JR Says He’ll Do 30 To 40 Dates In First Year Of WWE Contract, Talks Saying Goodbye To The Undertaker

After making his return to the commentary table at WrestleMania 33, Jim Ross gave some details about his new contract with WWE during a recent interview.

JR noted that he signed the new deal on the Friday of WrestleMania weekend, during an interview with AV Club.

"I think I’m going to do 30-40 dates in my first 12 months of my deal," Ross said. "Those dates are to be determined. There’s nothing they can assign me that I haven’t done before. How many wrestling matches you think I’ve called in my lifetime—100,000? If they want me to do U.K. or NXT or Main Event, I don’t care. It’s all good to me. My days of being the lead guy, the No. 1 voice—all that is way yesterday. Guys who’ve had those issues like I have had in my career, they have self-esteem and confidence issues. I have both those. Totally happy to admit it, but I ain’t got them no more. I’m 65 years old. I feel great, I just lost my wife, I’m trying to get back on my feet here, and I’ve said this and I truly mean it: I’m happy to get my jersey back. I’m happy to re-sign with my old team. Whatever role I need to play, I’m fine with."

Ross noted that talks about a WWE return began about six months ago and that his wife, Jan,  who tragically passed away last month from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, was excited about his imminent return.

"She was excited about going to WrestleMania and seeing all her old friends, and I shared her optimism. I didn’t get a chance to get her to the red carpet, but I do believe she was present when I called the Undertaker match," he said.

Ross, who has been the play-by-play voice for the New Japan Pro Wrestling show that appears on AXS TV, said he would continue in that role and "fulfill my contractual obligations" but that he no longer would be involved with the revival of World of Sport.

Ross also discussed getting to interact with The Undertaker prior to his match at WrestleMania 33, which by all accounts appears to be his last as a competitor. 

"I went in his RV when I arrived hours before we were going on. So we had a very good personal conversation. We’ve been joined at the hip for a long, long time, even back to the WCW days. I helped get him into WCW from World Class Championship Wrestling," said Ross, who noted after the match they had "a big hug afterward. I cried, he didn’t want to cry, though he might have had a tear. It was very emotional for him afterward, and I didn’t want to monopolize his time. It sure as hell wasn’t about me, it was about him. What he helped facilitate for me was the greatest honor I have received in wrestling. I’ve been in three Halls Of Fame, and they pale in comparison to having a legendary guy wanting to bring me back—whether I was under contract or not—to be part of the broadcast team, so I can add to his soundtrack of that match. It was a really emotional day."

Ross noted he was "very grateful" to both Undertaker and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon for giving him a chance to help call the Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania.

Click here to read the complete interview with JR.