Jim Ross Archives - NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage

Jim Ross on Sami Zayn being a main event star in WWE: “I don’t know if he has enough mass appeal”

Aaron Rift — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:02:03 +0000

While speaking on his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross reacted to Sami Zayn regaining the WWE Title. Here is what JR had to say in regards to Zayn being a main event star…

“Nobody can deny the fact he’s a hell of a worker. But is he the guy you put in your main event at WrestleMania and feel good about it? I ain’t so sure about that.

I don’t know if he has enough mass appeal or—and I guess you’d say in the old parlance—I’m not sure he’s over, underscore the word ‘over,’ as much as he needs to be to be your number one guy.

And no matter what you say, you’re in that company, the number one guy is the WWE Champion. That ain’t gonna change. It shouldn’t change. If it does change, that’s a shame, but I don’t think it will. I don’t know if it can, after all these generations of WWWF and WWF and WWE Champions. It seems to be what everything’s built around eventually for the big sh*t.

So anyway, we’ll see. Hey, I like to watch him work. I think he’s very entertaining. He’s very skilled.

But again, is he the guy you put in the main event at WrestleMania?

I’m not sure. And it’s not because he can’t work.

It’s just because he hasn’t been put into position consistently enough to give him a fighting chance to get over with the fan base.”

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Jim Ross: “I thought All In was the very best PPV that AEW has presented”

Aaron Rift — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:19:45 +0000

While speaking on his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross gave his thoughts on the 2026 AEW All In: London PPV event. Here is what JR had to say…

“I thought All In was the very best pay-per-view or television broadcast that AEW has presented since they were formed.

I love that show, and I am an old-school grouchy fart, get-off-my-lawn guy. I want to see a hold every now and then, I’m not a high-flyer exclusive proponent. However, I never got tired of anything I was seeing, and I thought it was just a phenomenal show.

I congratulated Tony Khan, and he was in London when I talked to him. I texted him. We exchanged text messages after the show, and he appreciated my feedback. And for me, I thought it was just phenomenal.”

“The quality of the vignettes leading into a match, or matches, or several of them, but entrances, I thought, was as good as I’ve seen from anybody, anywhere, anytime.”

“If you have to have a negative, is that it might have been a little too long. It was over four hours long, as I understand it. That’s a long time. You know, old man’s got to go pee.”

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Jim Ross confirms that he won’t be in attendance for AEW All In: London after suffering another fall

Aaron Rift — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:31:12 +0000

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, AEW announcer Jim Ross provided an update on his health after undergoing brain surgery. Here is what JR had to say…

“I’m doing pretty good. Doing pretty good. Healing slowly but surely, but, you know, I’m just fighting, fighting through it. I fell two nights ago in my bedroom, and I fell into my bench. Jan bought a little bench that she sat at the end of our bed so that her cat could get in the bed easier, and it’s still there. But when I fell, I broke the son of a b*tch and crashed and burned.

My handyman came over and repaired it. So now it’s solid, like I told you, Connie. You and I can sit on it now with no problem. So, that didn’t do me any favors. It’s falling to sh*t, man. If I take my time and don’t get in any big hurry, especially when I change direction, I do pretty good. If I don’t take my time, I go right back to that walker. And using a walker in your own home is humbling. It’s humbling.”

JR confirmed that he won’t be in attendance for All In: London after suffering the fall…

“Both my brain surgeon and another doctor confided and said, ‘You need to stay your ass off the airplane, ’cause if you fall or get hurt, they got to make an emergency landing, or you fall in London and you got to go to a London hospital. It’s not worth the risk.’

I understand it. I’m disappointed. Very disappointed. And I’ll be watching for sure. But, that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

JR has experienced multiple falls in recent months including one before the 2025 All In: Texas PPV event.

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Report: WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has successful brain surgery

Aaron Rift — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:46:10 +0000

While speaking on Grilling JR in July of 2026, Jim Ross revealed that he was preparing to undergo brain surgery. Ahead of the procedure, JR stated the following…

“Thanks for the outpouring of support regarding my upcoming brain surgery. A hole will be drilled in my skull and a small tube will be inserted reachinto my stomach to better manage/drain excess brain fluid. I’m optimistic. Thanks to all. ”

On Wednesday, JR’s co-host Conrad Thompson provided an update…

“Happy to report that our pal Jim Ross had a successful procedure this morning! I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday!

Please keep JR in your prayers as we hope for a speedy recovery!”

Happy to report that our pal @JRsBBQ had a successful procedure this morning!

I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday!

Please keep JR in your prayers as we hope for a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/I4ISoxdc9o

— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) August 12, 2026

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The announcing career of Jim Ross could be coming to an end if his AEW contract isn’t renewed

Aaron Rift — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:38:06 +0000

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross discussed the possibility that his career in professional wrestling could be coming to an end. JR stated the following…

“I’ve had a blessed career. I’ve been battling some health issues. I’m getting a stent put in my brain on Wednesday, so we’ll see how that works out—no pun intended.

I realize that it’s coming to an end. I get it.

If you ask me, ‘JR, how long do you think you’re going to keep doing announcing?’ Well, I think my [AEW] contract is up this month, so I’m pretty much done.

I don’t want to be done, but if Tony Khan said, ‘JR, thanks for the effort, thanks for being here and everything you’ve done,’ then I’d have no problem with that.

How could I be such a greedy bastard and want more out of my career than I’ve already received?”

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Michael Cole says Jim Ross heel turn was “the worst storyline ever attempted” by WWE

Aaron Rift — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:24:30 +0000

While speaking on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, WWE announcer Michael Cole and Stephanie reflected on the 1999 storyline where Jim Ross turned heel after being “replaced” by Cole. Here was the exchange…

Stephanie: “It was so funny to me when you had come in, there was a lot of, you know, pressure. Everybody was like, is this guy really going to make it? And then JR came in with like, and brought his own little announce table like he came back as a commentator with his own like set and everything. It was so funny to me.”

Cole: “I thought it was the worst storyline ever attempted at this company, trying to turn Jim Ross heel. Oh yeah. I just wasn’t, especially with this little 30-year-old 150 lb punk [Cole] with a with a mullet and a a cheesy mustache and wearing skinny jeans with frosted tips in my hair. And they really thought they were going to make Jim Ross a heel.

Hey, Jim tried to buy into it. I tried to buy into it. He kicked me in the down low, which he really hit me that night. And that started this whole scene.”

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Jim Ross on SummerSlam’s low ticket sales: “WWE doesn’t have any one wrestler that’s just white hot”

Aaron Rift — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:46:17 +0000

WrestleTix reported on Thursday that WWE SummerSlam Sunday 2026, at the 70,000+ seat U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, has 22,364 tickets distributed, an increase of just 633 since the previous update one week earlier. During his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross commented on the potential reasons behind the event’s low ticket sales…

“Well, I would say that they don’t have… WWE doesn’t have any one wrestler that’s just white hot. You got to have somebody hot. So, people are talking about and they don’t have that right now. They got a lot of great talents, I’m not saying that, but it’s always it’s always been a matter of how they’re utilized.

They got to do a better job of utilizing their talent and seeing where that takes them. You got to get somebody hot. It’s that the wrestling has always been, at least in my opinion, an attraction-driven business.

That’s like back when [Steve] Austin was on fire, he would come out and they do a run in or something and it worked. They got ratings and people loved it and they cheered and all that.

Right now WWE doesn’t have that somebody in that role. It seems like they get somebody quasi hot.”

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Jim Ross on CM Punk: “I wish we still had him in AEW, he made things lively around that place”

Aaron Rift — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:54:47 +0000

While speaking on his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross commented on whether he prefers CM Punk as a heel or a babyface character…

“I prefer his work with him having an edge. If that edge is taken to the level where he’s not liked and he’s going to be a heel, then so be it. I don’t have a problem with that.

But I like him. I think as long as Punk is featured, then I’m happy. As long as he doesn’t disappear off the face of the wrestling earth, I’m for it.

He’s valuable talent. CM Punk could be a great heel or a great babyface. He’s another guy that’s in our reliable category. It’s hard to bump him out of that situation.

I’m a CM Punk fan, and whatever role they decide to put him in, he’s going to succeed because he’s just a real talented dude. I consider him one of my friends, and I wish we still had him in AEW. He made things lively around that place.”

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Jim Ross says he will be having brain surgery following his hospital stay that lasted over a month

Aaron Rift — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:20:24 +0000

While speaking on Grilling JR, Jim Ross revealed that he is preparing to undergo brain surgery. The WWE Hall of Famer and AEW broadcaster shared the update during his first podcast episode since returning home following a hospital stay that lasted over a month…

“I feel pretty good. I think I’m getting better every day, but I’ve still got a ways to go. I can’t drive yet and all that stuff. I’m cutting back on my appearances. I’ve got one big one coming up in Minneapolis in a few weeks, but I’m battling. I’m battling.

I’m getting ready to have another surgery—brain surgery this time. That’s going to be an adventure because I don’t think they’re going to find much. [laughs] In my brain.

So anyway, as the days go on, in the mornings I’m pretty good. I get a little sleep, and I’m good to fire off and do this… I’m a little tired, but I’m glad we’re doing this. It makes me feel… it’s the best medicine I could ask for, and thanks for thinking of it.”

JR elaborated more on the brain surgery…

“I’ll be in the hospital for a few days. Hopefully nothing will go wrong. I’ve got a great surgeon.

Matter of fact, today I had to go to a cardiologist—a heart doctor, obviously—and talk to him about this upcoming procedure. He had to approve it or they wouldn’t do it. So he did, and they’re going to do it soon. I just don’t have a confirmed date yet, but it’s going to be in the next week or so, I’m pushing for.

Hey, look, it’s just an illness, and I’ve got to get it addressed. I couldn’t live my life the way it was. I’d forget stuff and just couldn’t remember things. It was just horrible. I felt horrible.

But that all started with me passing out in my house and being discovered there, which began an almost 40-day hospital stay.”

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Jim Ross hospitalized again following the 2026 AEW Double or Nothing PPV event

Aaron Rift — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:54:15 +0000

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross revealed that he has been hospitalized for 22 days and counting. JR wrote the following message via Twitter/X…

“Day 22 in the hospital in Norman. Watching @CWSOmaha with my @soonerbaseball. Thanks for everyone’s kind thoughts and prayers. Don’t count me out just yet. I’m still fighting! .”

Following JR’s announcement, Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that he is believed to have suffered another fall after returning home from AEW Double or Nothing 2026. At this time, the exact nature of JR’s injuries is unknown.

JR has been dealing with health issues in recent years. JR previously revealed that he suffered a fall and his back went out prior to Double or Nothing.

Day 22 in the hospital in Norman.

Watching @CWSOmaha with my @soonerbaseball.

Thanks for everyone’s kind thoughts and prayers.

Don’t count me out just yet.

I’m still fighting!

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) June 20, 2026

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