Jim Ross Blogs: NXT Season 3, New Promotions, UFC 119
Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry, here are the highlights?
On NXT Season Three: The first NXT season 3 broadcast featuring all Divas is different. I'm willing to give the concept a chance to hook me unlike some who have emailed me lambasting the process after an hour or less of watching it. Seems like some were harder on certain folk's dancing which was an attempt at entertainment than they were simply looking at the potential of the Divas. I've seen some of these ladies in FCW and was impressed with various aspects of each of their game. Naomi, obviously, is a gifted athlete clearly became the early favorite to win the competition in season three.
On Daniel Bryan: Daniel Bryan's salute to Judo Gene LeBelle by naming Bryan's submission the LeBelle Lock is a respectful gesture. LeBelle is a former pro wrestler, Hollywood stunt man, actor, etc who is also regarded as one of the toughest men to ever walk the face of the Earth. Legend has it that he once made actor/martial arts practitioner Steven Segal soil himself when the two had a physical encounter that was allegedly provoked by the egocentric Segal. Gene also refereed the Muhammad Ali-Antonino Inoki MMA bout that I, among many others, invested in years ago. BTW...it did not make any money for many of the investors.
On New Promotions And Big Announcements: When I hear of the alleged plans of new, national wrestling promotions being announced and how they will roll out their new 'concepts' on how they will uniquely promote the timeless genre of pro wrestling it becomes an 'eye roller.' It constantly amazes me that some rich folks will continue to send good money after bad in a business wrought with unique nuances, folks with less than honorable character along with self serving agendas that the money people will never know or understand and will quickly lose big bucks and join the ranks of others who have more money than common sense.
Then I read where other promotions are going to 'change the business,' 'do something totally different than any one before them,' 'revolutionize the biz,' etc and that too becomes laughable. It's the old 'crying wolf' syndrome...when we cease to believe what we hear and have to see it, more than once, to believe it.
Reinventing the pro wrestling 'wheel' is less than necessary nor is it intelligent business to me. Upgrading TV production, better marketing of the product, partnering with new sponsors, creating new money streams, etc is timely and does intrigues me. However, to attempt to overhaul the game and how the wrestlers engage each other, etc is a waste of time. Fundamentally sound, world class athletes of varying body types will always be in vogue.
This may not be the cool answer or the hip solution but I still feel that fans tune into a wrestling show primarily to watch people compete, among many other ancillary facets. Shame on me for wanting to see physicality and more wrestling inside a wrestling show.
On UFC 119: There is little buzz for UFC 119 featuring Frank Mir vs. Cro Cop on September 25. UFC will have to turn up the burners for the 'go home' promotional time to encourage an acceptable PPV number. It seems as if UFC's expectations for this fight are not lofty but will be for the much anticipated Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos Heavyweight Title fight In October that some feel will be Lesnar's most challenging fight to date. Knowing Lesnar as I do, he will always perceive that his 'next fight' or 'upcoming fight' will always be his toughest. Dos Santos brings an entirely different skills set and body type to the Octagon which will absolutely necessitate that Lesnar be better than he was against Shane Carwin.