Jim Ross, the single most recognisable voice in WWE, is leaving the sports entertainment franchise after 26 years.
For generations of fans the words ‘Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!’ or ‘Good God almighty, they’ve killed him!’ will be heard forever in his voice after sitting ringside for three decades in the WWE.
The 67-year-old Hall of Fame announcer said he would be leaving the WWE at the end of the month on March 28 when his contract expires. The revelation was made on this week’s Jim Ross Podcast.
He said:
After talking with Vince McMahon, we have mutually agreed that I need to move on.
I still want to play the game, I still think I can do play-by-play even though others around Vince think I can’t.
He said he leaves the business with no hard feelings:
I will not be returning to WWE after the 29th of March. I’m leaving with great thoughts, very positive.
I made a lot of money. Vince was amazing to Jan and myself. He set us up for life, financially, for which I can never repay him.
But while he’s leaving WWE, he’s got no plans to retire. Ross has reiterated his desire to continue calling wrestling matches.
J.R. explained:
I’m 67. I still feel like I can get the job done doing wrestling play-by-play. So I want to explore that opportunity and that possibility.
I have no regrets. The smartest thing I ever did was come to work for Vince McMahon in 1993.
While Ross has had some critics within the business, he doesn’t regret working there and doesn’t leave with any animosity.
And widely considered to be the best in the biz, he shouldn’t face any trouble continuing his career.
Bleacher Report suggests Ross is spoilt for choice with All Elite Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and Major League Wrestling being just a few potential promotions to take him on.
Ross had AEW’s Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes on his podcast on Wednesday and the brand is yet to make an announcement on its lead play-by-play announcer.
With AEW bringing in big names such as Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, Jim Ross could be the voice so widely respected by fans to pull it all together.
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Tim Horner is a sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated with a BA Journalism from University College Falmouth before most his colleagues were born. A previous editor of adult mags, he now enjoys bringing the tone down in the viral news sector.