WWE's Reaction To Hogan-TNA (EXCLUSIVE), JR Blogs, More

According to a backstage source in WWE, I'm told people and wrestlers within the company were down playing the news of Hulk Hogan signing with TNA at last night's Smackdown taping in Rochester, NY. While there was definitely discussion among talent about his signing, it was more about how Hogan could help TNA, who he could work with and how he has a history of not putting over many people. There are mixed feelings within TNA over the signing.

Jim Ross has a new blog up at JrsBarBQ.com. Highlights are below.

On Matt Striker: Matt Striker will join Todd Grisham as the new Friday Night SmackDown broadcast team beginning this week. I am anxious to hear the duo at work and will be anxiously awaiting their show on MyNetworkTV this week. One never knows, this may become the new, young "it" team in WWE and time will tell as their chemistry evolves. I communicated with both guys on Tuesday and really hope that they do well. All TV producers love youth and look and these two young guys have those bases covered plus they are talented.

On agreeing with Hogan: I did agree with Hulk that pro wrestling needs to put more individualism back into the game and allow talents to explore the bounds of their abilities which will facilitate finding new stars quicker and, at the same time, eliminates some wannabes from the process. Instincts is more of a vital skill than the ability to memorize.

On Hogan/Austin: A friend emailed me and asked if I thought that Steve Austin was going to join Hogan on Hulk's latest venture. The question was somewhat amusing and as Gorilla would have said, "highly unlikely." That may be putting it some what mildly in our PG rated space. I want to make it clear that isn't something that I spoke to Steve about but I feel somewhat certain that my assumption is accurate.

Check out the full blog at https://www.JrsBarBQ.com