Jim Ross has a new blog entry up at http://www.jrsbarbq.com/; here are the highlights…
On Talking With The Undertaker: Yours truly heard from the Undertaker yesterday and he’s ready to go Sunday against Shawn Michaels which is the most emotional match, for me personally, that I can ever recall at any Wrestlemania. I’m going to have a hard time keeping a dry eye when that match is all said and done.
On Blood In Wrestling: When asked by an emailer about blood in pro wrestling….less is more, without question. The more one sees bloody bouts the less it means and the dramatic effect is diminished. In recent generations, blood has long been used as a lazy, uncreative way of enhancing selected pro wrestling bouts.
On Goldberg: Bill Goldberg reports that he is negotiating with WWE but my best guess is that it’s not about a return to the ring. Bill is a smart entrepreneur and the former Tulsa Edison and University of Georgia football star likely is looking at doing a marketing deal with WWE that might include video games, possible WWE HOF Induction next year in Atlanta, and merchandise sales. It sounds like a win/win for both parties. I really don’t know what the potential deal is as I found out about it from reading the internet which reported Goldberg’s Twitter statement. Nonetheless after being involved in several of these type deals, I can see where both parties can benefit from an arrangement. Goldberg gets the opportunity to earn additional cash without putting his body thru hell and he gets some nice exposure for his various TV vehicles. The WWE could monetize Goldberg’s likeness in a variety of ways. Is it possible for Goldberg to come back and perform in a “farewell bout” in the Georgia Dome next year at WM27? It’s possible one has to assume.
On Not Calling WrestleMania: I have had to delete many emails that were fixating on me not broadcasting at WM26. I am good with it even though I’ll admit that I’m disappointed that I won’t be a part of the broadcast team for the biggest show of the year. Why wouldn’t I be disappointed? As Brando said in The Godfather, “It’s just business.” I appreciate many of your comments but my suggestion is to focus on the show itself and that if you only buy one WWE PPV this year that this Sunday’s Wrestlemania should be it. I would say that if I was with the WWE or not. This card looks to be special and this show will have some “Wrestlemania Moments” that will likely live for years to come. At least what I perceive to be my last Wrestlemania broadcast was the 1st HBK-Undertaker affair which will live forever. Not a bad deal at all.
Check out the full blog at http://www.jrsbarbq.com/