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

-Ross on Friday's Smackdown: "Friday Night Smackdown is a unique broadcast and one that I am anxious to watch after the WWE TV folks finish their edits and production enhancements. The common thread that runs through the show is the 'Reception of Edge and Vickie’s Wedding" which certainly seemed to have have its "moments" including the final few moments of the broadcast. We also had some intriguing wrestling bouts including a (Matt) Hardy vs. (Jeff) Hardy match that completely surprised me as it relates to the direction the bout took."

Powell's POV: I'm very surprised they didn't hold the wedding on television since they usually do so well in the ratings. It seems like they had to rush the storyline to fit in the big event at the end of the show that I won't get into now since it's a big spoiler. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to watching Friday's show after reading our correspondent's report.

-Ross on Ric Flair: "It was nice socializing with Ric Flair and many of his immediate family after Smackdown at the Westin Hotel bar. 'Naitch' is still one of a kind, is happy, and enjoying life and has many unique and perhaps headline making opportunities ahead of him that will play out soon. And no, I am not going the 'spoiler' route with this info in this space but, as a huge Flair fan, and without resorting to hyperbole I was extremely interested, as will many of you, in the potential of some of Ric’s future opportunities.

Powell's POV: It's good to hear there are some positive things coming up for Flair. I've heard he's taken some lumps in his personal life lately and it's adjusting well to life after wrestling.

-Ross on WWE Developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling: "Big week for Florida Championship Wrestling as they tape their first TV show this week at the new facility. I wish them all the best of luck. I was asked to provide the play by play for the first show but schedule’s would not permit it. I have heard that Todd Grisham will be handling the honors. FCW, in my opinion, should be operated like a NFL camp or perhaps and more specifically like a college athletic program where the athletes are tested physically, socially, academically and in character issues on an ongoing and regular basis. Again, I stress that the staff of FCW is under a microscope as much as any WWE employee from where I sit. The future of the company is the development of new stars and the WWE has no bigger assets than their talent.

Powell's POV: It's too bad Ross couldn't make the first call, but it will be interesting to hear how Grisham does in that role. Ross is a huge backer of the developmental process and the company had a lot of success while he was in charge of talent relations. Developmental has been rocky since John Laurinaitis took over, but the recent upgrades to the training facility combined with the eventual debut of the product on Florida television can only help.

Other topics include the opening of the new J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q in Moore, Okla., Sunday's Great American Bash pay-per-view, the anniversary of the deaths of wrestling greats Bruiser Brody and Terry Gordy.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: