James William Ross (born January 3, 1952) is an American professional wrestling commentator, sports announcer, and podcaster. He is signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he serves as a commentator as well as an analyst and senior advisor. Ross is best known for a long and distinguished career as a play-by-play commentator for WWE. Known affectionately by WWE fans as "Good Ol' JR", Ross has been labeled as the greatest wrestling commentator of all time. Ross, while in WWE, was occasionally involved in storylines and also participated in nine wrestling matches from 1999 to 2011.
After years of working various jobs in the professional wrestling industry, Ross became the primary play-by-play announcer for Mid-South Wrestling in the early 1980s. He went on to do commentary for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s World Championship Wrestling territory, before jumping to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), making his first appearance for the promotion at WrestleMania IX in 1993. During his tenure with WWF/WWE, Ross was widely regarded as the voice of the company, particularly during the Attitude Era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was also the lead English-language announcer for New Japan Pro-Wrestling on AXS TV from 2015 to 2018 and has occasionally done play-by-play for boxing and mixed martial arts fights. He has been inducted into the WWE, NWA and Wrestling Observer Newsletter halls of fame, and has been honored by the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame twice.
Outside of wrestling, Ross is known for his barbecue sauce and beef jerky brand, J.R.'s Family BBQ. He also hosts his own weekly podcast, Grilling JR.
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Early life
James William Ross was born on January 3, 1952, in Fort Bragg, California. He is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, tracing his ancestry to family members who arrived in Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. In 2022, Ross sold land originally allotted to his great-great-grandfather by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Ross was raised in Westville, Oklahoma, where his maternal grandparents operated a general store. His paternal grandfather, Dee Ross, worked as a carpenter and owned an off-sale beer establishment. At Westville High School, Ross was active in athletics and student leadership. He played first base for the school's baseball team and was a two-time all-conference football player for the Westville Yellowjackets during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. He also served as student body president and earned four varsity letters in basketball. He earned a President's Council Leadership scholarship to Oklahoma State University, where he was enrolled for one semester before leaving due to poor grades and eventually transferring to Northeastern State University.
Beyond athletics, Ross was heavily involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). He won the Oklahoma FFA Speech Championship in both 1968 and 1969 and placed as runner-up in the national competition in 1969. That same year, he was elected treasurer of Oklahoma Boys State and was nominated by Representative Wiley Sparkman to serve as a page in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 1970, he received the FFA State Degree—the organization's second-highest honor—and was elected vice president of the FFA Northeast District. He was also named honorable mention center on the Tulsa World's 1969 Oklahoma High School All-State Football team.
Academically, Ross was inducted into the National Honor Society as a sophomore and received recognition for maintaining a 3.6 GPA during his junior year. After high school, he remained involved in athletics by officiating high school and college baseball, football, and basketball games across Oklahoma for 18 years.
Broadcasting career
Professional wrestling
While attending Northeastern State University, Ross gained early broadcasting experience by working for the college radio station. This background led to his entry into professional wrestling commentary when he was offered a position with the local NWA Tri-State promotion, stepping in for an announcer who was unexpectedly unavailable for an event.
Ross began his career with the promotion in 1974 as a referee, a role he held until 1977 before transitioning to the broadcast team. Following Bill Watts's acquisition of NWA Tri-State in 1982 and its rebranding as Mid-South Wrestling (later Universal Wrestling Federation), Ross was promoted to lead play-by-play announcer. He also assumed administrative responsibilities as the promotion's Vice President of Marketing. During his tenure, he called his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship match, featuring Ric Flair and Ted DiBiase.
In 1987, following Jim Crockett Jr.'s acquisition of the Universal Wrestling Federation and its merger with Jim Crockett Promotions, Ross joined the newly combined organization as a color commentator. He worked alongside David Crockett and Tony Schiavone and was soon promoted to lead play-by-play announcer for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Ross continued in this role as JCP was purchased by Turner Broadcasting System and rebranded to World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Following WCW's departure from the NWA in 1991, Ross was paired with longtime NWA commentator Bob Caudle, and also Paul E. Dangerously. Around this time, Ross briefly expanded into mainstream sports broadcasting, serving as a commentator for one season of Atlanta Falcons radio coverage in 1992.
Over time, Ross advanced to become WCW's head of broadcasting. However, his tenure was marked by a strained professional relationship with Eric Bischoff, a rising commentator and future executive. Ross later claimed that Bischoff effectively promoted himself to WCW's leadership, ultimately leading to a shift in internal dynamics. Conversely, Bischoff alleged that Ross had shown favoritism under the direction of then-WCW booker Bill Watts. In 1993, after Bischoff was promoted to executive producer, Ross requested and was granted a release from his contract. Although Ross had a three-year agreement with Turner Broadcasting System, he opted for an immediate buyout, citing concerns that he would be side-lined from on-air work for an extended period. According to wrestler Mick Foley, Ross also resigned from WCW's booking committee around this time. He officially departed WCW after being removed from television by Bischoff.
National Football League
In 1992, Ross joined the Atlanta Falcons radio broadcast team. However, he would leave after one season, but had a second stint with the Falcons in 1994.
Boxing and mixed martial arts
Ross made his debut calling boxing on May 26, 2014, for Golden Boy Promotions on Fox Sports 1.
Ross teamed up with MMA fighter and UFC veteran Chael Sonnen to commentate the Battlegrounds MMA one night tournament PPV on October 3, 2014.
Podcasting
In 2014 Ross began hosting his own podcast The Ross Report for PodcastOne. It was later relaunched as part of the Westwood One podcast network in 2018 as The Jim Ross Report. In April 2019, Ross partnered with wrestling podcaster/mortgage lender Conrad Thompson to revamp his podcast as Grilling JR, with a new format of reminiscences about Ross's history in wrestling, much in the same style as Thompson's podcasts with Bruce Prichard, Eric Bischoff, Tony Schiavone,
Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett and Arn Anderson.
In-ring career
Although Ross's career has predominantly been as a commentator, Ross has participated in matches, with some notable success, including a victory over Triple H in a no-disqualification match in 2005 (albeit with help from Batista).
Another notable in-ring appearance by Ross was in a tag team match with broadcast partner Jerry "The King" Lawler against Al Snow and Jonathan Coachman at the 2003 Unforgiven pay-per-view, with their Raw broadcast jobs on the line. They lost the contest to Snow and Coachman due to interference by Chris Jericho, however two weeks later Ross and Lawler regained their jobs when Ross defeated Coachman in a Country Whippin' match, using a stunner as a finishing maneuver. Ross has participated in more matches alongside Lawler, including a few with hardcore stipulations. In 2011, Ross competed against Michael Cole on the April 25 episode of Raw, where he defeated Cole by disqualification after Cole's manager for the match, Jack Swagger, attacked Ross while he had Cole mounted and was landing punches on him.
Ross has been involved in numerous other conflicts with other competitors as well such as Triple H, Val Venis, Jack Swagger, Vladimir Kozlov, Mankind, and Steve Austin, Ross has been bloodied in a match by then-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff, and was even set on fire by Kane. Ross even main-evented the WWF's first-ever show from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, an episode of Raw is War that took place on October 11, 1999. Ross teamed with Steve Austin to take on WWF Champion Triple H and his partner Chyna.
As part of storylines, Ross has been regularly targeted by Vince McMahon in rather harsh circumstances throughout his time with WWE: most notably in 2005 when Vince McMahon's character, Mr. McMahon, featured in a series of segments which made fun of Ross's legitimate colon surgery. This has been seen as form of bullying towards Ross by fans.
In 2011, after his firing as an announcer by John Laurinaitis, he returned to team up with John Cena to face Michael Cole and Alberto Del Rio in a tag team match on Raw in a winning effort.
Personal life and health issues
Ric Flair claims he introduced Ross to his late wife, Jan. Ross writes in his autobiography that Ric Flair was present on an airplane when he first met Jan who was a flight attendant. He has two daughters from two previous marriages and two granddaughters. He cites Steve Austin and Jerry Lawler as his closest friends.
Ross lives with Bell's palsy, which sometimes temporarily paralyzes his facial muscles. The symptoms first occurred on January 30, 1994. In late 1998, following the death of his mother, Ross took a break from WWE Raw as the effects of his grief reportedly aggravated his palsy; Michael Cole filled in for him.
In 2007, encouraged by sales of his line of barbecue sauces and beef products, Ross opened up J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q in Norman, Oklahoma. The restaurant closed in May 2010. Ross is also a fan of Skyline Chili and has mentioned them in connection to Cincinnati numerous times on AEW programming.
Ross is an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan and a regular football season ticket holder. This is reflected in his entrance music, which is "Boomer Sooner" (the Sooners' fight song). He can be spotted at some Sooners home games, and when the Sooners play top teams around the country. In 2014, he became FoxSports.com's Contributor for NCAA Football and Oklahoma Sooners. On the February 23, 2021, episode of his YouTube series Grilling J.R., Ross stated that The Sopranos is his favorite TV show and that he still would occasionally watch it.
On March 21, 2017, Ross's wife Jan was involved in a vehicle accident, suffering serious head injuries. She was put on life support, and she died two days later.
Ross had an eye operation in 2018 that greatly affected his eyesight in one eye.
On October 23, 2021, Ross tweeted that he had skin cancer as he was on his way to AEW Dynamite. On December 29, 2021, Ross tweeted that he was cancer free. On February 1, 2024, Ross once again posted that he had undergone successful cancer surgery on his right hip. On May 15, 2025, Ross announced that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was to go into surgery for it "in the next week or two". On May 28, 2025, Ross announced that his colon cancer surgery was a success, and on June 25, Ross revealed he was cancer free.
In other media
In the film Man on the Moon, Ross played Lance Russell (Memphis weekly wrestling show's lead announcer) announcing the match between Andy Kaufman (played by Jim Carrey) and Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Ross also has a recurring role on the Amazon Prime Video original Paradise City as Ned.
Ross was one of the original lead announcers of the original XFL in spring 2001.
Ross has also provided his voice for many WWE video games, and is also an unlockable character in WWE '12, WWF WrestleMania 2000, WWF No Mercy and many more.
In October 2014, he appeared in "Brian and the Boz", a 30 for 30 documentary on fellow Oklahoman Brian Bosworth. Three years later, he appeared in another 30 for 30 documentary, this time about Ric Flair.
Ross has written two WWF/WWE themed cook books Can You Take The Heat? The WWF Is Cooking and J.R's Cookbook released in 2000 and 2003 respectively.
His autobiography Slobberknocker was released on October 3, 2017. The foreword for the new autobiography was written by Vince McMahon. The book includes a letter from McMahon to Ross from when Ross was sick for the second time with Bell's Palsy.
Ross's second book and further autobiography Under the Black Hat: My Life in the WWE and Beyond, co-written with Paul O'Brien, was published in March 2020. On May 7, 2024, Ross and O'Brien released a second book, Business Is About to Pick Up!.
Ross has also created a range of J.R.'s BBQ sauces and mustard which have been inspired by his own culinary knowledge and that of his close family.
Legacy
Ross has been labeled as the greatest wrestling commentator of all time. Ryan Dilbert from the Bleacher Report has stated "Ross also brought searing passion and a love of the wrestling business to Mid-South Wrestling, WWE and World Championship Wrestling. To hear a match with Ross on the call was to watch wrestling morph into poetry, for the scripted action to feel real, meaningful and unforgettable. Debating the greatest pro wrestling commentator comes down to two men, Ross and Gordon Solie. As for the greatest in WWE history, there is no debate Ross stands alone".
Professional wrestling booker and promoter and colleague Eric Bischoff has praised and been critical of Ross, stating, "Jim was in upper-management, had a lot of influence, was participating in the booking during WCW's worst days, and he still didn't have management of the company. So I'm not saying he wasn't capable, necessarily. But he certainly didn't have a track record that he could point to and say look, this is what I did over here." Bischoff also further reiterated that Ross "worked very closely with Bill Watts, which is one of the biggest train wrecks in the history of professional wrestling. So it's not like Jim came in with a résumé that would make one think he would be the ideal candidate to run a wrestling company. Jim is the best announcer, probably on planet Earth. Jim had a tremendous amount of experience and had seen a lot, but he'd never done it."
WWE Hall of Famer and Legend Stone Cold Steve Austin has praised Ross stating, "Jim Ross, to me, with his range, with his storytelling, he paid his dues. I mean, he learned from the ground up. And his inflection and his ability to watch a match, tell a story, get the talent over with the credibility that he had, he was the shining diamond on top of everyone, so always a good experience with Jim".
Awards and accomplishments
Cauliflower Alley Club
Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
Jim Ross Announcer Award (2024)
George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Lou Thesz Award (2011)
Gordon Solie Award (2022)
National Wrestling Alliance
NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Stanley Weston Award (2002)
World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)
Slammy Award for "Tell Me I Did Not Just See That" Moment of the Year (2011) – Rapping during the "Michael Cole Challenge"
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Best Television Announcer (1988–1993, 1998–2001, 2006–2007, 2009, 2012)
Worst Feud of the Year (2005) vs. McMahon family
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)