During a recent episode of his weekly podcast, The Ross Report, WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross weighed in on a number of current hot-topics in the world of professional wrestling / sports entertainment.
“Good Ole’ J.R.” touched on topics such as rumors of CM Punk appearing at the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard event at Madison Square Garden during WrestleMania 35 weekend next year, his recent injury from a table bump at the G1 Special and whether or not he ever envisions NJPW overtaking WWE in terms of popularity. Featured below are some of the highlights from the podcast.
On whether or not he has any interest in turning his unexpected table bump at the G1 Special into a storyline for NJPW on AXS TV involving himself, Josh Barnett and Jay White: “Somebody said, ‘hey, if New Japan wanted to do an angle with Jay White, and Josh Barnett, and you, J.R., would you be willing to do it?’ I thought about it for like two seconds and the answer is not just ‘no’, but ‘hell no’. Are you kidding? I’m still sore, for God’s sakes. I’m sorry! I’m not being a puss, but I’m an old man and I’m still sore. When you’ve still got to sleep in a chair after two or three weeks because I just can’t get comfortable laying down, and I’m not going to drug myself into some state of being comatose or being in a coma!”
On his belief that NJPW will never overtake WWE in terms of popularity, but knowing that isn’t their goal in the first place: “No, [NJPW will] not. They’re not going to overtake WWE. That’s not a knock. I talked to the CEO of that company, New Japan, a wonderful man. He sent me a nice letter too, the other day that I was appreciative of. And that’s not their goal. Their goal is to expand and build their brand in the North America region, specifically, at this time. At no point during out long conversation that we had in San Fransisco [California] before the event at the Cow Palace did he ever say, ‘yeah, we’re coming to America to kick WWE’s ass!’ He’s too smart of a businessman. He knows that cannot be done. And it’s not an issue. If you’re smart, man, just take care of your own business. If you’re a businessman and you’re worried about the competition every night and day, you’re screwing yourself! Worry about what you do. Only worry about things that you have the opportunity to control and I guarantee you nobody can control the growth and the popularity of WWE except WWE. So that’s what I think about that and that’s not a knock on New Japan. They’re doing a hell of a job.”
On the possibility of CM Punk appearing at the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard show at Madison Square Garden during WrestleMania 35 weekend: “That rumor is going to persist until the event comes and goes because CM Punk will be a difference-maker. He will move and sell a lot of tickets. Is it going to happen? Heck, I don’t know. My money would say, ‘no’. My money would say, ‘no’ – I don’t think Phil wants to get back into the [pro] wrestling world and I don’t blame him, but you know they’re going to try to get him. Every attempt will be made to get him to compete and perform on that show in the Garden.”
Check out the complete episode of The Ross Report podcast with Jim Ross at Player.fm.