Jim Ross Speaks On Flair, WM24, Mayweather, More
Posted by Ashish on 03.26.2008
And confirms that he will induct Gordon Solie into the WWE Hall of Fame...
Jim Ross has his latest blog entry in which he confirms that he will induct Gordon Solie into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Highlights from the blog are below.
On Ric Flair: Was Ric Flair in vintage form Monday night or what? Where has that rendition of "the greatest in ring performer ever" been? Of course, "Naitch" has never left, has always been with us, and I am being a wise ass, but Monday night Flair went "old school" and was able to completely be his unedited, incomparable self. When talents are allowed to be extensions of their natural personalities sometimes one gets great results like we saw Monday night when Ric confronted HBK.
On Flair and the NWA Title: Flair brought the original NWA Title Belt to RAW as many of you saw and that piece of wrestling history is still as awe inspiring as it was the first time I saw it in person in 1974. Several WWE Superstars gathered around to actually get a close up look at history and, like young kids, wanted to touch the championship belt worn by Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes (Ric's first, in ring role model), Tommy Rich, Kerry Von Erich and the Giant Baba. I'm probably leaving someone out, but you get the point.
On WrestleMania 24: Wrestlemania 24 at the Citrus Bowl has sold over 60,000 tickets for north of $5.7M, but there are some WM24 tickets still available. I am told that folks who have attended events at the Citrus Bowl won't recognize it, as the WWE has done an amazing job of converting the old stadium into an amazing TV set for the annual Global Extravaganza. My first experience in the Citrus Bowl was broadcasting an XFL game there. It was week one of the season along side Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman. The Orlando Rage won late in the game and the next week I was elevated to the national game where I carried, er, worked with former Minnesota Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
On Floyd Mayweather: Finally, let's all understand one thing. Floyd Mayweather is a world class performer with a world class ego and a world class bank account. Granted, none of that is new news. But the point is this, Mayweather will do all he physically can do to over achieve in his match with the Big Show Sunday night, because that is what world class athletes do, they over achieve. It might be because of Floyd's ego or simply his competitiveness, but Mayweather will most likely shock us all with what he brings to the dance. I have been told that Mayweather has been taking his preparation for WM24 extremely seriously. That's not hype but simple fact. Mayweather is really good at channeling a young Muhammad Ali inasmuch as Floyd has realized that the big money for him is being an antagonist, which encourages the consumer to pay their cash to see Floyd get his ass whipped. Ali personally told me many years ago that's what his school of thought was for much of the early part of his career. As the legend goes and it is true, Ali was a fan of wrestling villains. Floyd "gets it" and has reinvented himself to become a persona fans want to see humbled. Stay tuned as things should be most interesting in this one come Sunday.
It was great seeing the NWA title on Monday night with the one man on the planet
that it should be with.
What a man, what a career, what a legend that is Ric Flair.
Posted By: Oklahoma (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 03:38 AM
Wow, Jim Ross is going to induct Gordan Solie into the HOF. Big surprise. Didn't
see that one coming......yeah, right. I want Steamboat and Arn Anderson to be
inducted into the HOF
Posted By: Dwayne (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 03:44 AM
I can't wait to see what they've done to the stadium.
Posted By: William (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 08:16 AM
FLoyd is a punk, they pay him 20 millions doolars and doesnt even show up on
half the raws for his buildup, instead they show stupid promos building up his
life, i never lived him in the first place.
Posted By: subz (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Don't know who Marywhether is, don't care who he is, never heard of him before
now, hope to forget who he is once Wrestlemania is over.
I watch wrestling. I don't care about boxing or MMA. I watch wrestling. And
any time an actor, football player, boxer or anything comes into a wrestling
ring and gets the best of a professional wrestler, even a Mulkey, it is a slap
in the face.
I wouldn't expect a wrestler to show Emmitt Smith how to run with a football.
Don't try to make me believe that Smith could beat Triple H.
Posted By: David (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Nice of him to mention Shelton. NOT.
Posted By: dan (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Mayweather RULES.
End of.
Posted By: Dr Astin (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Dear David,
Wrestling is fake. Athletes get paid lots of money to show up! And Vince also
makes a lot of money when this happens. It's called "business."
You're free to go now.
Your friend,
MP
Posted By: MP (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 07:08 PM
He's not implying that wrestling is real. There were a lot of people pissed cuz
Rey won the title and kept winning for the very reason he stated. Part of
wrestling is maintaining some semblance of believability, so I completely
understand his point. Why would someone who has never wrestled before win over
a grizzled veteran. It trivializes the skill and training these guys have
worked so hard for. I get that.
That being said, it is fake and it's about buyrate, and with Mayweather a real
fighting athlete/celebrity (as opposed to Rodzilla, Malone, Leno, Arquette-Geez
WCW sucked) which somewhat can make him legit. I'm glad the E has listened to
the crowd reactions and has adjusted accordingly. My only question is who does
my mark-ass cheer for?
Posted By: beezy (Guest) on March 26, 2008 at 10:31 PM
