Jim Ross still isn't happy with the WWE product.
Having been in the business since the 1970s, Jim Ross comes with an old school mentality. He was the voice of the Attitude Era, arguably the hottest era in professional wrestling history. That era was famous for having authentic characters that worked without a script on the microphone or headset. The Attitude Era product was designed to cater to more mature audiences. Today, WWE has moved to cut down on mature material and become a more kid-friendly and micromanaged company.
And Jim Ross doesn't like it.
"They’re not looking for play-by-play people, they’re looking for people who can narrate and give backstory,” Ross said in an interview with The New York Post. “And it’s very annoying for a wrestling fan. And maybe, someday, everybody will get there. If you’re talking about something totally different than what I’m seeing there is invariably a disconnect.”
Now signed to All Elite Wrestling, Ross will have a chance to break from the shackles of WWE. Scripted promos have been a big talking point among fans and wrestlers nowadays. AEW Co-Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes stated that AEW will not have scripts, which Ross fully supports.
“We’re going to give you [the wrestlers] your most sellable points, utilize those and work them into your promo,” he said. “And here’s your time, you get two minutes or a minute and a half. I just don’t see anybody going in the ring and doing a 10 or 12 minute scripted promo. It’s ridiculous. It’s embarrassing to me that that’s what the business has come to.”
Ross was part of the broadcast team at AEW Double or Nothing and is signed with the company as the lead announcer along with taking a senior advisor role.
