J.R Visits ECW Arena, Backstage ROH News & Notes, iMPACT!

ROH Credit: PWInsider.com

SITE NOTE: I just want to let you know that there is a MAJOR ice storm up here in Albany, NY right now. I can't even begin to explain what it looks like outside with ice all over the power lines, roads, and trees. It looks absolutely amazing. The brunt of the storm is expected tonight and tomorrow and it's supposed to get real nasty. The reason I am saying this is that the local news teams have pretty much guaranteed the power is likely to go out with 2+ inches of pure ice and then heavy snow on top of it tomorrow. I'm hoping to be able to continue work as normal with no issues but who knows. So if you don't see me or any news around during the next few days, you know why. Otherwise, work will continue on as normal.

ROH has finished production of Rising Above 2009, which is the next PPV to air from the company and will debut in January. The PPV was actually edited live that night as the show went on, with only some minor work plus the commentary being done after the show was complete. Formerly much of the production would be done in Florida and Gabe Sapolsky would give guidance and lines to the commentators. This time the commentators were left alone to call the show.

One major change under the new creative direction is that the "ROH Students" are being given new chances and gimmicks. Much of it is comedy (like what Bobby Dempsey and Rhett Titus have been doing) and they have added "The Smallest Lumberjack Grizzly Redwood," who is getting very good live reactions, Ernie Osyris (doing a panhandling gimmick) and Giuseppe di Lorento (the new time keeper with a crazy mustache). This is all in an attempt to give the students personality.

Roderick Strong vs. Kensuke Sasaki is being built up for the December 26th show.

The team name for Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards will be American Wolves.

Jim Ross has another blog entry up at JrsBarBQ.com, here are some of highlights: On Monday's three-hour Raw: The 3 hour, marathon Raw in Philly was attended by over 11,000 fans Monday night. For me it was good to be back on Raw and doing more than just a cameo as the adrenaline rush one gets from broadcasting a live TV show like Raw becomes somewhat addictive. We did not know what bouts we were going to be involved in until after the show officially started so that added to the "rush" of doing live TV without a net. On the Jeff Hardy vs. HHH on Friday's Smackdown: Jeff vs. HHH on this Friday's Smackdown is a damn strong outing and that is not announcer hyperbole. Personally, I had a helluva lot of fun calling their match the airs this Friday than any I can recall on free TV in a long, long time. If you listen to our call of the bout this Friday night I think you will be able to hear the legit emotion that was brought forth. On the Announcer of the Year Slammy: Congrats to the ECW Announce team Todd Grisham and Matt Striker for winning the "Announce Team of the Year" Slammy that is known in some circles as "The Adamle." Todd and Matt do a really good job with ECW and I hope and I feel that they will be around for years to come if they don't burn out or lose their sanity in the wacky business of rasslin. On visiting the ECW Arena: After the Philly Raw, "The World's Angriest Announcer", Tazz, drove me by the old, ECW Arena which I had never seen. I do remember that between stints in the WWE, Paul Heyman called me and wanted me to make a surprise appearance at the House of Hardcore but it never came to fruition. I don't think my surprise appearance would have been to announce as Joltin' Joey Styles had that responsibility well in hand. Whatever it was would have likely been fun knowing Heyman's unique, creative mind. To check out the full blog, head on over to JrsBarBQ.com.

The following matches are scheduled for tonight's edition of TNA iMPACT!:

- X-Division Title Tournament Match: Sheik Abdul Bashir vs. Eric Young
- X-Division Title Tournament Match: Alex Shelley vs. Jay Lethal
- Beer Bottle on a Pole Match: Abyss vs. James Storm
- Christy Hemme vs. Sojourner Bolt
- Kurt Angle vs. Brother Ray