The Jim Ross Report Recap – HIAC Preview, Breaking Down WWE’s Current Product, Will FOX Introduce Changes to Smackdown? More!

Powell notes that it was great to see Mick Foley back on RAW this past Monday, but he thought the special guest referee announcement came out of the blue. He almost wishes this announcement came earlier. Ross thinks Foley’s role in the match added an intriguing layer and he notes that Foley looks great physically. However, he hopes that Foley doesn’t do anything to hurt himself.
Powell thinks WWE fans are growing tired of the simplicity in WWE’s main event storylines. He notes that Smackdown has been pretty good, but RAW has taken a turn for the worse lately. He thinks WWE has been telling some good stories on Smackdown, but RAW has been a confusing cluster of varying storylines setting up matches at multiple big shows such as The Super Showdown, Hell in A Cell and Evolution.

Powell and Ross both agree that WWE made the right move by having Renee Young and Jonathan Coachman switch roles. Powell points out that a big part of Corey Graves’ presentation is the way he creates conflict with other commentators, and he wonders if that’ll continue with Young at the booth. Ross notes that when a man is talking to a woman on television he needs to be very careful as to not sound threatening, so in that sense it certainly could affect Graves’ performance. However, Ross thinks Graves can still be compelling and entertaining.
Powell notes that FOX might have something to say about who works at the commentary booth when their Billion dollar contract kicks in. He also notes that they may influence the production and look of Smackdown. Ross agrees, noting that the Smackdown set could very well change for instance.