Jim Ross spoke with Best Of New Orleans about his Ringside! show and more. Check
out the highlights:
On what to expect at his one-man shows on
Thursday: “I’ll do a succinct open, to get everybody up to speed on my
career, and then we go right into the questions-and-answers. Fans can ask any
question they choose. No topic is off limits — I call it a no-holds-barred
Q&A — and the questions lead to stories. I’m not a stand-up comedian, but a
lot of the stories are organically humorous, so there will be a lot of laughs.
The questions make every show different, and I think that’s better than a long
monologue. Each show has its own personality, its own tone, tenor and
uniqueness. I don’t work off a teleprompter or script. I’m still a wrestling
fan, been one my entire life, so I like spontaneity and improvisation. I think
my story is motivational in spirit for some. I was raised as an only child on a
160-acre farm in East Oklahoma, not a child of privilege by any stretch of the
imagination. A guy from Oklahoma, with a Southern accent, who had three Bell’s
Palsy attacks that left me with paralysis around my mouth — that guy isn’t
supposed to be successful, especially on television. So we have comedy, history
lessons, some motivation. And the audience is just as involved as I am, asking
questions and stimulating banter. It’s gonna be a fun night. For the VIP ticket
holders, after the show I’ll do a meet & greet and talk to them one on one.
And you know I’m gonna bring down all the barbecue sauces, the mustard, ketchup,
jerky, so we’ll have those on hand as well.”
On his pick for the
sleeper match at WrestleMania XXX: “Because of what’s at stake and the
two guys in it, I think the Triple H/Daniel Bryan match could very well be the
show-stealer on that card. I expect that match to go on early, so the audience
is going to be fresher, full of “P & V.” Then the fact that there’s
something definitive at stake as relates to the winner. [The winner gets a title
shot later that night.] You have a destination, you have a reason, you have two
highly talented guys that have so much professional pride. I think that Triple
H/Bryan match is one that will tell a very compelling story. It’s not the
beginning or ending chapter; another chapter will be written later in the night.
But it’s got a chance to be a great match.”
On his biggest
learning curve while doing his podcast: “What I’ve learned is to have
a basic outline of things that you want to address, but don’t work from a
script. Leave yourself the flexibility to deviate from your GPS — you’re still
gonna get to the destination. You want the podcast to be entertaining and
informative, but don’t overscript; that takes the spontaneity out of it. It’s
the same as my live shows. It’s better being more conversational, more
one-on-one and personal. Podcasting has been a real fun venture. I’m enjoying
it, it’s a good way to stay connected to the business. When I left WWE in
September 2013, I’d been there a little over 20 years, and in the business 40.
I’m 62, I thought maybe I’ll slow down a little bit — but I enjoy being busy,
being active, being around people. The one-man shows, the podcasts, the project
for Fox, the family brand of food products — it keeps me out of mischief.”
