WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with a new blog over on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights:
– Great closing segment that exposed what the fans in Seattle and elsewhere seemingly want to see plus it was a magnificent way to utilize all the former champs that were brought in for Slammy business.
That’s strategic booking. Utilizing all of one’s assets at one’s disposal and not over exposing one’s perceived weaknesses. That’s still booking 101.
WWE got some great market research Monday night from the live audience, who I realize had an emotional and biased investment in the local hero, Daniel Bryan, and through the voting by the fans on the Slammy Awards.
Smart businesses should never do market research unless they are going to use it.
The final segment added some fuel to the fire for Sunday’s Unification match, the second in 12 years w/ Chris Jericho prevailing then, and hopefully the last. It also exposed some matchups that fans gravitated to immediately. HHH vs. Punk is money. Daniel Bryan vs. HBK is money even though I DON’T think that it will ever happen and it also put John Cena who stole the segment verbally and then built to a potentially unique situation at TLC as not only Orton’s mortal enemy but also an unlikely ally to the Authority. Or not.
– Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango will wrestle on the TLC pre show Sunday. Many fans will bitch about this matter but the talents, if they are smart and I’m thinking that they are, have a great opportunity to raise the bar for the evening and make decision makers regret that the duo wasn’t booked on the PPV.
– Somewhat annoyed that a question that I answered on Ask JR here on the site was positioned to have me painting Zack Ryder with a negative brush. I am a fan of Ryder’s and enjoy his serious work and his work ethic in general. He’s a great kid who loves being in WWE. I think that if Ryder was taken more seriously that he could contribute more to WWE. This has every thing to do with how Ryder is cast and then how the new casting is executed.
– Still seems as if WWE would be well served to have some alums in various roles to appear at WM30 and Brock Lesnar fits that description but more is needed IMO. I still think that Hulk Hogan makes an appearance just as I suggested many weeks ago. Goldberg in a match, if it made sense, would be fun.
The key to any marketable, former WWE star contributing at WM30 is the build on weekly RAW TV. These individuals need to have at least reoccurring roles to properly build the anticipation for the April event. I’m not endorsing over exposure but I need a taste of what I’m ordering for dinner with the healthy price that comes for the entree.
