JR Retires from WWE

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

http://www.wwe.com/inside/jim-ross-to-retire

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross announced that he is retiring from WWE today, after 20 years of service, to focus on his personal business endeavors.


Jim has had a long and storied career at WWE, both on the corporate staff as well as his television persona, calling some of the most memorable matches in WWE history as the voice of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown for more than two decades. He made his debut with WWE at WrestleMania IX in 1993 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his long-time friend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.


Jim has made many contributions to WWE and the sports-entertainment industry, and we thank him for his many years of service and wish him well.

EdK

aaaaaaaahhhhhh wrote: »

http://www.wwe.com/inside/jim-ross-to-retire

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross announced that he is retiring from WWE today, after 20 years of service, to focus on his personal business endeavors.


Jim has had a long and storied career at WWE, both on the corporate staff as well as his television persona, calling some of the most memorable matches in WWE history as the voice of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown for more than two decades. He made his debut with WWE at WrestleMania IX in 1993 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his long-time friend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.


Jim has made many contributions to WWE and the sports-entertainment industry, and we thank him for his many years of service and wish him well.

You mean this didn't happen years ago? While I appreciate Ross as a talent scout and commentator don't really like the man comes across as a moany, spineless type of guy to me.

gnfnrhead

He's one of their talent scouts and seemed to be doing a good job. A little surprised he retired if he is in good health. I know he is 61, but he isnt on the road every week anymore so I thought we'd get a few more years out of him.

Wouldnt mind him doing one more Wrestlemania.

Riddle101

Jim Ross is a corporate jackass, just like John Cena and everyone else who kiss ass and try to give a real corporate public image. Good at talent scouting and commentating but I think he is a jackass too.

BohsJohnny

According to Meltzer Vince forced him into retirement

The WWE's web site announced Jim Ross is retiring from the company to pursue other personal business endeavors.

Ross met with Vince McMahon today where the decision was made to end his run with the company, which had had a few stops and starts, dating back to the 1993 WrestleMania show.

The decision, which was made by McMahon, was first told to us by a source in the company that it was possible, if not likely on the day of SummerSlam, stemming from the now-infamous 2K Sports symposium where Ric Flair spoke at length about a variety of subjects.

Ross took heat from management for not cutting Flair off and keeping the symposium to what it was scripted to be. Even though it was a 2K Sports symposium, and 2K Sports people had no problem with Flair's behavior, those in WWE were not happy with certain subjects and how they were brought up.

Since nothing had happened for three weeks, many expected that the heat and blown over.

Bounty Hunter

kinda odd there is nothing about this on his twitter feed, it's just 9/11 related stuff atm

aaaaaaaahhhhhh

I'm sure Trips is in the back saying "Its best for Business!!!"

GTR63

But will he still kiss up to wwe with his so worthless that if I could I still wouldn`t wipe my ass with it columns.

Handsome Bob

Ah ****e, was hoping JR would get to call one last classic at WM30. Seems a bit idiotic to force him out completely as the man can still contribute.

chopperbyrne

Wouldn't be surprised to see him commentating on MMA soon so.

CastorTroy

Hope they at least let him say his goodbyes on tv. And without any kind of intereference or getting "fired"

Bounty Hunter

really weird to retire from one company alone, especially when (he isn't in ring talent) that one company will no doubt wheel him out (if he will let them - guessing he would if only to promote his other businesses) when their whims change and they get a creative idea they could use good old JR for.

Diabhal Beag

Puppies of America best be alert to this dangerous threat.

CSF

Not his biggest fan to be honest. Much prefer the commentary trio at the moment. Yeah, he had some really good one-liners at the right moments, but overall just came across as a bit annoying.

RobbingBandit

Vince really is an Evil ****er where business is concerned.

LOTD

King and good old JR were the best. It's a bit odd considering he hasn't done much with the wwe in the last 2 years, did he not have a legends contract. If it's true the reasoning behind his departure was because of the 2k14 panel that's just petty, it's like paying the price for somebody else's conduct.

Mr.Nice Guy

Greatest announcer of all time but if truth be told he was put out to pasture long ago.

For whatever reason, Vince appears to hate his guts.

I wish him well and I've a feeling we will see him commentate on one more match in the future.

LOTD

I'm guessing 2k15 won't be featuring JR

P_1

So they didn't 'wish him well in his future endeavors' eh?:pac:

rovert

That rat bastard Triple and that jezebel Stephanie McMahon finally got their way!

Ruu

Ah the McMahons will probably have a good laugh at his expense on RAW, humiliate him one more time.

jaykhunter

WON reports it was Steph, Vince and Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Wilson that were most butt-hurt that JR didn't do a good enough job reeling in Flair at the 2K14 Symposium. They weren't happy about Flair mentioning Reid (his recently-deceased son), the story being how Flair put his original HoF ring in Reid's casket. Despite that touching anecdote actually puts over the company. It's all a bit incredulous, considering 2K Games were thrilled with the show, as it generated a lot of online buzz.

grames_bond

Horrible to see the mans storied career end because of something so petty! Amazing commentator - the real voice of the WWF/E, and he will be missed!


Now someone pass me the BBQ sauce! (Leggo - you have any left?)

Jason Todd

If, (and it's a big if) he ever comes back, it will be to commentate on Stone Cold's rumoured WM match imo.

rovert

Imagine if Jim Ross's firing is covered on Total Divas.

JoJo wrote was tasked with minding Flair and to stop him drinking during Summerslam weekend with hilarious results.

smellmepower

He'll be back,how many times has he been fired and brought back at this stage?he's like a cranky,overweight southern boomerang.

I thought JR came across a lot worse than Flair at that video game thing too,Flair just seemed like a fun guy messing about a bit,in contrast JR looked like a drunk, sarcastic arsehole.Plus he made no effort to do his job of properly hosting the poxy thing.

rovert

Meltzer's breaking news update from two days ago:

Worthwhile still for Bryan Alvarez's issues with the decision.

A Primal Nut

BohsJohnny wrote: »

According to Meltzer Vince forced him into retirement

WWE have to be the most petty organisation.

Mick Murdock

TNA should ditch Sting, Hogan and Bischoff and hire JR.

Give him some hiring and creative power and put him on commentary.

Doubt he wants the headache though!

gnfnrhead

Mick Murdock wrote: »

TNA should ditch Sting, Hogan and Bischoff and hire JR.

Give him some hiring and creative power and put him on commentary.

Doubt he wants the headache though!

When has JR been a booker?

Mick Murdock

I never said he was..? I was suggesting giving him some input. Perhaps power was the wrong word.

For someone who was one of the most influential people in WWE during it's most successful years, I don't think that's unwise.

He was Vince's right hand man at one point, his commentary sold wrestling matches better than anybody else ever has and he hired most of the WWE's biggest ever stars.

Wrestling creative is not space exploration for a man of Jim Ross' accomplishments.

gnfnrhead

Mick Murdock wrote: »

I never said he was..? I was suggesting giving him some input. Perhaps power was the wrong word.

For someone who was one of the most influential people in WWE during it's most successful years, I don't think that's unwise.

He was Vince's right hand man at one point, his commentary sold wrestling matches better than anybody else ever has and he hired most of the WWE's biggest ever stars.

Wrestling creative is not space exploration for a man of Jim Ross' accomplishments.

So was Vince Russo.

If they are looking for a creative change they should go with someone with a proven track record. Mike Quackenbush for example, has done a lot of great storylines in CHIKARA but that's a niche audience. It may not transfer to a mainstream audience.

I'd rather they take a chance on someone like that, and see if they can make the step up, rather than someone with hardly any experience in the creative side of things. Gabe Sapolsky could be worth a shot too, but was often critisied for a lack of meaningful storylines.

Starting to get off topic now so, JR:
Commentator and/or talent relations? By all means.
Creative? Not a chance.

IanMc666

Great announcer in the Attitude Era and somewhat beyond. But he seemed to just lose touch and or interest in more recent years.

Regardless, he called some great matches!

LOTD

I would have to agree with you Ian, he wasn't the same commentator when he filled in for Jerry last year.

My main issue is,how unfair he has been treated and the low key way in which they announced his "retirement" was not befitting a man who has given so much to the company for so long and is really popular with the fans.

I like JBL and Cole together they are a perfect fit. King seems to be the odd one out, he was an awesome heel,he was great beside McMahon, but him and Ross where the best together.

IanMc666

Definitely, King was a class heel back in the day with McMahon. His digs that he took at Jake Roberts personal life in particular, crazy stuff. I do agree that I think JR should have had somewhat of a better send-off for sure, definitely one of the hardest workers, if not recently definitely back then.

JBL and Cole are a class team. JBL actually makes most shows for me, on both Raw and Smackdown. He's just gas altogether but great at telling the stories as well. I enjoy King's presence purely for nostalgic purposes these days, but I'll always remember him for his work with McMahon and of course the classic announce team that a lot of us grew up with, himself and JR.

Loughc

One of my favourite vintage heel lawler quotes is, "love is only a lightswitch away"