Jim Ross: I Think My AEW Contract Is Up Sometime In August…. If Tony Khan Wants To Keep Me, He Will

A detailed account of Jim Ross’ travel to New York City for AEW Double or Nothing.

Jim Ross and Conrad Thompson recorded a new episode of the Grilling JR podcast. Ross is coming off of being on commentary at AEW Double or Nothing 2026 for the Continental Championship bout.

He opened up about his travel woes and shared that he was dealing with back issues the day before the show.

“Well, it’s a long story… It was not a good travel weekend for me… I was supposed to get picked up Saturday morning at like 6 o’clock. I had a chat with my travel guy regarding that matter. Why would you fly me out at 6 in the morning for a Sunday night show? It makes no sense. You know, I’m not 17 anymore. So anyway, we had the alarm set. My driver was gonna pick me up, and all of a sudden, I fell. I hadn’t had a fall in weeks. So I fell, and busted my ass, a ways from my phone. I don’t know how you do it. There’s gotta be a way to — I guess just to put it in my pocket. Hell, I don’t know. If I had my phone with me, I could have gotten a little bit of help. As a result of that, I missed my flight.

I got into my room on Saturday night, I think it was… I laid on the bed, put my ass on the edge of the bed, and just relaxed. Well, little did I know, my back was going to go out on me. So now I’m in the hotel with my back out and I can’t function. So it was just a horrible experience.”

Ross went on to state that he would have liked to call one or two more matches at Double or Nothing. Circling back to his physical condition, he said he’s not feeling his best and is going to visit a doctor.

“Sore. Sore. It’s like taking a big hit in a football game,” Ross responded when asked how he’s feeling physically. “I’m sore as hell. But, you know, I asked to go to work. So I can’t blame anybody but myself. I’ve got to find a doctor. I got a neurologist now. He’s talking to me about my risk area for dementia and all that bullsh*t. I have the worst luck sometimes. Golly. But, just real sore. I got to find the right doctor that can get me back rolling, because my legs are really weak, and on Saturday morning, one of my legs just went out from under me. It went like a piece of spaghetti. Wasn’t good. So, anyhow, flying back — I could have stayed home, maybe I should have. But I like working, and I love pro wrestling. So, that’s my little sad story. But I’m glad that I went… I’d like to have worked another match. But, I’m not complaining — I guess I am complaining but I am not hell-bent for I should have called another match or two. But, I know this, I sure miss doing that.”

Speaking about his contract status with AEW, Ross said he does not have a lot of time left on his deal. He spoke with his agent, Barry Bloom, while in New York City.

“Tony Khan’s been really good to me and I see it written about online from time to time, ‘Ross must have a hell of a deal.’ All that, and I do have a hell of a deal. I’m in a good spot. I don’t have a lot more time left on my contract. I talked to Barry Bloom, my agent. He was in New York, and we chatted about my status, and I’m just gonna let it play out. If Tony Khan wants to keep me, he will, and if he doesn’t, then he won’t… My deal is up, I think, sometime in August. I believe that’s true. That’s how focused I am on my contract. I’m past the worrying about it stage and all that. I’m just not gonna do it. It takes the fun out of things.”

It is unknown when Ross will be back on commentary for AEW. The post-Double or Nothing edition of Dynamite can be read about here.

If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Grilling J.R. with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.