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Jim Ross comments on NFL star Chad Ochocinco hosting WWE Raw, startup wrestling promotions, and what pro wrestling can learn from HBO's NFL reality show "Hard Knocks"

Posted in: WWE News
By
Sep 10, 2010 - 01:04 PM

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross updated the blog section of JRsbarbq.com. The following items are among the highlights.

-Ross on Chad Ochocinco hosting WWE Raw: "Emailer...how well will WWE utilize Ocho Cinco this Monday night on Raw from Cincy as the Guest Host? Wish I had a crystal ball and I would win some money this weekend on football but alas. It's always about creating the accepted balance between sports and entertainment with WWE. I like the sports side better while others likely don't."

Powell's POV: I'm concerned that the WWE creative team will put the focus on Chad's campy reality show rather than his NFL exploits. After all, the majority of the WWE creative staff strike me as being more likely to watch a campy reality show than a football game.

-Ross on what pro wrestling can learn from HBO's "Hard Knocks" reality show: "HBO's Hard Knocks series can teach the wrestling biz several things. In a nutshell, when fans make an emotional investment in players IE wrestlers then the players create more equity and value for themselves. I'm sure more people will follow the Jets, some to see them win and some to see them lose, this season because of watching Hard Knocks.

"I know that I will be watching Rex Ryan's' team with interest because I got to know the players and coaches on the HBO program. Point is, if wrestling people don't over think the process and do better, more patient and consistent character development then those characters, when engaged in personal issues with other familiar characters, will equate to increased ratings and revenue."

Powell's POV: I look forward to Hard Knocks every year. It's a great show that gives viewers a great look behind the scenes in coaching meetings, practices, and everywhere but the shower during training camp. I've yet to watch a disappointing episode, let alone season, of the show.

-Ross on startup wrestling promotions: "Start up wrestling organizations are likely to fail within a few months of starting based on what I see, feel, and the state of today's economy. The talent pool to start a new wrestling entity is lacking, sorely lacking. Plus if one doesn't have a viable TV clearance on basic cable one can forget about it, as well. Just my two cents. The two things a new company needs to make it is talent and television first and foremost. That's 'good' talent and 'good' TV."

Powell's POV: Or because many of the failed startup promotions we've seen over the years were funded by promoters who didn't have as much coin as they claimed.

Other topics include the Oct. 1 live edition of WWE Smackdown, whether Ross would endorse an NXT tag team competition, J.R.'s defense of Michael Cole, and how to read Ross's latest blog on the Oklahoma Sooners football team.

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