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Legendary WWE Announcer Jim Ross Discusses His Upcoming UK Shows

Posted: Jul 25th 2013 By: CMBurnham

For many people, Jim Ross is the voice of the WWE.

"Good Ol' JR" was a regular at the announcer desk between the early 1990s and late 2000s and famed for quotes such as "It's a slobberknocker!" and "Business is about to pick up".

Ross makes just sporadic appearances in the commentary booth these days but he will be sharing some anecdotes from his 40-year career with fans this August during shows in Cardiff, London, Manchester and Glasgow.

And ahead of his four-night tour, Ross spoke to skysports.com about what persuaded him to tell his story, what attendees can expect to hear and why the United Kingdom is such a poignant place for him...

"Many of my peers including Brett Hart and Mick Foley have made appearances around the globe telling their stories and they kept telling me: 'JR, you should go out there and tell your stories as it is something you would really enjoy'.

Foley: convinced JR to go on tour

"I'd wanted to do it for years but was always very busy - I was on the road announcing 51 weeks a year and also engaged in the corporate office in WWE.

"However, the last time I was approached my schedule had eased up, I had a window of opportunity and I jumped at it.

"The tour started off as three dates but the ticket sales were better than I ever dreamed they would be so I added a fourth date and I think it will be different to most spoken-word tours.

"I am not a stand-up comedian but my stories are about the entity of entertainment so I think some of the behind-the-scenes tales I share will be quite humorous and entertaining.

"But I also think the fact that I have overcome so many health issues, namely three bouts of Bell's palsy, which is a facial paralysis affliction, will hopefully send out the message that anybody can achieve success and that nothing is impossible if you want it hard enough and are dedicated.

"I am very excited and like how intimate it is going to be in the venues in which I will be appearing; I am often in arenas and stadiums and don't get to interact closely and uniquely with the audience, but this will be a group of people sitting in a room together and having a good chat.

"The fans will be able to ask any question they choose during the Q&A portion of the show and nothing will be off limits.

"It will be spontaneous - I won't know the questions beforehand - and my goal is to be as informative as possible and talk about the relationships I have formed with first-class stars.

"This is a big deal for me.

"My very first assignment for WWE outside of the United States was in Sheffield so I have an affinity with the UK and some of the most emotional moments of my life have happened there.

"I was sitting in a hotel in London, preparing for a UK-only pay-per-view, when I get the call from my wife that my mum had passed away suddenly at the age of 64, while on air at that very pay-per-view, I suffered my second major attack of Bell's palsy, where half of my face was paralysed and I had to finish the broadcast holding my face up with my hand to get through it."

"Those memories are very emotional for me which makes this tour about much more than just business, so I thank the people that have parted with their time and money to come and see me in what I hope will be the first of many tours I do in the UK."

Stay tuned to skysports.com over the coming weeks to read Ross' views on announcing, the SummerSlam main events, what he looks for in new wrestling talent and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-09

Mike Clancy Sep 9th Today!
Rancid Sep 9th Today!
Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
Les Mayne Sep 10th
Owen Sep 10th
Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
Vivian St. John Sep 10th
Kool Ade Sep 10th
Vic Nichols Sep 11th
Summer Thunder Sep 11th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Bash Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd

1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title

More Look Back In History

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