I didn’t expect that JR’s firing would quiet down by the time I wrote this. And there are so many rumors out there that it is really hard to decipher just what is the truth. Again I would like to throw out my feelings on all of this and let you all know about some of the feedback that I have received. Many of you feel the timing was perfect. It’s time to remove JR., he has served his purpose. So here are my thoughts on JR and the latest rumors about the Vince and JR saga.
If you read my last two columns you know that the firing of JR is not sitting well with me. Now I realize that JR isn’t gone from WWE. Yes for now we are to believe that, but taking him away from his broadcasting duties doesn’t mean the end of JR with the company. I have never thought that JR was perfect. In fact a few years ago there were times I was ready to kick him like Linda McMahon did the other night. I wish I could pin point just when JR got the best of me. I would say it was around two years ago. I found him to be going through the motions. The enthusiasm that I hear now wasn’t there. That doesn’t mean that JR doesn’t know the business because when it comes to doing the play by play there’s no one like him. But during the time I’m talking about even his knowledge of the sport didn’t seem to make JR somebody I wanted to hear. I know I couldn’t take the way he gushed over Steve Austin, I used to make smart ass remarks that I have a feeling that JR will divorce his wife to be with Stone Cold. There were times when he just went overboard and I could not take it.
It just seemed like JR lost his edge. So had this happened around that time the firing would have been fine with me. But as I’ve said a few times within the last year or so JR has really stepped up. His exuberance for so many matches is contagious. Just listening to him get involved in what he’s watching gets me so into the match. I remember on match in particular. It was the Hell In A Cell match at Vengeance with Hunter vs. Batista. The match itself was a five star match but JR’s announcing just made the match totally outstanding. That’s what this man has done. He’s put so much into everything he does and that’s why I am having a tough time with taking this job from JR. Now a few of you find his firing a blessing. Many of you feel like he’s gone as far as he can, and it’s time for new blood. The majority of you that are glad about the firing feel that Joey Styles replacing him would be perfect. I would love to see Joey Styles replace JR. at some point. I think Joey would make Raw very exciting. I’m all for Joey just not quite yet. As much as JR pleases me, that’s how much he turns many of you off. But I will say that I have only received a handful of reader’s feedback that applaud the decision to change announcers. Then I have the other group which again is a handful that plan to stop watching WWE programming and start watching TNA on a regular basis. JR’s firing was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as they are concerned.
But the majority of the feedback feels the way I do they are upset, very upset but will continue watching Raw. And here’s where the rumors come in. A lot of you are nice enough to send me what’s on the sites and it’s unbelievable what has come up the last couple of days. Now before I get into the rumors, I’m staring to feel that this is all a work and just a way to keep JR off for awhile. I figure maybe it was JR that asked for time away. Well today on WWE.com they have posted that JR has been hospitalized. He will be having colon surgery. So first I want to wish him the very best. And second this makes me think that this is why JR got “fired” he’s having surgery and needs time off. It all makes sense to me. However then you have there is another big rumor going around and then you just don’t know what’s what. At least I have no idea what’s going on. The biggest rumor I read yesterday was Vince is carrying a lot of anger toward JR for moving from Stamford, Ct. back to his home in Oklahoma over a year ago. Now supposedly this anger has carried over because JR stepped down from his position of talent relations, and the job was given to Johnny Ace.
Now the rumor goes on to say that Vince is blaming JR for leaking the story that JR was going to be the one that Vince fired. And again that ticked off Vince. But as the rumor continues it was the leaking of Mike Goldberg’s name that really really got to Vince. So do I believe this? See I would think the move away from Stamford back to Oklahoma, wouldn’t even factor into this. Of course I’m not Vince but it just seems so weird that he would be so put out about JR leaving after all this time. Did JR leak the information? I can’t say but just the fact that JR mentioned the rumor about being fired last week on his Ross report tells me that Vince game him the okay to post it and if Vince didn’t want anymore out there about the firing rumor why throw it on WWE.com? And as far as Mike Goldberg goes, did JR leak it, did someone from WWE leak it or did Goldberg himself leak it? Again who knows but the other major rumor is this. That Vince and Goldberg were in talks for several weeks, but it was Vince that killed the deal. According to the rumor Vince wanted to sign Goldberg from UFC before UFC went head to head with Raw’s Homecoming. Vince didn’t want Goldberg to let the UFC management know that he was leaving. He just wanted Goldberg not to show up for his job. How sweet of Vince if this is true. Well according the story Mike Goldberg couldn’t do that he has more integrity and decided that he didn’t want the job.
Now theses are two very juicy rumors and it’s these rumors that make me feel that JR is done as a broadcaster. Yet with all the interviews up on WWE.com with JR, and Linda McMahon it just seems like a total work. JR in his interview bashed the product by knocking the bra and panty matches, the Katie Vick angle and even brought up about going to TNA if he’s asked. Now again with all this said I cannot believe that Vince would allow his comments to but put up on the site. But it’s JR’s surgery that now makes me think that he needed time off. This has been one very confusing and for me a very upsetting week. But it’s nothing new where WWE is concerned. Back in the spring WWE released so many wrestlers it was like a very dark week for so many of us fans. And again this is very similar. I have no intention of giving up Raw or Smackdown. I’m hanging in there and hoping that things will fall into place and no matter what happens with JR it all will be good. Okay so it’s on to Smackdown. Not tonight but tomorrow night. I know you all know that, I think I did that for my benefit. I have no idea what to expect, I’m just hoping for a better show than last week. And let me end on a very selfish note, GO WHITE SOX. To live in the Chicago area and finally have a team in any sport going as far as the Sox have gone so far is such a treat. I might be more of a Cub’s fans but I’m rooting for the White Sox all the way. I’ll be back over the weekend with my Smackdown thoughts.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
