Jim Ross Says Discussions With TNA/IMPACT Were Never Serious, Wouldn’t Give Him Roster Control
In 2009, Jim Ross met with Dixie Carter about potentially joining TNA/IMPACT. Ross has finished up as a full-time announcer in WWE in October 2009.
Speaking on The Roman Show, Ross discussed his meeting with the Carter family and why things didn’t work out between him and TNA/IMPACT.
“I had a meeting with Dixie Carter and her family. We had a talk, but they weren’t ready to make the change that I felt like I needed to have to be comfortable. If I was going to report to anybody, it was going to be one person, and that was Dixie. But I didn’t have control over the talent roster and talent pay. Like Bill Parcells said, ‘If you expect me to cook the meals, you gotta let me buy some groceries.’ I needed to buy some groceries. Bob Carter understood that and probably would have gone for it. It was a logical idea. I need the autonomy to rebuild the brand and make some money. If I don’t do what I tell you I’m going to do, you can fire my ass. That’s easy. Nothing serious, other than that one meeting,” he said.
Ross remained in WWE, doing commentary work part-time for the company. He also did commentary work for NJPW on AXS before joining AEW full-time in 2019.
Elsewhere during the interview, Ross gave his thoughts on AEW potentially hiring some of the recent WWE releases. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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