Jim Ross Not Interested In AEW Talent Relations Job, Always Willing To Help And Listen
Jim Ross is known as one of the greatest announcers of all-time and he’s had success when it comes to recruiting talent and mitigating backstage affairs as well.
Ross served as Executive Vice President of Talent Relations during his time in WWE, but it’s not a role he’s looking to fill in AEW.
“Not really interested, to be honest with you,” Ross said on his Grillin’ JR show when it was brought up that Jim Cornette said Ross should take the role. “If Tony Khan came to me and said, ‘Can you help me with this talent?’ I work with a lot of talent. I don’t ever go to TV and don’t have a conversation with The Acclaimed. Wardlow is another one. I have a small list. Darby Allin. There are a lot of these guys that I talk to at every TV. That’s one of the reasons that I go to TV on Wednesday even though I’m not broadcasting Dynamite. I get the opportunity, in a controlled environment, to some degree, to talk to these kids. Whether it be at catering or backstage or wherever it might be. I don’t have an office or a private locker room. None of that stuff. I’m a big fan of what we’re doing and I hope all these guys Tony has around him now are going to continue to do a good job, I’m sure they will, I’m sure they’ll try.”
Ross continued discussing having an official title by saying, “It’s not something I’m seeking. If he came to me and asked me to help him. I still help him, just off the record and off the radar. If you ever talk to some of these talents. ‘Do you ever talk to JR at TV?’ ‘Oh yeah.’ I like that role. It’s kind of unofficial. We talk about talent all the time, but has he approached me in an official way to get involved? No. I have no problem with that. I made it clear that’s not a job that I want. If the team leader or team owner came to me and said, ‘I need help here’ or ‘are you willing to do this?’ Obviously, I’ve always been a team player. It’s not something I’m soliciting and I don’t feel like I’m letting anyone down by not doing it. I’m still helping talent. Like I said, there’s a small list of guys I talk to every TV. Now that we’re on the road like this week, twice, I’ll have two chances to shoot the breeze with talent and give them positive reinforcement, little critiques. I talk to MJF. I talk to everybody there. They seek me out because I’m old, experienced, and have a good track record in talent relations. That record is established. I’m not looking for that role, but if called upon, I would serve. I’m not expecting that to happen and I’m fine with that.”
Ross signed with AEW in April 2019 as an announcer and senior advisor. He signed an 18-month extension in 2022.
He currently calls the action Fridays on AEW Rampage.
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