NORMAN, Okla. – Jim Ross has often talked about restaurant quality butt-whippings while calling matches on Raw, and now our fans will get a chance to find out just what that means. On Wednesday, Ross opened the first ever J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q, located just 20 miles south of Oklahoma City.

“I had a strong desire for a place of my own to come to and watch people have smiles on their faces, get a good meal and enjoy the fellowship and the camaraderie,” said the restaurant’s proud owner.

J.R. cites his upbringing for initially getting him involved in food. If it weren’t for the neighborhood cookouts he attended when he was younger, the desire for his own establishment may never have taken root.

“When we had company over for cookouts, it was a chance for families to get together,” he said. “My pals were there to play football with or shoot hoops or play baseball. The cookouts were more social occasions than anything else and the food was always great.”

Despite traveling for the last 34 years in the wrestling business, Ross has yet to find a match for his mother’s and grandmother’s cooking. He will share the wealth with his customers as much of the menu is made up of Ross family recipes.

“We’re not playing baseball or football or shooting hoops anymore, but the same feeling is here,” he said, determined to ensure a homey feeling at J.R.’s.

While seekers of a friendly environment are sure to be impressed with the hospitality, our fans will also be satisfied with the décor.

“Some of the biggest stars in the business donated their attire. Triple H’s boots, Ric Flair’s boots, Shawn Michaels’s outfit from WrestleMania, an outfit from Undertaker, boots ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin wore in three WrestleManias, Mick Foley’s last official Socko and Kane’s last mask, to scratch the surface.”

Also on display are pieces that make up one of the most impressive John Wayne collections of memorabilia in the country, as well as a room dedicated to Mickey Mantle.

“A lot of the decoration is also pictures that I’ve had the privilege of being involved in over the years,” he added, stating the photos and WWE pieces span four decades. “And there’s a real beautiful display of my induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in the entryway.”

J.R. was surprised at how supportive Superstars were, stretching from classic Legends like Dusty Rhodes to Superstars still building their legacy like Edge. When he asked for donations, he expected only autographed photos. When he finished collecting, Ross had a gathering of items that he never thought people would give up.

“I can’t thank all those guys enough. Their images are here in a respectful fashion, like they deserve.”

Not only do the walls accommodate our fans, but the heart of J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q beats the same way WWE’s does.

“It is much like the infrastructure of WWE in that it’s a team effort,” he explained. “Success is always a team effort.”

Ross hopes for his restaurant to grow someday, but he insists on sticking to a formula for quality.

“It’s like WWE, which has a great track record of building Superstars. You focus on one Superstar and you cultivate that Superstar’s image. Superstars have to deliver the goods as well, or it doesn’t work. We’re going to develop one star restaurant, the original J.R.’s in Norman, with the goal in mind that if we are successful, we are going to build others.”

J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q seats 130 people. The kitchen can handle smoking 100 slabs of ribs at once, courtesy of a giant smoker and hickory wood. Ross describes it as “Old school barbecue.” Going beyond the traditional, the menu also features things like barbecued pizza, quesadillas and soft tacos. There are also healthy choices, which many barbecue restaurants don’t provide.

The birth of J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q can be traced back to J.R.’s Cookbook. Virtually all of the menu’s recipes come either from the publication or from Ross’s family.

“We didn’t want to settle for average and we wouldn’t settle for average. Everything had to taste homemade and authentic. So I was involved in every phase of [the restaurant’s formation] except for the stages of physical construction. I was very much hands-on involved with the recipes. When your image and your name are on it, I just refuse to settle for average.”

J.R. even came up with most of the wording for the menus, which features sports-related items like Superstar Salads, Hall of Fame Ribs, Body Slammin’ Sandwiches, Tag Team Partner side orders and Finishing Maneuver desserts. He also contributed writing for the official site at http://www.jrsbarbq.com/.

“We’ve been having the equivalent of football two-a-days,” he said about the preparation. “We’ve been cooking and serving. It’s like doing scrimmages. And now it’s game day. At 11 this morning we kicked off, and it’s real and the season has begun.”

J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q also provides catering. It is open seven days a week between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. For more information, call (405) 360-4BBQ.

“It’s real exciting for me. I’ve eaten at barbecue places all over the world and I just knew what I thought tasted good.”

Customers can also visit the restaurant’s Web site to order J.R.’s famous sauces, jerky and other products.

“It’s really a great place. We think our food is going to be outstanding and our staff is friendly. Like we say here, a smile and a thank you goes a long way.”

A little more than one year ago Beth Phoenix stepped into the ring for her first singles match on Monday Night Raw. The outcome wasn’t at all what she or anyone else could have predicted – a broken jaw from a concrete-fisted shot to the face from Victoria.

The injury placed Beth on the shelf for the remainder of 2006, and half of 2007. Her return to the ring on Monday when she filled in for an “injured” Melina was almost as big of a surprise as the ending of her first match. Laying low and staying “out of sight, out of mind” while on injured reserve worked flawlessly upon her surprise return.

“My return was definitely strategic; it was definitely time to get back in the ring,” Beth said. “I went through a lot to come back. It took two titanium plates and nine screws to fix my jaw, and that’s all I’ve thought about since it happened. Before my match, the only thought I had went back to last year; how I was laid up in the hospital, how my jaw was broken in three places and misaligned so I couldn’t even talk.”
 
The pain pulsating from her mangled jaw and the surgery it took to fix it was nothing compared to the pain of watching other Raw Divas compete on national television while etching their mark in the fabrics of WWE history. The backlog of disdain that built up for the Divas healthy enough to compete (as well as chew food or talk) instilled in Beth a necessity to prove that the injury she suffered wasn’t a case of glass jaw. Instead, it was a freak accident that only postponed the inevitable.

“From the time I was able to exercise again, I worked on honing my craft and ultimately becoming more dangerous,” she said. “All the time on the shelf only made me angrier and more focused at reaching the top of WWE.”

However, who does her anger target? The Women’s Championship only fits around one waist, which makes her coalition with former Women’s Champion Melina extremely peculiar.

“The other Divas are intimidated by me – as they should be,” she scoffed. “I’m here to make an impact. Making friends is not on my agenda. Don’t get me wrong, all the Divas have to share space and have to be professional, but whoever is in my way will be plowed over if they don’t move.”

But that didn’t answer the question regarding her alliance with one of WWE’s most notorious gold-driven Divas.

“Look, it’s simple: I’m here to do what’s best for me and my career to make it to the top,” she snapped. “It’s time for me to make up for all the time I lost when I was hurt; as I said, taking out my anger on any person who gets in my way of getting to the top.”
 
Now that Beth has returned to Raw and has apparently chosen to align herself with Melina, she may want to worry less about re-injuring her jaw and worry more about the new enemies she forged her first night back. 
bron:wwe.com

The murmurs in the Raw locker room started almost immediately after the Superstars – and millions of fans worldwide – heard the familiar gravelly voice and saw the all-too familiar sight: Triple H holding his trusty sledgehammer like a holy scepter.

The vignette was the second video of Triple H that the Raw Superstars and our fans had seen during the show last week, but it clearly had the most impact. The first video showed The Game shortly after he suffered a torn quadriceps at New Year’s Revolution this past January, having surgery and talking about his long recovery ahead. But in the second video, the 10-time World Champion did what he does best – capture attention – as he declared, “In case you have forgotten, I am The Game! And I’m back!” (WATCH)

The Superstars clearly hadn’t forgotten Triple H in the nearly six months since his injury. Eyes widened, and jaws dropped. Questions such as “What does this mean?” and “When is he coming back?” raced around the locker room. King Booker forgot his British accent as he muttered to Queen Sharmell, “Tell me, I didn’t just see that?”

Even the smirk on Randy Orton's face faded. When WWE.com asked the Legend Killer for his thoughts on his hated rival and former Evolution teammate’s return, he brushed aside our reporter’s recorder and said, “No comment.”

Orton brushed shoulders with Carlito, who was leaning up against the wall and munching an apple. He rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth as he watched Orton storm away. The Caribbean Superstar had watched the video like everyone else and was less than impressed.

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Carlito spat. “I don’t feel he’s [Triple H] done much around here. He doesn’t add anything to Raw. We’re better off without him.”

Perhaps Carlito was just trying to play it cool, but he and all of WWE have been put on notice. The Game is coming back, and it looks like he’s ready start kicking a**. The list of Superstars who have fallen to Triple H is a who’s who of legends in sports-entertainment. From The Rock to Hulk Hogan to Mick Foley to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and everyone else in between, The Game has made a legendary career out of taking on and beating the best.

As a gladiator who thrives on competing when the lights are brightest and the crowds are at their loudest, it had to have nearly killed Triple H to miss WrestleMania 23 and the 80,000-plus fans at Ford Field in Detroit. He had to have been stir-crazy watching the competition heat up on Raw week after week as he sat at home and rehabbed his injury.

But soon, as Triple H’s entrance song says, it will be “Time to Play The Game,” again on Raw, and some Superstars can’t wait for his return.

“To me, it's like having the flag bearer, the standard by which all things are measured [come back],” said Sandman, a Raw newcomer who has never been on the same brand as Triple H. “To me, I’m looking forward to his return because it can only mean things are gonna heat up around here.”

Triple H’s imminent return has also brought out the fan in some Superstars who happen to be former rivals.

“Triple H was the first guy I ever won the Intercontinental Championship from, and that was an honor in itself,” said Jeff Hardy. “It’s always great to see that guy – he’s so entertaining and creates such positive energy between him and our fans. I would love to see him. It would be great if he came back before the end of the summer. … I’m anticipating it like everyone else.”

Besides when, another question our fans and Superstars must be pondering is what will Triple H want when he returns. Who will he target? He has said he wants to win an 11th World Championship. However, he also had to be fuming when Randy Orton and Edge took credit for putting him on the sidelines when they were partners as Rated-RKO. In addition, could The Game seek new legends – or legends-in-the-making – to conquer, Superstars he hasn’t faced yet, like Bobby Lashley and Mr. Kennedy?

Only Triple H holds the answers to these questions. For now, Raw Superstars and the rest of WWE had best be on top of their game.

Watch the Triple H video from this past week's Raw.

DALLAS – In addition to crowning a new Intercontinental Champion and lining up John Cena’s next challenger for the WWE Championship, Raw’s highlights also included clips from Triple H’s arduous road to recovery from a torn right quadriceps. Although The Game wasn’t there in person, just seeing the 10-time World Champion back on the TitanTron screen had many of our fans at the American Airlines Center buzzing.

“When The Game returns, he’s putting WWE on notice,” predicted Jack Sanhall of Irving, Texas. “Look at what he accomplished after coming back from injury in 2002—he not only won the WWE Title a fifth time, he became a five-time World Heavyweight Champion as well. There’s no way anyone will stop Triple H from becoming an 11-time World Champion.”

“Those Triple H promos have made my week,” stated Red Oak resident Ann-Marie Nuhaltz. “Now I only need Shawn Michaels to come back too. I’d love to see those two in the ring again.”

No one knows the condition of HBK, who at Judgment Day last May suffered a potential career-ending concussion at the hands—and boot—of Randy Orton. Dallas local Victor Flores thinks that alone should provide extra incentive for the returning Game, who last January tore his right quad while he and Michaels battled Orton and Edge at New Year’s Revolution.

“Personally, I think he should stop off at SmackDown first,” Flores said. “That way, he can kick the crap out of Edge, then go back to Raw and get some revenge against Orton. That ought to be his first priority; let ’em all know that you can’t get away with hurting the Cerebral Assassin or his friends.”

Back in March, Triple H informed WWE.com that his rehabilitation had been progressing so well that he hoped a SummerSlam return was feasible. Judging from the video shown on Raw Monday night, the Biggest Party of the Summer might become the homecoming site for one of WWE’s greatest Superstars.

“I think Triple H will go after The Champ [Cena],” said Waxahachie-based WWE fan Rod Williams, “but I also want to see him go after some of Raw’s new guys, like Snitsky or Kennedy. Definitely Kennedy; somebody needs to shut that guy up, big-time.”

Good point. So good, in fact, that WWE.com asks Williams how he thinks The Game might fare against Bobby Lashley. “Wow, that would be good,” the teen replied enthusiastically. “Lashley’s one of my favorites, and I hope he’s right about what he said tonight—that he won’t be an uncrowned champion much longer. If Lashley can beat Cena at The Great American Bash, putting him in the ring against Triple H would make a great WWE Title Match…maybe one of the best.”

For now, inside sources either can’t or won’t confirm exactly when Triple H will make his return. However, as the sold-out American Airlines Center crowd demonstrated on Raw Monday night, one thing is certain: Once it is time again to play The Game, our fans are going to enjoy every moment of it.

SAN ANTONIO – Last Sunday may have been Vengeance: Night of Champions, but this week’s SmackDown was truly a night for revenge.

Much to his disappointment, Edge was forced by acting General Manager Vickie Guerrero to face Batista in a Night of Champions rematch. Even though he is not eligible to win the World Heavyweight Championship, The Animal ran wild on Edge in the main event. After punishing the Rated-R Superstar throughout much of the contest, Batista foiled his plans for a spear when he turned it into a setup for an earth-shaking Batista Bomb, following by a three-count.

As Edge lay on his back, Batista raised the World Heavyweight Championship and then dropped it on the still body of the titleholder. The Ultimate Opportunist still has the gold, but does The Animal have his number?

In one of the night’s inter-promotional matches, WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce & Domino had their hands full with Cryme Tyme. Raw’s notorious thieves tripped Domino and popped him in the kisser, breaking his nose before Domino was able to roll up Shad for the pin. Cryme Tyme may have lost, but revenge was theirs when they drove out of the arena in Deuce & Domino’s ride. Porter didn’t look as sharp as he did when he retained the United States Championship against Ric Flair at Vengeance: Night of Champions. Capitalizing off of a missed kick by MVP, Kane sent the prosperous Superstar to the mat with a chokeslam. Fortunately for MVP, the title is still his and his contest with Kane wasn’t an Inferno Match like the last time they met at Armageddon.

Flair didn’t have the chance to get revenge on the United States Champion this week, though he was able to teach a lesson to his other young, disrespectful rival, Carlito. Raw’s self-proclaimed coolest Superstar suffered the infamous Figure Four Leg Lock before tapping out to his former mentor.

The Cruiserweight Championship was once again on the line when Chavo Guerrero faced Jamie Noble and Funaki in a Triple Threat Match. Proving once again that he deserves the gold, Chavo covered Funaki to earn the win. Perhaps nobody is quite on his level when it comes to SmackDown’s cruiserweight division.

Another chance for vengeance came when Matt Hardy took on one half the World Tag Team Champions, Lance Cade. Hardy hit him with a Twist of Fate out of nowhere and covered Cade, who didn’t have his partner in crime this time around to help him bend the rules.

In other SmackDown action, The Great Khali turned Eugene into his personal ragdoll and Mickie James spoiled Victoria’s first night in action as a member of the SmackDown roster.

Did Batista and company get enough revenge for their peace of mind or will they keep coming back for more? Be sure to watch Friday Night SmackDown at 8/7 CT on the CW Network to find out.

SAN ANTONIO – WWE.com has learned that during a hard-knuckled, in-ring war with Cryme Tyme on SmackDown, WWE Tag Team Champion Domino suffered a broken nose and a possible broken orbital socket.

Domino and his partner, Deuce, met the thieving Raw tandem on the greasers’ Friday night turf with heavy bragging rights at stake. Though the leather-coated champions scored the victory after Domino rolled up Shad for the pin, it wasn’t an easy night for the guys from the Other Side of the Tracks. During the match, JTG tripped up Domino, driving him face-first into the mat and instantly drawing blood from the tag champ’s nose. Following the match – and Cryme Tyme’s robbery of Deuce & Domino’s car – WWE medical staff tended to Domino where he was diagnosed with the injury.

Tune in to SmackDown next week to catch the WWE Tag Team Champions and for updates on Domino’s condition.