The Future Of Jim Ross

[Mitch Henessey]

Jim Ross has posted the following over at JRsBarBQ.com concerning his broadcasting future:

"I don't think that WWE is interested in putting me back on weekly TV and all the travel that comes along with it at this time. Would I love to work with King again? Certainly. Is this my call? Nope. Do I think that I will ever be paired with Lawler again on a regular basis? Highly unlikely."

Ross is currently out of action right now due to his current bout with Bell's Palsy, but it seems JR's future with WWE is uncertain. Ever since his absence, Matt Striker has been filling in for him on Smackdown. Ross and Grisham never really seemed to work well together, and I think the duo of Striker and Grisham is better.

After reading this, I started thinking about JR and King together again, but then I remembered we're in the PG era. Ross and King were great during the attitude era, and a couple years after that, but both of them have lost a lot of the fire they used to have. Also, I imagine they're restricted to a lot what they can and can't say. Still, ever since Ross's move to Smackdown a couple of years ago, he hasn't been the same. Although, he did show signs of the old JR during Wrestlemania 25.

I hope JR will return, but after reading this piece from his blog, who knows what he'll be doing when he returns? JR might not be what he used to be, but I still feel he can bring something to the table when it comes to announcing.

What do you think the future of Jim Ross is?

Would you like to see Jerry Lawler and JR reunite? Could this be a good or bad thing?

Thoughts?

 

[Mr. Dejan]

I REALLY want Jim Ross to be at Wrestlemania. There are two matches that I Desperately Want him to call They are the HBK VS Taker Match and Then Hart Vs Vince Match.

I dont think Wrestlemania would be the same without Jim Ross. Having him call at least those two matches would give him the farewell he deserves.

Does he have to return to weekly programing? No
Does He have to sign a long term contract? No

 

[adamny101]

If i were him i would come back for WM 26 and that is it. Don't get me wrong, i want him back but just for the sake of his health do it for a one time only

 

[Dagger Dias]

I don't think Jim Ross has much of a future in terms of announcing. He's getting old and he's still taking time off for health issues. I think it would be cool if he came back to call Wrestlemania 26. They could make the Raw announcing team a 3 man team that night with Cole, Ross, and Lawler, while Grisham and Striker remain as the Smackdown announcing team. Ross should leave after that. Yes, he was great, but he can't announce forever. It would be cool if he and Lawler reuinited (with Cole as a 3 man team like last year) to announce Wrestlemania 26 but after that, no more because JR and the King will never be as good together as they were long ago, those days are gone. WWE can't live in the past and it's time to find a permanent replacement for Ross after Wrestlemania.

 

[Jaims]

Do I want to see JR and Lawler reunite?: No.

And it's not because of JR, because I think he is still a great announcer. I couldn't have imagined anyone else calling that Undertaker/Michaels match at Wrestlemania 25.

But I am growing tired of Lawler. His comedy has either been lackluster or just plain tired and worn ragged after all these years. You can tell he never watches Smackdown nor really cares about anything other than RAW. I was hoping he would win his mayorial election so he could be gone to give Striker a spot on RAW. I love him for who he is, but it's time for a change.

But to get back on topic, with the demise of ECW, and with Cole and Matthews taking the helm on NXT, we had 5 announcers to fill 4 spots. Striker would have been the logical choice to give the axe, but with JR out, there was a convenient solution to just give Striker the role. And honestly, he's done a good job with Grisham, so much so that I enjoy that pair much more than Cole/Lawler. And I think the WWE sees that chemistry as well. So if JR were to come back, you either break up a good thing, or oust somebody with some legacy in the WWE on RAW.

And so the convenient solution still prevails: JR has health issues, so keep him off TV because of his health. I don't think WWE is using it as an excuse, but merely a reason. Someone has to be removed from weekly announcing, and the fact that JR would benefit health-wise from not having to travel every two days makes him the better choice in the grand scheme of things.

I think he will continue to work in WWE, with occasional announcing cameos. I would like to think of him as a Howard Finkel - work behind the scenes a bit, make special guest announcing appearances when deemed necessary.