Jim Ross Blog: JR Talks WrestleMania 28, Chris Brown vs. CM Punk, Ric Flair’s Birthday and John Cena vs. The Rock

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Jim Ross answered readers’ questions and had plenty to say about WrestleMania 28, John Cena vs. The Rock, Bobby Heenan, Vader, CM Punk and Chris Brown, Triple H and The Undertaker, and a whole lot more:

Q..”How’s Bobby Heenan?” It’s tough for Bobby to communicate but from what I understand he’s doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Cancer is a vile and vicious affliction. ‘The Wease’ is making a few, select appearances which is good. I love the guy and he was visited recently by Dusty Rhodes and Harley Race in Tampa.

Ross on Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak: I never said Undertaker’s Streak at WrestleMania would end in the ring. I’ve actually said the contrary and that I did not think it would happen. That’s simply my opinion but it can only be determined in the ring. Obviously, the Streak will end some day when Taker retires which I do not expect to be this year. That decision is entirely up to Undertaker and how his body is holding up after years of combat.

Q..”Will Chris Brown ever wrestle/fight CM Punk?” I hope not. Can’t see it ever happening.

Q..”Was Vader under utilized during is WWE run?” I’d say no because Vader was in several main event scenarios but was limited due to wear and tear on his big body and untimely injuries. Vader was amazingly athletic for a super heavyweight and I felt his WWE tenure was productive. Could it have been better? Sure…in hindsight most talents could have had better experiences..in hindsight.

Q..”Will WWE music man Jim Johnson ever be inducted into the WWE HOF?” Gosh I have no idea. Jim is a talented man and has left his mark on WWE music for years but I don’t know if that correlates into HOF status.

Q..”Did John Cena’s promo Monday night on Raw resonate with you?” It impressed me a great deal as I thought it was John’s best in ring promo ever. He spoke from his heart and how that he personally feels about @TheRock whether folks agree with @JohnCena or not. I loved John’s passion and expect one hell of a rebuttal this Monday night on RAW.

The best and most productive rivalries in the genre of sports entertainment, and this goes back forever, are organic, personal issues. Yes, ‘meaningful’ titles are imperative, without question, but adding the personal component to a title tilt makes it even more marketable. That’s what I see happening with the @CMPunk vs. @IAmJericho WWE Title bout at WM28. The WWE Title is the most coveted prize in WWE but this bout will escalate even more while becoming a personal issue of significance. The on camera build for Punk-Jericho should rival anything that we fans have heard and seen in years.

Rock vs. Cena has been simmering for a year. Social media has helped underscore this match and will continue to help enhance this main event that will surely close the show at WM28. Going on last at an event like WM28 cbrings with it immense pressure and responsibility. Some men have buckled under this pressure and under delivered when the lights were shining their brightest.

Neither Cena nor Rock will wilt while closing the show in Miami. Both men come from legit, athletic backgrounds where being in the starting lineup and playing in the big game was a part of their athletic DNA. Both men have intense work ethic and both perceive that they are the alpha male inside the squared circle. Obviously something has to give and watching this one play out including this Monday in Portland on Raw all the way through to the ‘second bell’ at WM28 truly intrigues me.

Ross on Ric Flair’s Birthday: Happy Birthday to Ric Flair. Naitch called me this past week to catch up. He’s got a great opportunity with Coca Cola’s energy drink along with his state lottery work. I went on You Tube and checked out Ric’s TV commercials for the lotteries he promotes and they were hilarious.

Some of my fondest memories in the business involve Ric Flair and I’m so blessed to have been able to broadcast not only many Ric Flair bout but @ShawnMichaels bouts over the years, too as they are widely considered the two, best, all around pro wrestlers ever. That’s a debate that will rage on until the end of time but no one can intelligently say that Naitch and HBK aren’t on an abbreviated list of the best ever.

Check out JR’s full blog entry right here.

CB is an Editor for Pulse Wrestling and an original member of the Inside Pulse writing team covering the spectrum of pop culture including pro wrestling, sports, movies, music, radio and television.