Jim Ross Hated WWE Booking Him For In-Ring Angles

Jim Ross is a WWE Hall of Famer, and he deserves that title. Good ole JR has been through a lot during his decades in the pro wrestling business, and that includes some notable in-ring angles for WWE. That being said, he wasn’t a fan of that time in the ring.

Jim Ross is known for his distinctive southern drawl and encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. He worked for WWE, WCW, and AEW, and is widely considered one of the best commentators in the history of the business. Ross is also a successful businessman, with his own line of barbecue sauces and a line of premium beef jerky. He has been inducted into several halls of fame, including the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. Naturally, Jim Ross is a very busy man outside pro wrestling, but he still dedicated his life to the sport.

WWE saw Jim Ross depart from the company before AEW kicked off. Then Jim Ross was announced as AEW’s announcer and Cody Rhodes only had one explanation for hiring him, because “he’s Jim f*cking Ross.”

During his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross brought up his time in WWE and how little he cared for any in-ring segment that Vince McMahon booked for him. He had a very good reason for having this opinion.

“Hot shotting. it was hot shotting in my view. You’ll never hear me say ‘oh I love that angle where I got in the ring.’ Never and the reason I say that is my athletic skills and my wrestling training to take a flat back or to do anything to protect myself never happened which you know what it was and it took time away from real talent from real wrestlers and I don’t fit in that category. I was willing to be a team player as always and do my best to not suck too bad, but I wasn’t crazy about it. I just wasn’t crazy about any of the angles I did because I just felt like I took time away from real wrestlers who needed the TV time simple as that, but hey I went along with it and it was what it was. I know it probably sucked, but I don’t know if it could have sucked worse, I guess. I was surrounded by some real good talent.

Any time Lawler is your partner, you know you’re going to be in pretty good shape. He’s going to keep the rotor in the water and help me through the choppy waters if you will. I don’t know how the ratings were on that. I don’t even remember. I think they probably were okay because it was unique. It’s like a train wreck you know you got to stop and look.”

Vince McMahon knows how to draw heat, and he often used Jim Ross in Oklahoma to do exactly that. He was embarrassed, and even brutalized, in his home state occasionally. This might have contributed to Ross’ disdain for those type of angles.

Jim Ross has stayed out of the ring in AEW. He served as head announcer for Dynamite, but he has since been moved to Rampage. We will have to see what the future holds for Jim Ross, but he is certainly not getting physical in AEW.

What’s your take on WWE using Jim Ross in those segments? Sound off in the comments!