Jim Ross, the WWE Hall of Fame commentator and current AEW announcer, has shared his feelings about being involved in WWE storylines during his tenure with the company. Although he is best known for his commentary work, Ross was sometimes included in scripted angles by then-chairman Vince McMahon, such as a no disqualification match against Triple H at Madison Square Garden—which he won with help from Batista—and an intergender tag match alongside “Stone Cold” Steve Austin versus Triple H and Chyna at the Georgia Dome. However, Ross recently expressed on the “Grilling JR” podcast that he found these segments embarrassing, particularly because he wasn’t in shape or trained as a wrestler, and felt his popularity as an announcer was the only reason the angles worked.
Ross also revealed that he and McMahon mutually parted ways when he chose not to renew his WWE contract in 2019. Shortly thereafter, he signed what was described as the most lucrative commentary contract in professional wrestling history with AEW. Due to recent health challenges, the last AEW match he called was at Double or Nothing in May.
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Fan Take: This insight from Jim Ross highlights the sometimes uncomfortable crossover between commentary and performance roles in wrestling, reminding fans that even legends aren’t immune to moments they regret. For fighting sports, it underscores the importance of respecting expertise and ensuring that athletes and commentators are placed in roles that genuinely reflect their skills and contributions to the industry.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
