Jim Ross accepts new position with WWE
Jim Ross has worked out a deal to remain with WWE, although not as an announcer, he wrote on his blog Friday night.
“I have worked out what we believe to be a win/win, employee agreement with WWE and will remain with the company that I have been with essentially since 1993,” he wrote. “Going forward, I will be focusing on a variety of talent relations matters, essentially as a consultant, of which will not require weekly travel. I will be visiting [Florida Championship Wrestling] in Tampa on a regular basis to observe the development of the young men and women who, I hope, all want to headline WrestleMania someday. This area of the company has always been of particular interest to me.”
Ross, who has a well-deserved reputation for having a great eye for talent, went on to say that he will not be returning to any weekly WWE programs as a commentator, nor will he be brought in to announce on pay-per-views. “However, being involved with other WWE broadcast products is a possibility. A few opportunities have been discussed.”
I’m guessing those opportunities would include programming on WWE 24/7 and perhaps DVDs, but that is merely speculation on my part.
Ross also said that his deal with WWE allows him to take broadcasting assignments in genres that WWE does not view as competition, including MMA.
Speaking as both a wrestling fan and a Ross fan, I am glad that he has found a role that he is comfortable with in the company that he obviously did not want to leave. It’s no secret that TNA pushed hard to get him, but Ross in TNA just doesn’t seem like a good fit, and I’m not sure where that would have left Mike Tenay, whose work I also enjoy.
To read the entire blog entry, click here .
Comments
What do you consider the odds of JR broadcasting UFC events?
Also, I know the WWE bluffs about mma not being competition but they can't really truly believe that, can they?
Posted by: sebastian | May 29, 2010 4:40 PM
Well, the asking price for Paul Heyman just doubled.
Posted by: bignasty247 | May 29, 2010 4:58 PM
I'm glad JR is now a talent scout. I've heard he's extremely good at it (though I'll miss him as an announcer)
I hope (if he still wants a job at WWE that he can do from home) that they give Shawn Micheals a new titled called "DIRECTOR OF CORRECT USE OF EXISTING TALENT."
Shawn, as I've read in his book and heard in interviews is smart enough to know the following:
- we want a strong mid card with a hot IC belt and a hot tag team DIVISION that consists of more than 1 team. (at least 4 - 6 credible teams, and that a team has to beat 2 or 3 teams on hot programs before challenging the champions.)
- we want people to get over before getting or even challenging for ANY belt, including the IC belt.
- The fans love Christian even if Vince McMahon is too stupid to realize it. For someone who has achieved a monopoly in the business, he certainly is out of touch with what fans now want. I agree with the PG status. I don't want to watch smut. I want good solid wrestling.
- Top guys should be being established on a regular basis, not just when absolutely necessary (ie due to injuries, retirement or hiatus)
- Hornswoggle does not belong in the ring. I appreciate what he brings for the kids, but they don't need to see him "wrestle."
- High flyers (such as Evan Bourne) and athletic guys (such as Kofi Kingston) are what the majority of fans want to see in the ring. We need a new boss who does not STILL believe that huge pecs will cut it.
- Having anyone with the job description of "jobber to the stars" is stupid. Nobody wants to see matches like that. (nobody has EVER wanted that)
- 3 - 5 minute matches or any squash matches (especially championship matches) do not belong on PPV's.
- If giving someone a push for 2 or 3 weeks doesn't automatically create the next great star, it doesn't mean pull the plug.
- We don't even need the next great star if the entire card is utilized properly. When SCSA and Hogan were in their primes, they had a strong undercard. That means that they alone did NOT draw all the fans. If the undercard is built up strong, money will be drawn anyway.
I hope WWE brass learns these lessons that so many people already know. TNA will never be competition for WWE because Hogan, Russo, Bischoff and Hall will never leave, so if they don't get these fundamental things right, their ratings will also drop. So the next wrestling war will be fought on 0.5 ratings.
Posted by: rob | May 30, 2010 3:13 AM
Rob obviously has way too much time on his hands to write that thesis in the comments.
Too bad JR didn't have the grapefruits to go to TNA.
Posted by: Scott | May 30, 2010 6:02 PM
"Having anyone with the job description of "jobber to the stars" is stupid."
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I agree totally. So what if you beat someone who never wins? What does that prove? True, it would be almost impossible to eliminate characters who lose more than they win, but jobbers who win only when someone important interferes in their matches don't elevate anyone.
Posted by: Christopher | May 30, 2010 11:36 PM
Kev, do you think that Jim Ross is staying away from the announcer's role because of his health, ready to do something different, or because Vince is pushing him off the air? J.R. is the best!
RESPONSE FROM KE: Vince has wanted JR off the air for years but every time they tried to push him out, it didn't work out and they brought him back.
Posted by: Va Beach Bum | June 1, 2010 1:25 PM