Pro-Wrestling WWF's Jim Ross a star behind the scenes, mike Page

Last updated 17 November 2004

WWF's Jim Ross a star behind the scenes, mike

To most WWF fans, Jim Ross is the commentator with the black cowboy hat who gets into verbal sparring matches with Jerry "The King" Lawler each week on RAW. His Southern drawl and penchant for "slobber knockers" have made the 48-year-old's voice the most recognized and listened to in wrestling.

In reality, that is Jim Ross the character. Calling matches and telling stories for two hours on Monday nights is a break from the numerous meetings, phone calls and contract negotiations that normally occupy Ross' days.

The Westville, Okla. native is the WWF's senior vice president of talent relations and wrestling administration. Ross' department identifies and develops new talent, negotiates all performer contracts and approves all WWF talent appearances. The Rock's recent "Saturday Night Live" appearance and filming of "Mummy 2" went through Ross' office. Ross also books WWF house shows, which means he arranges talent to appear at various shows that are not on television. He is part of weekly senior management meetings, writes a weekly column on WWF.com and is on the road three to four days per week. It's a job that makes for long days and an impressive name plate.

"I don't even have a title on the door because the door is always open," Ross said. "I take my job seriously, but I don't take the title seriously."

His normal routine provides three days off per month. Ross begins his week on Sunday, when he flies to the city where Monday's RAW is being held. Monday begins with a production meeting at noon and ends with a wrap-up, feedback session one hour after the show.

"Those two hours I do on RAW are the two most difficult hours of the week," Ross said. "And, I'm doing them after having worked almost 10 hours. But, I'm not about to complain because most of those people in the building are at our show after working at least that many, too. I still get nervous before going out there. I'm still a fan and I have been since I was 6 years old."

By Tuesday Ross is on another plane heading for Smackdown tapings. Wednesday is a catch-up day at his office in Stamford, Conn. going over things from wrestler payroll to who is developing in Memphis. A series of meetings with his talent relations staff greets Ross on Thursday. Friday he meets with the suits. Saturday is a day off. That is, of course, if there isn't a pay-per-view event on Sunday.

"I know that schedule probably isn't going to win me husband of the year," Ross said. "It's certainly a challenge for everyone in my department. I like doing what I'm doing and I see myself doing it for a while longer. I really enjoy dealing with the talent and being around the business."

Ross has been in the wrestling business since he was in college. He left Westville, a town of slightly more than 1,000 people about 100 miles east of Tulsa on the Arkansas border, after high school in 1970. Though he grew up an Oklahoma fan, he attended Oklahoma State before graduating from Northeastern State in Tahlequah, where his daughter, Kasi, is currently working on her master's degree. In college, Ross broadcast Northeastern State football and basketball games and officiated high school football, baseball and basketball. Then he met "Cowboy" Bill Watts and began sitting in on Watts' television tapings when he needed an announcer.

Timing also was key for Ross. In the late '70s, Ross was doing promotions, marketing, advertising and syndicated television for Watts. At the time, legendary wrestling announcers Gordon Solie and Lance Russell were advancing in age and Jim Crockett, who had bought Watts' promotion, was looking for younger talent. Crockett sold his NWA company to Ted Turner in the late '80s and the promotion became WCW. Ross became one of the TBS announcers, and current Nitro broadcaster Tony Schiavone was put in syndication.

Ross worked for WCW until 1993 when his contract was not renewed. The WWF picked Ross up that year and his first WWF on-air job was in March at WrestleMania 9 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

"Yes," Ross said, "that's the one where I wore a toga."

Things appeared to back on track for Ross. However, in January 1994, Ross was stricken with Bell's Palsy, a condition that left the left side of his face paralyzed.

"I remember it was Super Bowl Sunday 1994 and the Cowboys were playing the Bills," Ross said. "I just woke up with it. I had no idea what it was. I didn't even have any idea what it was when the doctor told me what it was."

Soon after finding out he had Bell's Palsy, Ross was told his WWF contract was not being renewed. He moved to Atlanta, hosted a radio show with Falcons quarterback Jeff George and broadcast Falcons games the first year the team played in the Georgia Dome.

After that season, WWF owner Vince McMahon was indicted by a federal grand jury for steroid distribution and had neck surgery. McMahon called Ross and asked if he would sign a short-term contract and come back to Connecticut to be on RAW. Ross obliged, but he was soon pushed out. After being cleared of steroid charges, McMahon wanted to return to his on-air position. Ross' contract, once again, was not renewed, but this time he wasn't gone long. By December 1994, McMahon wanted Ross once more. This time it was under J.J. Dillon in talent relations.

Ross eventually moved up the ladder to his current position and was given on the responsibility "to totally overhaul our roster."

Ross began by looking for wrestlers the WWF could develop and by looking for personalities and good people who happened to be athletes and not the other way around.

"I honestly believe that the roster we have right now is the best that has been assembled at a wrestling company in the last 25 years," Ross said. "We not only have great athletes, but we have great people. Look at a guy like John Layfield (Bradshaw). Comes from a great family, he's smart, he's got a great personality. And, he happens to be a former All-America football player from Abilene Christian University. Those are the kinds were looking for. We're looking for the people who will represent us well in everything we do."

GOLDBERG'S TRAVELS

Though WCW has been teasing Goldberg's return for some time, the Tulsa native said he still needs time to heal his arm injury. He is happy with the new regime's direction and is eager to return.

While the injury heals, Goldberg, who has no confirmed return date, has been more than busy. In Los Angeles last week, Goldberg filmed episodes for Comedy Central's "The Man Show" and "Turn Ben Stein On." "The Man Show" is a Hanukkah special that will air in December. "Turn Ben Stein On" will air in July.

Goldberg also attended a Lakers-Suns playoff game as a guest of San Antonio native Shaquille O'Neal.

UNDERTAKER ALMOST READY

Houston's Mark Callaway is tired of waiting. The WWF's Undertaker wants to get back in the ring. Callaway hasn't been on WWF television since September 1999 when he took time off after injuring an abdominal and groin muscle. In January, just before he was set to return, Callaway tore a pectoral muscle while bench pressing. The injury put The Undertaker on the sidelines once again. He should return to WWF television soon, but June's King of the Ring pay-per-view event is the earliest WWF officials expect him back in the ring.

"He's frustrated more than anything," said WWF senior vice president of talent relations and wrestling administration Jim Ross. "It might be a little while before he's able to wrestle a match, but I'd say he'll be on TV sooner rather than later."

MORE TROUBLE FOR BUFF

Marcus "Buff" Bagwell was charged with battery, a Class A misdemeanor, this week in Springfield, Ill. for allegedly hitting WCW employee Darrell Miller after an argument. The incident happened May 9 at the Thunder tapings. Bagwell, who has been suspended 30 days by WCW, was arrested but later released after posting $100 bond. He has a July 11 court date.

CLOSE CALL

WCW champion Ric Flair collapsed in the ring Tuesday during the main event at the Thunder tapings. While taking on his son David Flair, Crowbar and Jeff Jarrett, Flair dropped to a knee and motioned to referee Charles Robinson that he was in trouble. At the time, David Flair, Crowbar and valet Daffney were the only ones in the ring. All three broke character and appeared concerned. Robinson helped Flair to the back, where Flair indicated he was fine.

He underwent tests Wednesday in Charlotte. Flair, already working with a sore shoulder that is in need of surgery, indicated the problem stemmed from an equilibrium problem he has battled since suffering a chipped bone in his ear during a 1992 match against The Ultimate Warrior.

THUNDER PROBLEMS

WCW had other problems in addition to the Ric Flair situation at Tuesday's Thunder tapings in Lafayette, La. Production is still not where Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff want it to be, and for the second time in three weeks, creative editing had to be used to make the show work. During the Sting-Vampiro exchange, the ring was supposed to catch fire after Vampiro announced the inferno match for the Great American Bash. It didn't happen and the two ended up having to retape the angle after the show was over.

Also, Arn Anderson (Marty Lunde) was supposed to be involved in the main event with Ric Flair. However, Anderson reaggravated a foot injury backstage and had to be written out of the storyline.

ON THE STONE COLD TRAIL

Stone Cold Steve Austin will appear Friday on CBS' "Nash Bridges" as renegade cop Jake Cage. The television and movie business is something that has intrigued Austin (Steve Williams) for some time. Since his second serious neck injury last November, Austin has given more thought to pursuing additional acting opportunities.

This week, Austin agreed to play a Hell's Angel member in an upcoming independent movie on Janis Joplin.

IN BOX

Q: Which side do you think Shawn Michaels will be on Sunday? - Jose Galindo, Mexico City

A: On RAW Monday, HBK, who will be the special guest referee for the main event Sunday at Judgment Day, is supposed to "call it down the middle." There will obviously be a swerve there. The question is which way Vince McMahon wants to take HBK. Does he want HBK to make more television appearances? How involved does HBK really want to be?

On the first Smackdown, he helped HHH win the title. And, Michaels has never really opposed his DX and Clique running buddy. That leads to two scenarios. The first has Michaels keeping with the trend and staying with HHH. Or, HBK can go the I-can't-stand-Vince-McMahon route and bring that into the angle. Somehow, the San Antonio native will be involved in the finish. Perhaps we'll see another Bret Hart ending or maybe even a clean finish. Either way, it will be great to see HBK back in the ring.

SIGN OF THE WEEK

Instead of wit and humor, the winners this week are due to the lack of a decent spell checker. One sign at Thunder in Lafayette, La. paid homage to WCW champion Ric Flair with "Rick Flair for President." A few rows down, another fan showed her support for "Daimond [sic] Dallas Page."

PINPOINTS

Tickets for the WWF's Fully Loaded pay-per-view event on July 23 at Reunion Arena go on sale the second week of June. No official date has been announced ... Goldberg and Scott Steiner are on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids. To see the cover, click here ... USA Network and WWF officials met this week in an attempt to settle USA's lawsuit out of court. Under the existing contract, USA retains WWF programming rights if it matches any other offer the WWF receives. USA contends it matched the CBS/Viacom offer for WWF programming when it matched the dollar amount. Because the CBS/Viacom offer is laden with additional incentives, the WWF believes offering the same amount of money does not constitute an equal offer. The network filed suit six weeks ago. The WWF is offering USA financial compensation to settle ... DDP will be on the Donny and Marie Show May 24 ... Nitro will air from 6 to 8 p.m. CST Monday due to TNT's NBA playoff coverage ... The main event for the Brian Pillman Memorial Card Thursday in Cincinnati is Chris Benoit against Steven Regal. DDP, Kevin Nash, Road Dogg, Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero are among those scheduled to wrestle. Cincinnati Reds players Danny Graves, Sean Casey and Dmitri Young also will be part of the show. The show, ran by Les Thatcher, is in memory of Pillman, a former Cincinnati Bengals player and WCW and WWF wrestler. He died in October 1997 at 35 of congestive heart failure ... Hulk Hogan's A&E Biography debuts June 13 ... The Rock will be on E! Online June 5. He also is scheduled for NBC Dateline in late June ... Among the items up for auction at the Pillman Show are a pair of Chris Jericho's wrestling boots and tights autographed by DDP and a ring-worn Ric Flair robe ... ECW's Lance Storm has signed with WCW ... RAW had a 6.2 rating Monday; Nitro was a 3.1 ... Kid Rock band member Joe C. was on Smackdown Thursday. Kid Rock will be on RAW Monday with Chris Jericho ... Kimberly, Ms. Hancock, Torrie Wilson and Nitro Girl Chae had a photo shoot last weekend with Stuff Magazine... Acclaim's ECW Anarchy Rulz video game will be available late summer ... Chyna's appearance on NBC's "3rd Rock From the Sun" is Tuesday ... Former All Japan wrestler Jumbo Tsuruta died Tuesday in Manilla after a short battle with kidney cancer. He was 49. ... Former Nitro Girl Frye (Terri Byrne) has signed with Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling ... A replay of the April 14 NWA Southwest hardcore match between Abdullah the Butcher and Necro Butcher will air May 27 on KLDT Ch. 55.