This week’s episode of “Grilling JR” with Jim Ross and Conrad Thompson is a Watch-A-Long episode for the July 31, 2000 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.
They talk about Gordon Solie passing away a few days before this show, the storyline issues between Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, a tag team title match between The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian, The Rock and Lita vs. Triple H and Trish Stratus, and much more.
Here are some highlights:
Jim Ross talked about Triple H improving through the years: “Triple H evolved into becoming a very good wrestling heel. He could brawl. He incorporated the sledgehammer from time to time. His mic skills kept improving where they were more conversational. He got better at what he did. I always give him credit for that. He never stopped trying to improve even though he was sitting in a great spot politically and athletically.”
Ross discussing the heel skills of Stephanie McMahon: “Vince was the top heel in the attitude era. I believe that. I’m not kissing his ass. I’m just stating a fact of my opinion. But, Stephanie was not that far behind. She was as natural a heel as we had. She just had that Vince gene that fit so well as the antagonist. Her facial expressions and the whole nine yards.”
Ross commented on a piece Steve Austin wrote about younger talents being reluctant to take advice from the veterans: “That’s a societal thing to me. I could tell you when I talk to young talent, if their eyes wander, I’m done. I don’t need to talk to you because you know everything. That pisses me off that they are that stupid that they are not taking any advice. Do you need to heed all the advice, no. But you should listen because there may be one little nugget in this conversation that you can utilize.”
Ross gave his viewpoint on why Taz was not booked well in WWE: “I thought if we booked Taz like he was utilized in ECW, we had something. That was not the case. I think that was out of defiance and the fact that Taz was a creation of Paul Heyman in ECW and his own work. Sometimes that does not bode well in McMahon land. Height. That seems like all we talk about. Unfortunately, it’s true. When Taz punched Rikishi, he had to punch up and McMahon would notice little things like that.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Grilling JR with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
