Jim Ross Reveals Why He Parted Ways with WWE

Jim Ross, a veteran commentator in the pro wrestling world, gained prominence during his time with WWE. Despite his hard work and dedication, he revealed that Vince McMahon did not view him in the best light. Ross has now shared the reasons behind his departure from WWE.

Ross worked in WWE for several years, which is why he knows the inner workings of the company. He has extensively worked with Vince McMahon and it has not always worked out in his favor as he has been the subject of ridicule numerous times.

While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Jim Ross was asked why he initially stayed with WWE despite all the humiliation Vince McMahon put him through. Jim Ross talked about how many people in wrestling don’t want to admit their weaknesses. He said that a lot of wrestlers are insecure and have big egos, which can make things seem ridiculous.

Despite this, he praised his partner for supporting him through tough times, like health issues, being fired, and dealing with bad storylines. Ross looked back on his 26 years with Vince McMahon positively, noting he has no regrets because he earned a lot of money and received valuable stock. He’s thankful for the opportunities he had, especially considering his humble beginnings, and while he didn’t always like the creative choices made, he’s grateful for the experiences and friendships he gained.

“A lot of men don’t want to admit it, but especially in the wrestling business, most of us are paranoid and egotistical, afraid of our own shadows because our egos are so fragile. It’s a cross between athletic insecurities and acting insecurities in sports and entertainment—it can be ridiculous. But she[Jan] was my rock. She stood by me through all the issues: my health problems, getting fired, getting humiliated on television with bad creative. The only good thing that came out of it was that I made great friends. I had 26 years with Vince, and I have no regrets whatsoever because he paid me a lot of money and gave me a lot of stock. Some of my stock was worth $8; not long ago it was $100. My dad would come out of his grave and kick my ass if he thought I was disrespecting the person who paid me that much, considering I came from a single-parent home with no money. I was tough, so I feel blessed in that regard. But I didn’t like all his creative. I still don’t like all the creative at AEW, and I don’t like all the creative at Ring of Honor. It doesn’t matter; it’s irrelevant.”

Jim Ross was asked about his decision to return to WWE for a final match at WrestleMania. He explained that he waited for his WWE contract to expire while also taking on roles with NJPW. He discussed when he realized it was time to move on and how he conveyed his decision to Vince McMahon.

Jim Ross noted that he wasn’t being used much, which he described as a good problem to have, despite finding it frustrating. He mentioned that he was well-compensated and only worked twice in 2018, which he didn’t see as a negative given the chance for younger talent to explore other opportunities. Being in the later stage of his career, Ross felt the need to get back into the business and address his boredom.

Ross reflected on his contract ending at the end of March, calling it a mistake. Vince McMahon typically contacts people at a certain level with important information and follows up with a call if necessary. Ross found it challenging to reach McMahon and preferred their interactions to be private, as they had always been. His contract officially ended at midnight on March 31st, and by the following morning, AEW was at his home filming. Ross signed with AEW for a higher amount than he had ever been paid by Vince, leaving him satisfied with the outcome.

“I wasn’t being used again, and it was really ridiculous. It’s a good problem to have, as my agent puts it, ‘champagne problems.’ I’m not sure what he means by that, but it refers to the fact that I was getting paid a lot of money and in 2018, I only worked twice, which isn’t bad. For younger guys, having a few good years and then not working much might seem like a great situation. When the work stops, you’ll have time to figure out Plan B. I’m in the later stage of my life and feeling good, enjoying the business and talking to fans.

However, I felt like I was running out of time and didn’t like being alone, so I decided to get back into things, start shaving again, and keep up with my watch. I was really bored. My contract was set to end at the end of March, which was a mistake. Vince usually contacts people at a certain level first with important information, and if needed, follows up with a phone call. But it’s hard to reach McMahon, and I wanted our interactions to be private and personal, as they had always been.

My contract ended at midnight on March 31st, and the next morning, AEW was at my house filming. I signed a deal with them for more money than Vince had ever paid me, so I have no complaints in that regard.”

Jim Ross also claimed that Vince McMahon lacked patience with unsatisfactory situations. Regardless, Jim Ross is happy working in AEW right now and that’s all that matters to him.

What’s your view on why Jim Ross ultimately left WWE? Do you feel that was the right decision? Let us know in the comments section below!

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