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Posts Tagged ‘Jim Ross’

The WWE announce team situation has improved dramatically since Triple H “reinstated” Ross a couple weeks ago. But he was AWOL at SummerSlam, meaning we had to endure an three-person color commentary crew of Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Booker T. At a PPV this big, you need the biggest voice in pro wrestling today. You need Jim Ross.

Folks itching to acquire HTC buy online to get a smartphone to figure all this out, but honestly, all it takes is common sense. And it took me no time at all.

It’s just sad.

Jim Ross today denied, via his blog, that he is the mystery GM on RAW. Which means… there’s still a chance he is, of course. But not likely.

One doesn’t need new vga cables to see that most WWE mysteries like this are usually resolved in a much more disappointing way than the speculation that surrounds them surmises; just like when “Who Is the Higher Power” mystery was revealed to be… Vinnie Mac himself, which everyone pretty much guessed would be the safe route to go.

Oh well… it’s probably Steph this time…

The rumor mill needs a fat burner lately, but word is that TNA is hoping to bring in both Paul Heyman and Jim Ross soon. Heyman’s name has been mentioned because of his ECW credibility, now that TNA is home to a number of Heyman’s ECW talents, including Rob Van Dam.

However, Jim Ross could be the biggest impact move TNA could make, as he would improve the quality of announcing in TNA overnight, like, 1,000 percent. Ross’ WWE contract expires at the end of this month and if WWE wants to re-sign him, the clock is ticking. Meanwhile, TNA is drooling at the chance to pick up the most legit play-by-play talent in pro wrestling.

Jim Ross’ future with WWE should be determined in the next few weeks. Now recovered from his latest bout with Bells Palsy, WWE is laying the groundwork for a potential Ross return to WWE Monday Night Raw. However, Ross has been wondering out loud on his blog whether he can keep up the schedule he used to keep when announcing full-time.

One can expect WWE will want him around at least in the short term, with WrestleMania coming up and Ross being a favorite of several important veterans including, most importantly, Bret Hart.

Also, the risk of releasing Ross right now is higher than ever; with TNA Impact moving permanently to Monday nights, it would take only a couple used travel trailers to get wrestling fans to check out TNA Impact broadcasts with Ross on the play-by-play; he’s be an immediate and meteoric improvement over Mike Tenay.

So it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out; while WWE seems to be wanting to go younger than Ross, his importance to the success of WWE… or TNA… has never been higher.

Following his third attack of Bells Palsy, a recovering Jim Ross has recently blogged that it may not be an automatic that he’ll return to Smackdown as part of the announce team there. The most natural alternative, then, would be for Ross to return to his old home – Raw – and his long-term broadcast cohort, Jerry Lawler.

While some may light up Davidoff cigars at the suggestion, I’ll stay smoke-free and say that I think reuniting Ross and Lawler on Raw would definitely be the best way to go.

Get well soon, JR! WWE needs you… on Monday nights!

According to numerous online reports, Jim Ross has suffered another attack of Bell’s Palsy and, at least for the time being while he recovers, is out of action as the Smackdown play-by-play announcer. His role will temporarily be filled by Matt Striker as color commentator while Todd Grisham takes over play-by-play.

Ross is said to be waiting on test results to determine the severity of this latest attack; Ross has suffered from Bells’ Palsey for years, but has overcome previous attacks to return to his announcing role in WWE. If he is unable to continue in an announcing role, one would hope the McMahons would offer him a choice of jobs in administration of WWE matters, as they often due with WWE greats past their prime.

But who knows? Perhaps Ross can overcome this attack, also. Time will tell the tale.

There was a time when Jim Ross and WWE were as inseparable as auto mechanics and truck accessories; but even though his current contract expires come 2010, WWE apparently has not even begun negotiating an extension for Ross, who currently is the lead announcer on SmackDown.

So, the gossips are speculating – as they do – that the WWE’s only straight-talker may soon be talking up TNA instead of WWE. If it comes to pass, it would certainly go a long way toward improving the announcing quality at TNA.

All we can say here at ProWrestlingViews, though, is… say it ain’t so, guys! WWE and Jim Ross simply should not part ways.

The writing had been on the wall for a while.

First, he was separated from tag partner Trevor Murdoch, who was released by WWE. Then, after being reinvented as Chris Jericho’s protege, Lance Cade disappeared from WWE TV for a while. Last Tuesday, the hammer finally fell: WWE released Lance Cade.

While Cade never really got over with the audience, and thus this news is probably going to be about as interesting as the latest developments in acne treatments, the real item of interest here is a transparency question.

The WWE never really stated directly why Cade was released. However, Jim Ross, on his blog, dropped hints, detailing enough of the circumstances about events leading up to Cade’s release that suggest the real reason is a violation of the WWE’s Wellness Policy.

About a year ago, in the wake of the Benoit Family Tragedy, WWE made it very public that they would soon be much more transparent when employees are released for Wellness Policy violations. Now, a year later, it seems the company may be slipping back into its old method of covering over the actual circumstances.

That’s unfortunate, as it reduces public trust in WWE and allows performers to remain in denial about possible problems they may be facing in their lives.

Let’s hope that if Cade is facing certain behind-the-scenes problems, he will face them down directly and get his life back on a positive and healthy track.

The UK Sun is reporting that once Mick Foley’s WWE contract expires at the end of this month, he will make the jump to NWA-TNA, WWE’s only potential competitor, and will become a part-time wrestler with a schedule similar to Sting’s. The article charges that Foley is not content being in an announcing or non-wrestling role at WWE.

But hold your horses! On his blog, good ol’ JR, Jim Ross, claims all of this speculation is a lot of hooey, and he plans to talk to Foley soon to “see how things are going.” That’s WWE-speak for trying to talk him into staying with WWE, of course.

Just like some Web sites that sell auto insurance compare rates from other companies before you buy, I’d hope Mick thinks long and hard about moving to TNA. At this stage in his career, it’s a move that cannot be undone in the eyes of the McMahon family, who would almost certainly lock him out of the WWE Hall of Fame or any potential return to WWE later on.

The UK Sun report claims Foley wants to help put TNA on the map; however, if WWE converts like Christian Cage, Jeff Hardy (before he came back) and Kurt Angle haven’t been able to pull that off, what could a broken-down Foley do for them?

Bad career move, Mick. Hope you don’t opt that direction.