSG in NYC between the two teams and this one is an excellent tag team outing. Do you remember the days when great tag team bouts happened with regularity?

I'm not one to over hype stuff just for the sake of shilling but I do encourage all long time or devout fans to check out WWEClassics.com and relive some of the greatest moments in grappling. 

Great week for the Hart Dynasty as they returned to their native Alberta and received a hero's welcome as they should. I mention on Smackdown that David Hart Smith and Natalya Neidhart's grandfather Stu Hart played pro football in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos. This week,  Friday Night Smackdown emanates from Edmonton and we don't mention the dated term "Bizarroland" once on our broadcast. Sorry to disappoint you but did I tell you that young Todd wore pink?

We are offering FREE SHIPPING on selected items in our pesonal on line store that you can check out by going to www.jrsbarbq.com. I'm also blogging there several times each week and we also take your questions on our popular Q&A section of the site.

The talented, if you don't believe me just ask him, Chris Jericho joins "the announcers" on Friday Night Smackdown for a sampling of commentary during the scheduled Big Show vs. JTG bout. Jericho has significant verbal skills if he ever chose to pursue it and has the skills to success where other many wrestlers failed when trying to become a ringside broadcaster.

I shutter to think that a day might come when wrestling broadcasters will become like many ESPN SportsCenter anchors and attempt to make themselves and not the game's that they cover the story. 

Yours truly has been doing some sports talk radio work on AM1400 KREF in Norman, Oklahoma that can be seen online with streaming, live video. Right now I appear on Wednesday afternoons but soon I expect an announcement to be made of a more permanent arrangement to where I do a hour or so late in the week and we will be able to take your calls and emails. 

Got an email today from my dear friend and WWE HOF'er Gerry Brisco who recently underwent heart surgery but is recovering amazingly well and is looking forward to coming back to work at WWE TV events. If you want to watch some great tag team work, check out the Brisco Brothers vs. Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood from the Mid Atlantic territory.  These four put on a clinic. 

"Citizen" Lance Storm, proprietor of the Storm Wrestling Academy in Calgary, was a guest of WWE in both Calgary and Edmonton. Lance runs a highly regarded wrestling school now and still looks like he could still wrestle a great, 60 minute bout if need be.

Football season is just around the corner which is one of my favorite times of the year. Last season I attended EVERY Oklahoma Sooner football game at home and away and plan on doing so again this year. It takes some long term planning and necessitates a few "short nights" to pull it off but I love following my team. I've already made my plans to travel from Lincoln, Nebraska to Sheffield, England in November which, by the way, there are no "non stops."

Please visit us at our fan friendly, BBQ website which continues to grow weekly, www.jrsbarbq.com and check out all the great deals in our on line store that's open 24/7.

boomer Sooner!

J.R.