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Jim Ross is now free to fully speak his mind about WWE's direction, after being forced into an early WWE retirement by Vince McMahon.
For the past few months, the reunited McMahon family, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Vince have been the stars of the show, going on a rampage, bashing and burying everyone in their path. No important babyface have been spared their wrath, often coming across as impotent as they wield their mighty power. Getting heat on the heels is necessary in any good pro wrestling feud, but if they never get their comeuppance, then the protagonists start looking like whiny losers and fans lose faith in them (see WCW vs. nWo, all the ripoff angles TNA has attempt to recreate the early nWo magic, etc).
Exploiting his new found freedom, Good Ol' JR felt the need to bluntly point that out to the powers that be in WWE in his latest blog:
"Crunch time for WWE as it relates to producing a compelling Monday Night Raw that sells the HIAC PPV which will be the 2nd, I think, PPV of the billing cycle for the company.
With the overall lack of main event depth in WWE these days, now would be the perfect time to get someone on a roll...attempt to get them hot and see if the individual can connect with the audience. One can always audible out of it but this matter can't be determined in a few weeks no matter how sage like some feel that they may be in determining such.
It's a process that is largely determined by the live audience's reaction over time.
All sports, or entertainment, fans want to support the 'stars' and 'stars,' IE heroes, and all have similar traits. They win more than they lose, they somehow eventually overcome when the odds are the greatest against them and they never quit. All these traits endears them to the audience. Fans can identify with winning. Loses become significant moments and not every other week occurrences.
50/50 booking helps NO one.
Those trying to re-invent the "booking" wheel and who refuse or simply ignore basic psychology and human emotions are foolish or naive or...gasp... egomaniacal.
Box office receipts and PPV numbers should convince any one who professes that the fine line between good and evil need not exist."
Given that Ross was the biggest backer of 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, it's unsurprising that he would hold such an opinion. Many have wondered how he would have fared, if The Rattlesnake was booked like Daniel Bryan has been, being laid out by his opponent umpteen times in a row, rather than delivering his Stone Cold Stunner left and right to everyone who crossed his path.
Expressing it so viciously also allows him to deliver a receipt to his former boss, who didn't appreciate his stick in the mud views being voiced in person.
Indeed, it seems like Ross is finally ready to move on from being Vince McMahon's whipping boy, if his business meetings in New York this week are anything to go by:
"Heading to New York City in a few days to begin some potentially viable meetings that could impact what I will be doing in 2014 at least to some degree.
I'm excited to be meeting new people with fresh ideas who genuinely want to work with me in a relationship based on honesty, respect and professionalism."
That would make a change, wouldn't it, Cagesiders?