WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry over at his website where he gives his thoughts on the passing of Steve Williams, who is a favorite to win the Royal Rumble and more. Here are the highlights.
On Steve Williams:
Hard to believe that my good friend Dr Death Steve Williams passed away 6 years ago this week due to throat cancer. Doc wasn’t a smoker but he dipped snuff for years and I’d surmise that is what caused Doc’s issues. When I saw a photo of Steve in the last days of his life I did not even recognize him as the cancer had taken him from a robust 285 pounder to less than 200 pounds. Doc, to this day, is near the top of the list of the toughest men to ever become a pro wrestler. He was a former Oklahoma Sooner who Bill Watts hired between Doc’s junior and senior year of college at OU. Doc returned to college his senior year to play football and wrestle for the Sooners. Steve’s career in Japan was extraordinary to say the least. He was a beast with amazing athleticism and agility for a guy who often times tipped the scales at close to 300 pounds and sometimes more. I was honored to speak at Doc’s funeral along with Coach Barry Switzer and the great Stan Hansen.
On who is a favorite to win the Royal Rumble:
There is an early betting line on the ’16 Royal Rumble. I’m being serious. Where were all these betting lines on WWE events when I was in administration there? Probably a good thing it wasn’t around at least that I’m aware or I might have been guilty of ‘insider betting.’ BTW the favorites to win are entrant #1, go figure, and entrant #30. I’d lean toward Brock Lesnar as my favorite to win it all if he’s in it.
On if Kurt Angle should be in the WWE Hall of Fame:
I’d think that Kurt Angle going into the WWE Hall of Fame is a lead pipe cinch but when it’s the only question that I have. I’d love to see Kurt in a WWE retirement match and then be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame if and when WWE has the time and desire to make this matter a priority. I’d assume WWE inducts Kurt into the Hall likely before he wrestles for them in a high profile match at Wrestlemania. Simply speculating that WWE is leery of Kurt’s lingering neck issues but that’s merely my speculation.
I have no speculation that Kurt Angle isn’t a deserving WWE Hall of Famer in the future. How can that be debatable?
You can read the entire blog here.
