Jim Ross has revealed that he has shed over 50 pounds and is currently receiving care from home health nurses twice a week as he continues to recuperate from a hospital stay that lasted more than a month this summer. He shared this update on a recent episode of Grilling JR after attending Oklahoma’s home game against UTEP, marking his first Sooners game in several years. Ross was hospitalized in Norman, Oklahoma, for over 30 days in May and June following a fall at his home. In July, he disclosed plans for brain surgery.
When asked about his weight loss, Ross confirmed it was over 50 pounds. He explained that the nurses who visit his home monitor his vital signs, blood sugar, and blood pressure, but he still faces health challenges. Notably, a wound on his left ankle caused by skin cancer and treated with 22 radiation sessions has yet to fully heal, though it’s improving. Ross was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2021 and has had ongoing complications from the treatment, which even led to emergency room visits in 2023.
Ross emphasized the importance of managing his blood sugar, admitting to occasional cravings for sweets like pie, cake, and ice cream, which frustrate him. He is now stricter with his diet, trying to finish meals before 6 p.m. and controlling portion sizes, as he adapts his lifestyle to his current health needs. His physical therapy progress is slowed by two broken toes on his left foot, which also affect his balance. He expressed confidence that once his toes fully heal, he will resume physical therapy more actively.
Falls have been a recurring problem for Ross in the last two years, including incidents before and after the AEW Double or Nothing event in May, the latter resulting in the hospitalization. During this period, he also underwent evaluations for dementia and Alzheimer’s. Despite these setbacks, Ross found joy in attending the Oklahoma game, where he watched from a suite, met the university’s new athletic director and his sons, and saw former player Brian Bosworth. The athletic director had also previously sent him a backpack during his hospital stay. Ross proudly noted that he has lost enough weight to wear his WWE Hall of Fame ring again.
In other discussion on the show, Ross and Conrad Thompson talked about the recent deaths of Bill Dundee and Andy “The Butcher” Williams, Bayley’s return on Raw, Bret Hart’s critique of non-wrestlers in booking roles—which Ross disagreed with—and MJF’s comments about veterans in the locker room, which Ross agreed with, calling wrestling “a con man’s business.” Ross also recounted his own on-screen firings in 2003, which paralleled Vince McMahon’s real-life search for a new lead announcer.
We send our best wishes to Jim Ross for a full and speedy recovery.
Fan Take: Jim Ross’s health journey is a reminder of the physical toll the wrestling lifestyle can take, even on its most legendary voices. His resilience not only inspires fans but also highlights the importance of health and well-being in preserving the sport’s legacy.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
