By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Notes from J.R.'s Blog (Full Link)

-He plans to open a second JR's BarBQ restaurant just off of I-35 (the same highway the stretches from Duluth, Minn. down to Minneapolis where the bridge collapsed and all the way down to J.R. Country and beyond) in Moore, Okla. He said the original location is doing very well. He said they will open 3-5 locations and then consider franchising them after that.

-On Booker T getting into the WWE Hall of Fame: "After being granted his release, will Booker T be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year? I would suggest that as in most phases of our lives that 'timing' counts for a great deal and this might not be the best timing for Booker to be inducted, if you smell the 'Q' that Ol J.R. is cooking. This is only one man's opinion as I would suggest that Booker will remain active in the ring for the next few years. Booker's accomplishments certainly are deserving of Hall of Fame consideration, without question."

-Regarding Daivari leaving: "I don't know the details of why Daivari was released, but it may have been his idea. Perhaps he wanted to grow faster as a professional than he felt he was growing in the WWE. I think Daivari is a talented young man who is a true student of the game and is an intelligent individual, who will do well no matter where he hangs his hat, so to speak."

-Regarding why WWE doesn't hit certain markets more often, he explains: "The issues that determine what facilities are utilized and which are not, include routing the event, must be compatible with previous few days events and the following few days events as it is preferred to not be an isolated “one off,” the building's availability to hold the event and the building's interest in hosting the WWE. Some arenas, who are the only facility in town, in essence can make the financial dealings with the WWE so tough that it makes even a well attended event not profitable enough to promote."

-As far as switching spots with Michael Cole and moving to Smackdown, Ross not only wouldn't want to, but he says outright that Raw is the "A" brand: "I have a great sense of pride with being a part of the flagship broadcast of the WWE, the unchallenged “A” Show of the company, trust me. After all these years of announcing on Raw, I feel a sense of “ownership” of the brand which keeps me motivated, competitive and excited about every Monday that I work."

Undertaker [artist Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

-On Undertaker's status as a performer with a lot of mileage, he said: "Taker is still 'the Man' and can have a good match with an inferior opponent and can still have a great match with an average opponent. Just think of the kind of contest the Deadman could have with a bonafide main event star. There is plenty of fuel left in The Undertaker's tank, but I do get concerned about him staying physically healthy and not becoming over exposed. Taker vs. Batista at WM23 was strong."

-On Gorilla Monsoon, Ross wrote sadly: "Gorilla was never the same after his son, referee Joey Marella, was killed in a car accident. I sincerely wish that Gorilla's two grandsons, Gino and Joey, had been given the opportunity to get to know their grandfather, before he passed away, as Gino 'Gorilla Monsoon' Marella was one helluva man."

-Ross said he'd like to coach football some day: "As for coaching football, I think I would enjoy working with younger kids like in the Pop Warner League if I were to do some coaching. Nonetheless, coaching football, much like broadcasting football, has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid."

-Do wrestlers read each other's books? Ross says most don't: "I have never personally heard of any wrestler/author getting too much grief over what they have written about their peers. Most of the wrestlers don't generally read the books of their associates for some reason of which I have never fully understood."

-Latest thoughts on "The Internet": "The internet has changed the way many genres are evaluated and perceived. Wrestling is right there among them. Most internet wrestling sites work hard to produce a good product and some have professionals running their operations, but many have to depend on part time journalists/writers, who have full time jobs but are fans of the product to contribute creatively to the sites. Based on today's marketplace, controversy is what sells, and websites like TMZ make a fair buck selling 'dirt' and gossip. Sensationalism isn't a wrestling exclusive as the Nancy Graces, the Fox News talking heads, Real Sports, and politics in general of the world are knee deep in sensationalism, too."

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