HeelByNature.com is reader-supported. When you click on links or make purchases through our site, we or our affiliated partners may earn a commission. Additionally, our site features Sponsored Content, which helps us maintain and operate the website.
Legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross has revealed that AEW will be his ‘last gig’ in professional wrestling
On the latest episode of his ‘Grilling JR’ Podcast, Jim Ross touched on AEW’s Full Gear PPV his experience with AEW, along with mentioning how AEW will be his last experience in the professional wrestling industry.
Ross started by giving his thoughts on AEW’s latest PPV, Full Gear, mentioning how multiple matches could have been the main event.
“I love the effort by everybody; everybody brought their A game,” Ross said. “I don’t think we had any bad matches.There’s matches that one could argue might have been too long for their spot, but that’s not unusual for any PPV show. I thought the show was excellent. I thought the talent worked hard and they were focused.
“You know a card is good when you read a lot of feedback that says ‘This match could have closed the show, this match should have closed the show’. That tells you the show all around is going to be pretty damn good that multiple matches some fans could believe could’ve closed the show.”
Ross went on to speak about how he loves working with Tony Schiavone and Excalibur on AEW’s commentary team.
“It’s great to have Tony back in the game,” Ross said. “I really enjoy working with him. It’s just good to be around him. I believe Tony makes me better, and I hope both of us make Excalibur better because he’s kind of the new kid on the block. He’s had a good first year; he’s a very smart guy.
“We all have a preference and our roles seem to change. I don’t care who does the play-by-play, doesn’t matter to me. If I’m in my groove and it’s my time, then I will, but it’s not something I’m trying to force myself into. All of us do our role and seem to be fairly content doing our role. I enjoy working with those dudes. It’s been a really good experience.”
Ross continued by speaking about AEW’s CEO Tony Khan, and how he has been a professional wrestling fan all his life.
“Tony Khan has done a really good job writing [AEW Dynamite],” Ross said. “He embraces the opportunity to write wrestling. He was telling me the other day that he’s been writing TV shows since he was 10 or 12 years old – that’s been his love. Now he can do it on an official and real basis.”
Ross then talked about multiple matches from AEW’s latest PPV, Full Gear. He mentioned how Adam Page’s match against Kenny Omega could have been crazy with a full crowd and how Darby defeating Cody was the right choice.
“I thought Darby Allin beating Cody was smart booking,” Ross said. “Darby is really the first guy who’s homegrown in AEW that’s ascended to a championship level. Everybody else has had a title, a previous run somewhere else, primarily WWE. Darby never went to WWE, he’s our guy. So Darby being able to win a title as an AEW homegrown guy is a smart move.
“We started off with Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page – they killed it. They set the table. If we had been in an area with 10,000 people, the crowd would have gone crazy because it was a great wrestling match.”
Ross, who has been with AEW since their first show, touched on his entire experience with the company, and that it will be his last in professional wrestling.
“It’s been a great experience,” Ross mentioned regarding his time with AEW. “I’ve been very lucky to get this gig. It will be my last gig in pro wrestling – I can promise you that. But I hope it doesn’t end anytime soon.
Ross finished up by speaking about AEW’s upcoming third hour of television, which was included in the company’s TV deal with TNT.
“I would be shocked if AEW doesn’t add another hour of television,” Ross said. “Not piggybacked on Dynamite; I think it will always stay for 2 hours. Somewhere along the way, there will be another hour of television in some form with our partner on TNT. Don’t know when, what day, how it’s going to be formatted, I just feel that’s the next thing with AEW and TNT.”
Special thanks to WrestlingInc for the transcription