Jim Ross comments on whether Steve Austin and Ric Flair are TNA bound, says there's no guarantee he'll return to the WWE Smackdown show

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

-Ross on his WWE future: "Some think that it is automatic that when/if I return to WWE that I am automatically going back on the Smackdown announce team. I wouldn't say it's automatic at all. Let's allow all the issues to play out and then see where I land. It might be Smackdown and then again it might not. I don't have a crystal ball to gaze into but within the next few months things will shake out."

Powell's POV: If J.R. isn't on Raw, that better mean he's headed to Monday nights to replace Michael Cole. If not, here's hoping Ross will strongly consider a TNA offer when his contract comes up next month.

-Ross on Steve Austin: "Will Steve Austin ever go to TNA? That's a question for Steve but my educated guess would be no. I don't think Steve has any intention of ever wrestling again as he focuses on his movie career which is both time consuming and challenging for the 'new guy.' Steve is and always will, be a fan of the wrestling business but he's building a body of work in the movie business and has been involved in, I think, 3 or 4 productions this year alone which is a helluva, challenging schedule."

Powell's POV: It would be a major shocker if Austin popped up in TNA even for a special appearance. I don't see it happening unless Vince McMahon really pissed him off.

-Ross on Ric Flair: "Will Ric Flair ever go to TNA? Again, that's a "Naitch" question but the chances of Flair doing some work with TNA especially now that Hulk (Hogan) is headed there is much more likely than had Hulk not joined TNA in my opinion. Bottom line is that the above questions re: Austin and Flair can only be definitively answered by those two men but at least I addressed the questions of which we have been inundated.

Powell's POV: This one seems much more like to me. Flair has a contract with Hogan and Eric Bischoff. With the two of them now working with TNA, it seems much more likely that Flair will join them.

Other topics include the lack of managers in pro wrestling, Vickie Guerrero and something J.R. won't forget, working with Paul Heyman.