Jun 22nd 2026 11:06am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Legendary announcer Jim Ross open to new challenges including Japanese wrestling

Legendary announcer Jim Ross open to new challenges including Japanese wrestling

Posted: Sep 30th 2014 By: Brian Fritz

At this point in his career, Jim Ross can be picky. The WWE Hall of Famer has been in the broadcasting game now for four decades, a career best known for his passionate professional wrestling calls and phrases that are still recited by fans years later.

Even though he is no longer working for Vince McMahon?s sports entertainment company, JR ? who does host ?The Ross Report? podcast ? is still itching to get behind the microphone to call the action. And now he can tackle his bucket list of things he has always wanted to do.

He was able to knock off one item earlier this year on Memorial Day when he called boxing for Fox Sports 1. Next up on that bucket list for JR is calling mixed martial arts for the ?Battlegrounds MMA? event on October 3 airing live on pay-per-view. Ross will be joined by former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen broadcasting the one-night, eight-man welterweight tournament from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

But JR has more things on his wish list including college football, something the Oklahoma native has a deep affinity for, especially when it comes to his Sooners. He is hoping that maybe Fox Sports will give him a chance at announcing some pigskin.

?I would love to put my toe in the water on one of their Thursday night games, a college football game,? said Ross. ?I?m still selfish in my own desires that I want to watch every Oklahoma game as long as I?m healthy to travel and I?m feeling great. But I would love the opportunity to be a part of a Fox college broadcast on one of their Thursday night games and that way I get the best of both worlds. I could do the game, be a part of the broadcast team and then make my way to see the Sooners play on Saturday.?

Still, there?s something else out there that has not only piqued Ross' attention but certainly his fans as well: a return to professional wrestling. Specifically, calling Japanese wrestling and a dream scenario would be for New Japan Pro Wrestling for their huge Tokyo Dome show on January 4, which could air in the U.S.

?I?m very interested in doing special projects and that certainly would be on that list of a special project,? Ross said. ?And I think if they were serious about their marketing of their pay-per-views ? and I guess their big show is January 4th ? that if they were really serious about that event being a hit in the English-speaking countries, that I might be able to help them.

The belief is that if NJPW is looking to do more business on pay-per-view in English speaking countries, it would make sense to have commentary in that language for those places. And for that, Ross would seemingly be the perfect fit.

?I think their style is right down my alley," he said. "They?re physical, they?re intense, their wrestling is logical and I am a fan of it. But I wouldn?t want to do it in a TV studio somewhere and doing it as a voiceover. If I did it, I?d want to be in Tokyo.

"I want to feel it. I want to be part of it. I don?t want it to be artificial. I want to be emotionally invested and I want to be physically there at ringside. That way if I have it left in me to kick some ass, that gives me the best chance to get that done. And there?s no doubt in my mind that, egocentrically, there?s some fuel left in the tank for that.?

As of right now, Ross admits that there is no deal on the table.

?I have had no (contact) with the decision-makers within the New Japan organization, we have yet to engage in any discussions," he said. "I will be honest with you that I have had casual discussions with some of their people just to say would you be interested in doing it because I?d ask the same thing.There?s no sense in them wasting their time on me until they ascertain my level of interest.?

But in a perfect scenario ? which includes the Oklahoma Sooners not playing in a bowl game on Jan. 4 ? Ross is ready to return to wrestling for at least one night and hopefully call some slobberknockers.

?I told them the same thing I?m telling you ? if all the stars are aligned corrected, I?m interested.?

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

1

Spotlight in History

  • 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
  • 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
06-22
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Kuda Jun 27th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Reckless Jun 27th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Malico Jun 28th
  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
  • Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
  • J. J. Blake Jun 28th
  • John Tidwell Jun 28th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
  • Claire Jun 28th
  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th
  • Barbara Galento Jun 29th
  • Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th
  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th
  • Li'l Joe Jul 1st
  • Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
  • Jake Hollister Jul 1st
  • Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
  • Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
  • Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
  • Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
  • Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
  • Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
  • Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
  • Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
  • Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
  • Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
  • Bree Ann Jul 4th
  • Blake Wilson Jul 4th
  • Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
  • Barry Windham Jul 4th
  • Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
  • Richard Pierce Jul 5th
  • Little Tokyo Jul 5th
  • Terry Kage Jul 5th

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

  • Striker
  • Michael York
  • The Mayne Event
  • cphs_sweethearts
  • Talon

Card Results

1

Top Viewed Bios

Stan Pulaski Kendo Nagasaki Pat Rose Fantastics Jim Barnett