Ross Report For 7/5, J.R. sounds pissed

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Ross Report -- July 5, 2002

Greetings from under a rather warm black Resistol hat while enjoying a couple of days off -- except, of course, for this Web column, our live events and the beloved telephone. In any event, I hope all that celebrated the Fourth of July had a super day and counted their many blessings!

Injury update:

 

X-Pac had an inflamed sciatic nerve that put him on the shelf Monday. Is off until this Monday in Philadelphia for RAW.

 

Kevin Nash's right biceps has healed and he's been medically cleared to return to work. Nash will return to house shows next weekend and will be in tags to assist in his conditioning. We really need Kevin to be able to step up into main events very soon.

 

Triple H's elbow is doing very well since surgery and The Game should be 100 percent in about three or four weeks.

 

Kane is about four weeks away from returning from biceps surgery. Along with Terri, Kane will be traveling to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, next week to do promotional work for World Wrestling Entertainment's Aug. 10 event in Melbourne. Kane is not scheduled to wrestle on that event as we speak.

 

Maven, who suffered a broken fibula in late May, is expected to be released from doctor's care in a couple of weeks.

 

Agent Dave Hebner had major knee surgery and will be back on the road in a few months.

 

Referee Tim White had major rotator cuff surgery after Judgment Day and will be out of action for about four months. He will substitute for Hebner as an agent starting in about two weeks.

 

Lita will have to wear the hard collar for two more months -- which is no day at the beach. She feels good but is obviously very frustrated to be off work so long. She looked great last weekend and it was good to see her cameo on RAW. We will have a better estimate as to when she will be ready to return to the ring sometime in January 2003. My guess is we will see her at WrestleMania in a big way.

 

All other injured talent seem to be progressing on target with no unfortunate surprises to report.

 

Random thoughts, opinions and other useless information:

 

The Undertaker-Jeff Hardy match on RAW really had a big feel to it from where I was sitting. There were moments in the match that were very dramatic, which resulted in some compelling television.

 

The Ric Flair-Brock Lesnar match really got RAW off to a solid start. Lesnar would be well served to wrestle the legendary Flair every day but I don't think the 53-year-old marvel would appreciate that assignment. Wrestling every day is not what the future holds for the Nature Boy. Lesnar is doing a photo shoot for SummerSlam in Miami today.

 

The Big Show and Kurt Angle are doing appearances in Daytona, Fla., today for Stacker 2.

 

Chris Benoit and Trish Stratus are participating in CART Molson Indy Toronto activities today and tomorrow.

 

I like the fact that Rob Vam Dam is beginning to get more opportunities for exposure on RAW, which should lead to bigger things down the road if he can avoid the injury bug.

 

Booker T and Goldust have started to really develop a following, thanks in large part to their recent backstage vignettes. It would be great if both these talents continue to elevate and become more significant box office performers.

 

Bubba Ray Dudley needs a red-hot issue to sink his teeth into and, perhaps, some new ring attire.

 

The nWo business on RAW last week seems to have folks talking as it relates to Triple H joining his real-life friends on TV. Time will tell, but something would have to significantly change as Triple H is a SmackDown! talent and will remain there unless he's traded or he becomes WWE Undisputed Champion again. Or, I suppose, the nWo could be traded to SmackDown! I suggest we stay tuned.

 

I can only imagine how good a team Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit would make, but I feel they are too valuable as singles talents to be a full-time duo. It was great seeing Benoit back in the ring on RAW, and it looks like he is very close to 100 percent.

 

Christopher Nowinski, our Tough Enough lad with the Harvard degree, is rapidly becoming a student of the game. Early to arrive at the arena and one of the very last to leave, Chris watches every match, which serves as a great learning tool for him. Too bad others who need to watch every match as if they were in class would rather isolate themselves in a room and play video games or cards instead of watching their peers perform.

 

Tough Enough 3 will be cast a little later this month in Los Angeles. My personal thanks to Kelsey Grammar -- who has the world's largest forehead, by the way -- for wanting to be such a wonderful neighbor. Sorry things did not work out.

 

Some days I wonder if being a WWE Diva is a blessing or a curse. Should be a blessing but some have certainly challenged that theory. Of course, my theory could be wrong.

 

Perry Saturn was backstage in Boston last Tuesday and looked fit. He is expected to be released soon from doctor's care after his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.

 

Looking forward to the return of The Rock to SmackDown! next week in Atlantic City. Tickets are still available for the event at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. I wonder if "The Donald" Trump will be sitting on camera. I would like to see a feature on Trump's hair on Confidential. It's the mother of all comb-overs.

 

If anyone ever tells you that Raven is complex ... believe them. Or so says veteran agent, and our resident French-Canadian, Pat Patterson, who has had some lengthy conversations with the enigma with the high IQ. There may be great humor cloaked within the conversations of these two totally different men. Sounds like "Taxi Cab Confession" material to me.

 

Great personal highlight for Edge teaming with Hollywood Hulk Hogan and winning the WWE Tag Team Championship on SmackDown! Edge really was a Hulkamaniac as a teen and sat ringside at WrestleMania VI in Toronto when Hollywood lost to the Ultimate Warrior.

 

WOW! What an angry look Lilian Garcia gave our Canadian contingent on SmackDown! for interrupting her singing! The Maple Leaf trio did an admirable job of P.O.'ing the fans in Boston.

 

Speaking of Boston, when in the name of the blessed Mother will the roadwork there be completed? Enough is enough! And another thing, don't the sports fans of Boston ever get tired of bashing the New York Yankees? I understand the intensity of the rivalry, but this is borderline obsessive behavior. I felt legitimate hate coming through my radio!

 

I assume that much like we have read about Lesnar getting too much too soon, etc., etc. etc., we will soon be hearing the same stuff about John Cena very soon.

 

I read this week where the WWE is negotiating with Scott Steiner and we are close to a "deal." None of that is true. Not even one phone call has taken place regarding this talent in several weeks. Same goes for Goldberg.

 

Dennis Brent has taken a leave of absence from the Talent Relations Department to finish writing the book of his late father's life, who was captured by the Nazis as a teen and survived. The Brents recently found a handwritten diary Mr. Brent kept while he was a prisoner of war. I have read some of this material and it is riveting. Lots of big-time literary agents are vying for this project.

 

Diamond Dallas Page has been approached about starting his broadcasting career here in WWE, but he is not ready to resume a weekly schedule. Page is still adjusting as a "retired" wrestler and may get into the broadcasting side of the WWE somewhere down the line if an opportunity becomes available.

 

I wonder when we are going to see Kanyon back in action, and on what program?

 

The Rey Mysterio Jr. vignettes are building the anticipation of this arriving star very well. This is a great way to assist in introducing talent and we should utilize this much more often than not.

 

Louisville, Ky.-based Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) will be moving into a new facility very soon and will also be upgrading their TV production. The entire look of the show should be significantly improved over the next few weeks.

 

I like the team of Nick Dinsmore and Rob Conway down in OVW. Both need to create and develop more "sizzle," but this is a very sound and potentially marketable tag team, in my view.

 

I understand Bret "Hitman" Hart is improving after suffering a stroke recently, and that is good news.

 

Looks like Tazz' in-ring days are numbered as he seems to be ready to devote 100 percent of his time on the broadcasting side of the business. I have always thought that there was more that could have been done in the ring with the former ECW star but it never came to be.

 

Batista, who still needs considerable ring time and to also remain focused on being intense and physical, has had some sound outings on TV in recent weeks and his house show work has improved as well.

 

Sorry to hear of the passing of baseball great and former Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams, who is considered by most experts to be the greatest hitter of all time. Hard to argue that point.

 

College football season is just around the corner and I am ready for it! I am going to do all I can to catch some Oklahoma Sooners games in person this year, especially the Texas game in October in Dallas. I would love to attend every OU game in person, at home or on the road.

 

Seems like we are slowly beginning to get back to producing the type of TV many of our fans like as we take positive, albeit small, steps every week on that behalf. I may be in the minority -- I am part Native American, by the way -- but being "old school" (what the hell does that really mean?), I would rather see more match time provided to the contests that need it. I like it when the backstage stuff is kept short (to go with my short attention span) and the marquis matches are given time to tell a helluva story. There is definitely a place for all these elements, but we simply need to be careful on how the broadcasts are structured and how the total time is allotted. Of course, that's simply my personal opinion and we all know what that means.

 

I saw something written the other day about our talents' road schedule and how many dates they are going to be working, blah, blah, blah, and it amazes me to think that some people feel our talents are treated like field hands who will be punished if they ask for a few days off. Our house show schedule is ambitious, and no one expects anyone to make each booking without having the opportunity to recharge the batteries when needed. When talents are not used on a house show tour, there are questions as to why -- in as much as what the "real" reason for the "unbooking." And now when they are booked full-time there are questions as to the intense workload of four days on and three days off. As my grandpa used to say, "Cut off my legs and call my Shorty." Or damned if you do and damned if you don't.

 

I am soon going to begin writing our next cookbook, which will include stories from my career, beginning in the McGuirk Territory in Oklahoma in the early 70s to the present. Perhaps I should ask our fans if they have anything in particular they would like addressed. My plans are to work out of Florida periodically on this project over the course of the next two to three months, a week or so at a time.

 

I almost made it through this entire report without mentioning BBQ Sauce. (Check out the ShopZone. Thank you.)

 

Have a great weekend and I will see you Monday night on RAW from what I am sure will be an enthusiastic crowd in Philly's First Union Center. This is a great road trip for yours truly as it entails no airplanes! I will be driving my '97 Ford Explorer with 32,000 miles on it on this run to Philadelphia and Atlantic City and enjoying every mile.

 

Take care ...

 

J.R.

[Guest Downhome]

Two things really quick, then I'll comment more later. First, I think we all knew that Nash would Main Event sooner or later, many may not like him, but he has the ability to be an over heel in nWo. Secondly, ever since Tough Enough, I always said that Chris Harvard would be a great guy to have on the roster. I really see him going places, as he seems to truly love what he is getting the rare chance to do.

[Guest Anglesault]

The Big Show and Kurt Angle are doing appearances in Daytona, Fla., today for Stacker 2.

WTF are they going to ne? "Before" and "After?"

[Guest Downhome]

Looks like Tazz' in-ring days are numbered as he seems to be ready to devote 100 percent of his time on the broadcasting side of the business. I have always thought that there was more that could have been done in the ring with the former ECW star but it never came to be.

 

I wonder why JR, I wonder why.

[Guest Anglesault]

Because he is roughly the size and shape of the Kool-Aid pitcher man.

[Guest Downhome]

The Undertaker-Jeff Hardy match on RAW really had a big feel to it from where I was sitting. There were moments in the match that were very dramatic, which resulted in some compelling television.

 

Ok J.R., if by that you mean pure and utter worthless crap, then I agree with you 100%!

 

I wonder when we are going to see Kanyon back in action, and on what program?

 

Ummm, why don't you tell us? I'm sure you have something to do with that type of thing.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

I'd like to request that all Raven/Pat Patterson jokes NOT be made, plz... thank you

[Guest Anglesault]

I thimk JR beat us to it.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

if he did, he did it very badly

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

Bubba Ray Dudley needs a red-hot issue to sink his teeth into and, perhaps, some new ring attire

Uh-oh, that could get ugly...

 

I wonder when we are going to see Kanyon back in action, and on what program?

I hope the answers are "soon" and "Raw". Kanyon could very easily be inserted into the IC Title scene.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why am I picturing Buh Buh in yellow Polka dots?

[Guest The Superstar]

Why am I picturing Buh Buh in yellow Polka dots?

 

Next week on RAW, Sapphire returns!

[Guest Anglesault]

Sapphire's dead.

Linda Miles will gain 300 pounds instead.

[Guest The Superstar]

Sapphire's dead.

Linda Miles will gain 300 pounds instead.

DAMMIT! I thought of that after I posted that, but I wasn't sure.

 

 

But that's a good backup plan.

[Guest The Man in Blak]

As far as I'm concerned, JR's time as VP of Talent Relations is quickly winding down. It's all smoke and mirrors.

 

Though that "lengthy conversations" line with Raven and Patterson is quite disturbing.

[Guest dreamer420]

that raven/pat patterson story sounds kind of interesting.

 

as for jr being pissed, i don't think he was. he is just trying to send a message to some of the boys who may be getting a little lazy in the back.

 

maybe it's just me but I always thought it if i worked for the wwe i would be the guy who wouldn't leave anyone alone because he wanted to know everything. with names like flair, anderson, angle, taker, hhh, etc i nthe lockerroom i think i'd be getting in trouble for asking too many questions and studying everything over too well

[Guest The Superstar]

Are you kidding, Dreamer? I'd be playing dominoes with Taker, Big Show, Kane, and Albert

[Guest claydude14]

Christopher Nowinski, our Tough Enough lad with the Harvard degree, is rapidly becoming a student of the game. Early to arrive at the arena and one of the very last to leave, Chris watches every match, which serves as a great learning tool for him. Too bad others who need to watch every match as if they were in class would rather isolate themselves in a room and play video games or cards instead of watching their peers perform.

 

this is directed towards test! we all remember him and his xbox!

[Guest The Man in Blak]

I just find it ridiculous that the same guy who sat by and did nothing while all hell broke loose on "The Flight From Hell" is now chiding the wrestlers for not being as studious as Chris Nowinski. Sorry - too little, too late, JR.

 

And if Chris is really sitting down and watching tapes...then what the hell is he watching? It's not like I'm seeing any Flair/Steamboat creeping into his matches or anything.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Who's Sapphire? And just when IS Kanyon coming back anyway... it seems like he's been on the shelf forever, what was his injury?

 

Also, as for Raven and Pat Patterson, how is that disturbing? You've never had long conversations with anyone else before? I say kudos to 'em for being able to do it... I know I can't talk to even my best friends for more than 20 minutes without a slew of "uh.. uh..."'s and blank space while thinking of something else to say.

[Guest SuperTonyJaymz]

Never talk about time travel...that just causes headaches.

 

JR seems like he himself isn't that happy with the WWE lately. Who would take his place it he retired though?

[Guest thebigjig]

Who's Sapphire?

 

The late Sapphire (her real name slips my mind at the moment) was Dusty Rhodes WWF manager back in the early 90's. She was a big African American lady that eventually left Dusty for Ted Dibiase I believe

[Guest The Man in Blak]

I heard somewhere along the grapevine that Johnny Ace was being groomed to take his position.

[Guest SuperTonyJaymz]

Johnny Ace? Hmmm...,.i don't know if that is good or bad

[Guest Shaved Bear]

big show advertising stacker 2

[Guest The Man in Blak]

I'm not sure how Johnny Ace would work out either - he's great as a road agent, but who knows how he would deal with a mass amount of talent.

 

Ace does have two things on JR, though - no on-screen role and prior wrestling experience.

[Guest SuperTonyJaymz]

Didn't Ace work for WCW at its end?

[Guest Goodear]

The Big Show and Kurt Angle are doing appearances in Daytona, Fla., today for Stacker 2.

WTF are they going to ne? "Before" and "After?"

 

Maybe they'll have Big Show throw NASCARs at people. Its about strength and .... weight gain.

[Guest Downhome]

big show advertising stacker 2

I suppose TBS's first run at advertising SII didn't work out quite right, thus having to give it another go.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Yes, Ace did work for WCW at the end of their run, and was one hell of road agent. He was basically the reason for Storm's good run of matches, according to Lance.

 

Talent Agent is a diferent deal, though. Ace definately has experience in the ring but I don't know how much that will happen when dealing with all that talent. Lets hope he's up for it, because Ross seems like he's got a major bone to pick.