Jim Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Ross |
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Ross in 2018
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| Birth name | James William Ross |
| Born | January 3, 1952 Fort Bragg, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Northeastern State University |
| Spouse(s) |
Jan Grillette
(m. 1993; died 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jim Ross |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Billed weight | 258 lb (117 kg) |
| Billed from | Norman, Oklahoma |
| Debut | 1974 |
| YouTube information | |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Genre | Professional wrestling |
| Subscribers | 109 thousand |
| Total views | 31.4 million |
| Subscriber and view counts updated as of December 9, 2024. | |
James William Ross (born January 3, 1952) is an American professional wrestling commentator. He is also a sports announcer and a podcaster. He is best known by his ring name Jim Ross, often called JR.
Jim Ross is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). There, he works as a commentator, analyst, and senior advisor. Ross is most famous for his long career as a play-by-play commentator for WWE. Fans often call him "Good Ol' JR". Many people consider him the greatest wrestling commentator ever. During his time in WWE, Ross sometimes took part in wrestling stories. He also wrestled in a few matches between 1999 and 2011.
Before WWE, Ross worked in different roles in wrestling. In the early 1980s, he became the main announcer for Mid-South Wrestling. He then worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which was part of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Ross joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1993. He made his first appearance at WrestleMania IX. During his years with WWF/WWE, Ross was known as the "voice of the company." This was especially true during the Attitude Era in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Ross also announced for New Japan Pro-Wrestling on AXS TV from 2015 to 2018. He has also done commentary for boxing and mixed martial arts fights. He has been honored in several halls of fame. These include the WWE, NWA, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter halls of fame. He has also received awards from the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Outside of wrestling, Ross is known for his barbecue sauce and beef jerky brand, J.R.'s Family BBQ. He also hosts his own weekly podcast called Grilling JR.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James William Ross was born on January 3, 1952, in Fort Bragg, California. He grew up in Westville, Oklahoma. While attending Westville High School, Ross was a good student. He was part of the National Honor Society. He also played baseball, football, and basketball. He was a two-time all-conference football player. Ross was also the President of the Student Body.
He was active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). He won the FFA Oklahoma Speech Championship twice. He also became the State Vice President of FFA. For 18 years, Ross also worked as an official for high school and college sports games.
Broadcasting Career
Professional Wrestling Commentary
Early Years (1974–1993)
While studying at Northeastern State University, Jim Ross gained experience by commentating on college radio. This helped him get a chance to announce for a local wrestling group called NWA Tri-State. He started as a referee in 1974. In 1977, he moved to the broadcast team.
When Bill Watts bought NWA Tri-State in 1982, it became Mid-South Wrestling (MSW). Ross became the main play-by-play announcer. He also became the Vice President of Marketing for Mid-South. During this time, he called his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship match.
In 1987, Jim Crockett, Jr. bought the Universal Wrestling Federation. Ross joined his company, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). He started doing color commentary. He soon became the main play-by-play announcer for the National Wrestling Alliance. JCP later became World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Ross continued to work there, becoming head of broadcasting. He left WCW in 1993.
WWE Career (1993–2013)
Jim Ross was hired by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). His first appearance was at WrestleMania IX in 1993. He became a main voice for WWF's big events. He also hosted "Radio WWF," where he talked to wrestlers and fans.
In 1994, Ross had his first attack of Bell's palsy. This is a condition that can temporarily weaken or paralyze facial muscles. He was let go by WWF for a short time. He then worked for Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons.
WWF hired Ross again in 1994. He became a key announcer during the "Monday Night War" era. He worked alongside Jerry Lawler on Raw Is War. This helped him become known as one of wrestling's greatest commentators.
Ross also worked as an Executive Vice President of Talent Relations for WWE. This meant he helped hire new wrestling talent. By 2005, he stepped down from these management roles. This allowed him to focus more on his health and family.
In 2005, Ross had a serious colon issue. His character was "fired" from his announcing job in a storyline. This explained his absence while he recovered. He returned to Raw in 2006.
On March 31, 2007, Ross was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2007. This was a big honor for his career.
In 2008, Ross was moved from Raw to the SmackDown brand. This ended his long run as Monday Night Raw's main commentator. He later became the color analyst for SmackDown. In 2009, he had his third Bell's palsy episode. This caused him to miss some shows.
Ross made guest appearances on WWE shows in the following years. He returned to call the 'End of an Era' Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XXVIII. In 2012, he became a commentator for NXT. He also worked as an adviser and scout for WWE. After Jerry Lawler had a heart attack, Ross filled in as an interim commentator on Raw. His hometown of Oklahoma City held a "JR Appreciation Night" for him.
In 2013, Ross began coaching new announcers at the WWE Performance Center. He also appeared on WWE Smackdown to interview his friend Jack Swagger.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2018)
On January 4, 2015, Jim Ross provided English commentary for New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome event. In 2016, he became the lead announcer for NJPW's weekly show on AXS TV. He worked with Josh Barnett. Ross's contract was directly with AXS TV. He stopped doing NJPW commentary in 2018.
Independent Wrestling (2016–2019)
Ross also provided commentary for independent wrestling shows. In 2016, he announced for What Culture Pro Wrestling (WCPW). He also worked on the pilot episode of World of Sport Wrestling in the UK.
Return to WWE (2017–2019)
On April 2, 2017, Jim Ross returned to WWE at WrestleMania 33. He provided commentary for the main event. After this, he signed a two-year deal with WWE. He also announced the Mae Young Classic tournament.
Ross reunited with Jerry Lawler on the Raw 25 Years episode in 2018. His last TV appearance for WWE was in April 2018. Ross left WWE on March 27, 2019. He chose not to renew his contract because he wasn't being used much.
All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)
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On April 3, 2019, it was announced that Jim Ross signed a three-year deal with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He works as a commentator and senior advisor. He started as a full-time commentator on AEW Dynamite. He also sometimes commentates on AEW Rampage.
In June 2022, Ross moved to full-time commentary on Rampage. He now provides commentary as an analyst for the main events on AEW Collision. In 2023, he took a break to heal from a fall. He returned in August 2023. In 2024, he had surgery for skin cancer and returned to commentate Sting's retirement match at Revolution. He also called the main event at All In in August 2024.
Other Sports Broadcasting
Jim Ross has also announced for other sports. In 1992, he joined the Atlanta Falcons radio broadcast team for football. He had a second time with the Falcons in 1994. He also called boxing matches for Golden Boy Promotions in 2014. In 2014, he teamed up with MMA fighter Chael Sonnen to commentate a mixed martial arts event.
Podcasting
In 2014, Ross started his own podcast called The Ross Report. It was later renamed The Jim Ross Report. In 2019, he partnered with Conrad Thompson to create Grilling JR. This podcast focuses on Ross's memories from his wrestling career.
In-Ring Career
While Jim Ross is mostly known as a commentator, he did take part in some wrestling matches. He even won a no-disqualification match against Triple H in 2005 with some help.
Another notable match was a tag team match in 2003. Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler wrestled against Al Snow and Jonathan Coachman. Their jobs as announcers were on the line. They lost, but Ross later won his job back by defeating Coachman in a "Country Whippin'" match. Ross has been involved in other wrestling stories and conflicts with various wrestlers.
Personal Life
Jim Ross has two daughters from previous marriages and two granddaughters. He considers Steve Austin and Jerry Lawler his closest friends.
Ross lives with Bell's palsy, a condition that affects his facial muscles. He first experienced symptoms in 1994. This condition has sometimes affected his voice.
In 2007, Ross opened a restaurant called J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q in Norman, Oklahoma. It sold his barbecue sauces and beef products. The restaurant closed in 2010.
Ross is a big fan of the Oklahoma Sooners football team. He often attends their games. In 2014, he became a contributor for FoxSports.com, writing about NCAA Football and the Oklahoma Sooners.
In 2017, his wife, Jan, sadly passed away after a vehicle accident.
In 2018, Ross had an eye operation that affected his eyesight in one eye. In 2021, he shared that he had skin cancer. He announced he was cancer-free in December 2021. In February 2024, he had successful cancer surgery on his right hip.
In Other Media
Jim Ross has appeared in films and TV shows. He played Lance Russell, a wrestling announcer, in the movie Man on the Moon. He also has a role in the Amazon Prime Video series Paradise City.
Ross was one of the main announcers for the original XFL football league in 2001. He has also provided his voice for many WWE video games. He is even a playable character in some games like WWE '12 and WWF No Mercy.
He has appeared in sports documentaries, including two 30 for 30 films about Brian Bosworth and Ric Flair. Ross has also written cookbooks like Can You Take The Heat? The WWF Is Cooking. His autobiography, Slobberknocker, was released in 2017. He released another autobiography, Under the Black Hat: My Life in the WWE and Beyond, in 2020. A third book, Business Is About to Pick Up!, came out in 2024.
Ross has also created his own line of J.R.'s BBQ sauces and mustard.
Legacy and Impact
Many people call Jim Ross the greatest wrestling commentator of all time. Ryan Dilbert from the Bleacher Report said that Ross brought "searing passion" to his commentary. He made wrestling matches feel "real, meaningful and unforgettable."
Stone Cold Steve Austin, a WWE Hall of Famer, has praised Ross. Austin said that Ross's ability to tell a story and make wrestlers seem important was amazing. He called Ross "the shining diamond on top of everyone."
Awards and Accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
- Jim Ross Announcer Award (2024)
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Lou Thesz Award (2011)
- Gordon Solie Award (2022)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Stanley Weston Award (2002)
- World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)
- Slammy Award for "Tell Me I Did Not Just See That" Moment of the Year (2011) – Rapping during the "Michael Cole Challenge"
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Television Announcer (1988–1993, 1998–2001, 2006–2007, 2009, 2012)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)
See also
In Spanish: Jim Ross para niños
