Jim Ross Discusses Tonight’s WWE Payback PPV, Traditional Heel/Faces Ending, More

Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRSBARBQ.com. According to Ross, the time of 100% pure heels and babyfaces in wrestling is over or likely ending soon. Below are some highlights from his blog.

His thoughts on Payback in Chicago: “WWE Payback hits Chicago tonight on the WWE Network which is how I’m watching via my Apple TV. No reason that Payback should not be a strong, in ring product if the show isn’t over produced and the matches don’t have the time to tell a compelling story. My predictions for this show are included in my latest blog that you cn access easily here on the site. When motivated, the Chicago, live crowd at All State Arena can be hard to beat and can make an average show sound infinitely better for those of us watching at home.”

Ross on the traditional face/heel dynamics ending: “The days of being a 100% babyface or 100% villain in pro wrestling are likely over and if not over certainly nearing an end and at best is on life support. Smart booking, in ring execution, creative tweaks, etc likely won’t change this trend that is society influenced more than it is wrestling influenced in my opinion. Something as straight forward as the broadcast of the NFL Draft and how the live audience responded over a three day period is certainly proof that our society is one of overt defiance and for being outspoken in essentially all forums which would have been unheard of just a few years ago. This is not a sign of the end times for pro wrestling but it does indicate that decision makers must create with these issues in mind and present their products more smartly and with today’s ticket buyer/TV viewer in mind more than ever. It will also affect how broadcasters present the product, too. Times they are a changing and this isn’t our granddaddy’s rasslin’ business any more.”

Ross on upcoming content for NJPW on AXS TV: “AXS TV will present 10 Broadcasts of the 2015 G1 Tournament from New Japan Pro Wrestling beginning on Friday May 27 over a six week period. Josh Barnett and I will call the action for these ten shows that feature some of the best in ring talents in the business including Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuyori Shibata, Kota, Ibushi, AJ Styles Tetsuya Naito, Kazuchika Okada and many more amazing athletes.”

“At AXS TV, we are produced to call the action that we see on our monitor and Josh and I are fortunate that we are able to do that with this product. We are also lucky that we work with a great collection of pro wrestling fans at @AXSTV. I am hopeful that some day that AXS TV and NJPW can work even closer and help better build the NJPW brand in North America. It would also greatly enhance the awareness and the needed growth of New Japan World, the NJPW digital network. We return to the next round of these much anticipated voice overs in LA for the next wave of NJPW shows in mid May where Josh and I will attack 7 shows in two days. The process is a blast even though nothing beats being at ringside and calling a live event.”

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