Jim Ross Blogs on Jericho’s Return
Posted by Larry Csonka on 01.04.2012
What did JR think of Jericho’s return?
- Jim Ross recently blogged on Chris Jericho's return to the WWE, here is what JR had to say…
The return of Chris Jericho to Monday Night Raw in Memphis as the mystery person in the series of vignettes that aired on WWE TV has been met with a great deal of discussion from fans and pundits.
For the record, I liked it. Also, to be honest, about half way through the presentation, I was having my doubts. Then I saw what I perceived that Jericho was attempting to accomplish and thought that his presentation was unique and certainly unpredictable.
The theory behind producing an episodic, entertainment program like Monday Night Raw is to always provide some measure of a pay off, don't give away the farm, and to always make sure that the broadcast leaves the air with the fans wanting more and willing to return next week to see the 'rest of the story.'
Even though, like many fans, I would have enjoyed hearing what Y2J had to say about why he has chosen this point in time to return, I fully understand the episodic nature of the beast. I am interested in Jericho's return and will tune in next Monday night to hopefully learn more of this storyline.
By saying absolutely nothing and by using facial expressions and body English, Jericho actually said volumes. At least that's how I felt after the segment ended. The fans in Memphis seemed to be getting peeved at Jericho who they had just cheered moments earlier. Was that the intent? Stay tuned.
Many more questions were figuratively asked than answered and when all was said and done I was left wanting more. In my view and as someone who has helped produce weekly TV for many years, that's a win.
Today's fans, specifically the younger ones, seem to want instant gratification and seemingly are uncomfortable waiting for stories to evolve. Some even complain when two, skilled talents have multiple matches. Those types of fans would have had a tough time of it back in the territory days when some rivalries between main event level talents lasted, at times, a year.
I now have a specific reason, based on what I saw this past Monday, to invest my time in Monday Night Raw this coming week. This time will Y2J speak or communicate in yet another unique and unpredictable manner?
That return was awesome. Makes me want to watch Raw next week. Jericho has a way to reinvent himself.
Posted By: Jack Hough (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 07:43 PM
"Those types of fans would have had a tough time of it back in the territory days when some rivalries between main event level talents lasted, at times, a year."
I was a fan back then and I loved it.. I wouldn't mind it today if the stories weren't so crappy and both guys didn't have to "look strong" all the time.
Posted By: Guest#3408 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 07:48 PM
Hey JR,
If you think Raw is still episodic television that leaves fans wanting to tune in next week to see what happens next like it was in the late 80's, could you do us a favor?
Call Vince McMahon and remind him. I'm pretty sure he forgot a long time ago.
Posted By: Guest#3371 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 07:57 PM
I knew what he was getting at about 3/4 of the way through when I realized how goofy he was being. I'm really excited for it but at the same time I WAS upset that I have to wait to see it (obviously).
However, what's really funny is the people who shit ALL OVER IT that night and the next day and now today are starting to be like, "Best return ever, Jericho did awesome"
Posted By: Guest#1713 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:07 PM
JR gets it.
Posted By: Guest#9330 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:10 PM
In fairness, it's largely a problem of saturation. Territories didn't have 6 hours of weekly TV and at least one PPV a month to fill up. It's unfortunate that things have to be rushed and/or repetitive, but it's how they are now. Also, Jericho is a turd, but he sure is awesome at it.
Posted By: Guest#9502 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:28 PM
There wouldn't have been "those types of fans" back then, because there was none of this internet and other technologies and things that changed society and the way they digest their entertainment.
Ah, shit, that much assessment was probably not what he had in mind. Anyway, what Jericho is doing is great if he can keep trolling people like that.
Posted By: Guest#5663 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:29 PM
What the hell is "body English"?
Posted By: Guest#2294 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:49 PM
Well, the reason that feuds could go for an entire year is that they had a one hour weekly show, filled mostly with some jobbers, interviews, and ways to see the live show coming to your area NEXT WEEK!
Sooo, 52 hours a week of programming per year, and maybe what ... 4 live shows in that television area that weren't aired, so that the feud seemed fresh to each fan in the arena? That very same match done over in each territory?
Try to do that now when there is no such thing really as Hogan vs Brooklyn Brawler match. When they have to produce 5-8 hours of matches PER WEEK plus at least one 3 hour PPV per month.
You are talking about doing in 7 weeks what used to be stretched out for an entire year booking wise.
You can fault all the writers as much as you want, but that is an INSANE amount of product being made all the time.
Posted By: Krunchy (Registered) on January 04, 2012 at 08:55 PM
RAW...IS...JR-ICHO!
Posted By: Guest#4732 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 09:27 PM
Hey JR,
If you think Raw is still episodic television that leaves fans wanting to tune in next week to see what happens next like it was in the late 80's, could you do us a favor?
Call Vince McMahon and remind him. I'm pretty sure he forgot a long time ago.
Posted By: Guest#3371 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 07:57 PM
It's obviously got you coming back for more...
Posted By: What? (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 09:34 PM
JR hit the nail right on the head.
Posted By: TK03000 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Jericho's return was brutal and not in a good way. It went on way too long and accomplished nothing other than to remind us that Jericho has gotten really fucking old. Even the crowd went from uproarious to impatient and that only made it seem like Jericho was ultimately nothing special to viewers at home.
I'd love to be proven wrong and to have Jericho become wrestler of the year for 2012 after an amazing and meaningful run but this looks like the beginning of some bad booking.
Posted By: Guest#2162 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Hey JR,
If you think Raw is still episodic television that leaves fans wanting to tune in next week to see what happens next like it was in the late 80's, could you do us a favor?
Call Vince McMahon and remind him. I'm pretty sure he forgot a long time ago.
Posted By: Guest#3371 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 07:57 PM
It's obviously got you coming back for more...
Posted By: What? (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 09:34 PM
A Troll that likes something AND complains about it, I'm shocked!
Posted By: Guest#0045 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Jericho said more in one promo without actually saying then either Rock/Cena/Punk could say with a 20 minute promo.
Posted By: Mike H (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 11:57 PM
"Today's fans, specifically the younger ones, seem to want instant gratification and seemingly are uncomfortable waiting for stories to evolve"
Blah x3. This whole blog could have been summed up in one tweet.
Posted By: Guest#6740 (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 12:15 AM
Jericho's return was brutal and not in a good way. It went on way too long and accomplished nothing other than to remind us that Jericho has gotten really fucking old. Even the crowd went from uproarious to impatient and that only made it seem like Jericho was ultimately nothing special to viewers at home.
Posted By: Guest#2162 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 11:07 PM
I think that's kinda the point. Jericho managed to get a genuine reaction from a crowd. That's pretty rare nowadays.
Posted By: Guest#4702 (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 01:45 AM
"Those types of fans would have had a tough time of it back in the territory days when some rivalries between main event level talents lasted, at times, a year."
Actually, those were the best of times. When a feud like Savage vs Warrior, lasting from the Rumble to Mania, was incredibly short, wrestling was at its best. The ACTUAL problem here is that Vince has 15 PPVs a year now, and his company is now publicly traded, which calls for him to feel like he needs more frequent payoffs to his feuds. The fans (not universe, as Vince likes to call us) would be more than thrilled to see guys like McIntyre, DiBiase, Kofi, Bourne, Yoshi Tatsu, Tyson Kidd, Santino, JTG, Swagger, Clay, Justin Gabriel, Jinder Majal, Goldust, Sheamus, a real tag team here and there, and former employees like Masters, Harry Smith, Morrison and Shelton Benjamin all on the undercard of a PPV once in a while. This would give the biggest names a night off from having to try to carry every month's PPV to a big buyrate that might even benefit from having some higher quality matches with less predictable outcomes once in a while. Imagine a Cody Rhodes Intercontinental Title defense (I know, it doesn't exist) main eventing a PPV? How much more important would a John Cena match feel in a month or 2? PLease JR, don't blame the fans, it's the establishment that has created this unnecessary monster.
Posted By: Jay (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 02:30 AM
they also didnt used to have a SHIT PPV every month back in the day...
Posted By: Jason (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 09:26 AM
PINATA! PINATA! PINATA!
Posted By: Guest#1521 (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 09:27 AM
What the hell is "body English"?
Posted By: Guest#2294 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:49 PM
Please tell me you are not that fucking stupid.
Body English is a term that refers to the movements and gesticulations of the body used when, or in place of, speaking.
Body English is a psyhological and investigative tool, and despite the use of 'English' in the name, it is done by every human being on the planet in the course of conversation.
idiot.
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 12:44 PM
What the hell is "body English"?
Posted By: Guest#2294 (Guest) on January 04, 2012 at 08:49 PM
Short answer: it's body language.
Posted By: Guest#4604 (Guest) on January 05, 2012 at 05:35 PM
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