On hundreds of occasions, Outlaw J.R. James was interviewed for newsprint, radio shows and on television.  It seems J.R. was never at a loss for words.

During the “territorial” days, back in the mid 1980’s to1993, RINGSIDER was the officially sanctioned wrestling program/magazine for almost all of the independent wrestling organizations throughout the southeastern United States.   These programs were sold at the shows, giving the new and experienced wrestling fans alike a brief rundown on the latest feuds and clashes between the wrestlers, as well as commentary, current rankings and the infamous “Dirty Alice” columns, which took wrestling fan’s mailed in questions and answered them in “Dirty Alice” fashion.

Long ago are those days when you would find kids roaming the arenas hawking the programs for sale.  Informative, funny, controversial, the RINGSIDER won several awards before shuttering the business back in late 1993.  The professional wresting business had changed, and with the WWF (now WWE) gobbling up most of the independent wrestling organizations, the need for a good local wrestling magazine fell by the way side.

One of the many coveted awards continuously won year after year by the RINGSIDER was for the interviews and commentary provided by publisher Bob Kelly.  Not known for keeping his mouth shut when he should have, Kelly dug in and asked the questions most fans wanted asked, being very persistent with the wrestling stars in trying to extract answers from them.  Kelly occasionalyy was compared to Bill Apter from PWI (National Pro-Wrestling Magazine Pro-Wrestling Illustrated), which in itself is a HUGE compliment for Kelly, and perhaps a put down on Apter..  Kelly also occasionally found himself in physical compromising positions having pressed a wrestler to far in seeking an answer.  But none the less, Kelly would not let the wrestler off the hook when he wanted an answer to a question.

Though interviewed many times, on the next few pages are two of the most memorable interviews the Outlaw gave to RINGSIDER.  The first one was about his making the cover of Pro-Wrestling Illustrated, and what the Outlaw thought about it. Most wrestlers would have appreciated the ranking and certainly appreciated having their picture on the front cover of the nationaly distrbuted magazine. The second interview was about what would later become Outlaw's last professional wrestling match against the real life Mayor of Davie, Florida, the Honorable Harry Venus, and condusted just two days after the infamous television studio fight between the two ring veterans during their contract signing.

Just click below to read the RINSIDER interviews with Outlaw J.R. James

The Outlaw Makes the Cover and Highest Ranking to Date in PRO WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED!
(© RINSIDER August 1994 - Reprinted with permission)

The Outlaw verses the Mayor - Is this the Begining of the End for J.R. James?
(© RINSIDER October 1998 Reprinted with permission)