When did JR start to lose his mind?

[Guest mst3krules]

I watched a tape of some really old (early 90's) WWE matches and was surprised to see Jim Ross wearing a suit, occasionally smiling, no cowboy hat in sight, and not screaming and yelling "BAH GAWD!". What's happened to him and when did it start?

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Yeah, he use to be rather good at his job. He seemed to be at his worst when Lawler came back. He was getting bad, then Lawler left. Paul E kept him on his toes and he wa alright again. But he went right back down the shitter when King came back...and he's getting worse.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

when he worked for NWA, he was so professional... so straightlaced. I loved his work then, because he made some of the great matches he called feel really legitimate... as if what you were watching was a real sporting contest.

 

The problem, is that he evolved into what the product represents. Instead of a realistic straight wrestling program, it's a melodramatic soap opera. His style of announcing back in the 80's wouldn't really work with today's product ESPECIALLY with a color commentator like Jerry Lawler. Imagine Ross back in the day... with the Jerry Lawler of 2003

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Yeah. I'd say when King came back and the brand extension started. Somehow that made him even worse. The funniest thing is that both King and JR are better announcers when not with each other.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

I still say they should get two announcers who can repeat either the Gorilla Monsoon/Jesse Ventura or Gorilla Monsoon/Bobby Heenan style of announcing.

 

Either way works for me.

 

Cole and Tazz are kinda there...but they do some dumb shit too.

[Guest Repo Man jr]

Didn't he start to go mad around the time they did loads of weird stuff with him. I don't remember anything clearly, but I recall him getting fired, turning heel, and getting 2 scary lookin' dudes in masks to beat up Bart Gunn. It was odd.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Hm. Maybe he's still a heel, but his plan is to ruin Raw with bad announcing.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Cole and Tazz are kinda there...but they do some dumb shit too.

I'm REALLY starting to like Cole and Tazz... yeah, they can be dorks sometimes, but damn they have really evolved. Call me crazy, but when a rare technical match with psychology is being given to us, I love how Tazz points it out and explains the strategy to the casual fan that may not even pick up on it... now with Ross and Lawler comentating, Lawler would be talking about the wrestler's valet and how big her tits are

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Cole and Tazz are kinda there...but they do some dumb shit too.

I'm REALLY starting to like Cole and Tazz... yeah, they can be dorks sometimes, but damn they have really evolved. Call me crazy, but when a rare technical match with psychology is being given to us, I love how Tazz points it out and explains the strategy to the casual fan that may not even pick up on it... now with Ross and Lawler comentating, Lawler would be talking about the wrestler's valet and how big her tits are

Very true about that.

 

It's funny to watch a Smackdown now...and watch either Royal Rumble 1999 or WrestleMania 15, where Cole was temporarily replacing JR in the booth, to see how much Cole has improved.

 

And Tazz is really coming into his own as well. If he decided to go full heel, I could see him being the modern version of Jesse Ventura in the booth...only he'd have a better assesment of the technical side of the business.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Cole and Tazz are kinda there...but they do some dumb shit too.

I'm REALLY starting to like Cole and Tazz... yeah, they can be dorks sometimes, but damn they have really evolved. Call me crazy, but when a rare technical match with psychology is being given to us, I love how Tazz points it out and explains the strategy to the casual fan that may not even pick up on it... now with Ross and Lawler comentating, Lawler would be talking about the wrestler's valet and how big her tits are

Very true about that.

 

It's funny to watch a Smackdown now...and watch either Royal Rumble 1999 or WrestleMania 15, where Cole was temporarily replacing JR in the booth, to see how much Cole has improved.

 

And Tazz is really coming into his own as well. If he decided to go full heel, I could see him being the modern version of Jesse Ventura in the booth...only he'd have a better assesment of the technical side of the business.

I really miss the days of the straight heel/face commentary teams. Lawler pisses me off because it's like he tries to be a tweener, and that just doesn't work for me

[ChrisMWaters 0]

I really miss the days of the straight heel/face commentary teams. Lawler pisses me off because it's like he tries to be a tweener, and that just doesn't work for me

Right.

 

Lawler, IMO, was at his best when working with Vince McMahon back when McMahon was the straight faced announcer.

 

...then again, I just liked when McMahon would shout BAAAAAAAAAAAACK BODY DROP!

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I was starting to like Cole and Tazz. But Tazz will just ramble on for minutes at a time about nothing remotly related to the match or anything about wrestling, then just drop it cold when Cole doesn't reply.

[Guest bababooey]

imo when he started getting involved in angles (i.e fake razor and diesel) i saw him a different light.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

JR was still a babyface back then, but he wasn't the "Goddamn your rancid evil soul to hell, HHH" face.

 

That's just going too far and I think it comes off like you're trying to go too far. I know he's trying to sound like the heel is so awful, but it comes off cartoonish.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Lawler also seems to not suck as much without JR around. I actually preferred Coachman and King over JR and King. Lawler just kind of fell apart when... um, the brand extension started too. Okay, that's kinda weird.

[Guest Slapnuts00]

When JR first came to the WWF in 1993 he was his straight laced self from WCW (well sans the toga). I remember reading that Vince wanted him to wear a cowboy hat and call himself "Good Ole' JR" and ironically enough JR refused because he didn't believe announcers should have gimmicks. This is why he was originally fired. Then he was brought back and agreed to the whole redneck wearing a hat deal.

He started to go downhill after his relapse of Bell's Palse in early 99. He just became progressively worse since then. Not able to articulate as clearly, seemingly getting more confused and resort to more screaming to create emotion. And yeah Lawler sucks, and does no help...

[Guest JustinCredible2k]

He really started getting screwed up when he brought in Doctor Death and made his own little announce table. Im afraid he hasnt been himself since then.

[LooseCannon25 0]

He changed when the emphasis was put on "ENTERTAINMENT"......i remember the first time i saw things go for the worse was in King of the Ring '99' when HHH interfered and costed the Rock his match against Undertaker. JR was all "That damn Triple H, he has no business being here....and now he costed the Rock the damn title. That son of a bitch.....that no good SON OF A BITCH!"

 

I was crackinh up when he said that but that seems to be the point when he turned into crap with his overdramatizing and stupid one liners like "scalded Dog"

[Murmuring Beast 0]

JR: Still a good commentator, but reacting badly to the current content of Raw.

 

Tazz: A good understanding of the matches, but annoying how he butts in when Cole is trying to call a move as if he wants to call it before him.

[Guest Choken One]

With J.R nearing retirement WWE needs to start grooming his replacement (along with Kings)...

 

Coach doesn't seem to have that MAIN SHOW talent just yet and will always be Interviewer to me..Just a black Sean Mooney.

 

Tazz/Cole are great and perhaps they can do both shows...

[Murmuring Beast 0]

Certainly not Josh "Yet to hit puberty" Matthews.

 

Later Days, Folks~ Peace out, word, etc.

[Guest Choken One]

I like Matthews as he seems to be like SMARK like the rest of us...He is more suited for Backstage skits ala Coach...

 

I would LOVE to see McMahon make a power play and steal Tenay.

 

They really need to look around and find new people...

 

No silly "WWE ANNOUNCER SEARCH"...scout Radio Talk Shows and major commucation schools and get a guy who can illistraute but has appreciation for the sport...

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I'd get a boner if they put Paul E back on color. But he seems like he'd only work with JR. Cause he'd bury coach or Josh when he gets going.

[Guest Choken One]

Heyman is being wasted...

 

If you wont use him as your creative...

If you wont use him for a Manager role for The Best Damn Tag Team and Rhyno...

 

AT LEAST USE HIM TO COLOR COMMENTATE!

[Guest edge-o-matic]

When did JR lose his mind?

 

November 19, 2001...

[Murmuring Beast 0]

Poochie The Rocking Dog seems to think so.

[Guest mickberna]

I like Matthews as he seems to be like SMARK

I believe the word you're looking for is DORK. This company has to stop hiring kids, and start hiring professionals.

[Just John 0]

I think a 3-way team with Ross, Heyman, and Tenay would be great. Mike Tenay could be the compotent play-by-play guy while Ross and Heyman have their respective face and heel roles. That way, you would have someone calling the action and the other two fighting in the background.

[Guest Kid Kablam]

The last time I liked Jr on commentary was the HHH/Austin vs Benoit/Jericho match, and I think that was a sort of carry job on Heyman's part. Heyman kinda slowed JR's madness, or at least masked it for some time, but King coming back was an absolute travesty. King hasn't been any good for God knows how long.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

when did it start?

 

When he got a faceful of McMahon's ass!