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Jim Ross brings "Ringside" to Starland Ballroom

Posted: Jan 22nd 2015 By: Alex Biese

Jim Ross knows what to expect from a New Jersey crowd.

The World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee and legendary ringside announcer has had plenty of time to learn the temperament of Garden State crowds during his 40-plus years in the professional wrestling business.

"Jersey fans aren't reserved. They have a lot of passion for what they're following, their sports teams, their music," Ross said. "I mean, how do you think of Bruce Springsteen and not think of New Jersey? It's impossible to me. I even, when I think of New Jersey, I think of 'The Sopranos' because it's my all-time favorite television show.

"So, the crowds have always been passionate and enthusiastic. I love the rivalry between New Jersey and New York. For us outsiders ? I live out here in Oklahoma, for example ? it's fun to watch from afar. One never has to wonder too long to determine what someone feels like in Jersey. And I'm not saying this with any disrespect, it's just that they're honest and they give you their opinion. And I like that. I think that's great."
Jim Ross has spent more than 40 years working in the

Jim Ross has spent more than 40 years working in the professional business as an announcer and talent relations executive.(Photo: Steve Wright Jr.)

Ross, who served as both a famed commentator and talent relations executive, parted ways with the WWE in 2013 after 20 years with the company. Now he's taking his one-man show, "Ringside: An Evening with Jim Ross," on the road, and he'll be making his New Jersey debut Friday night at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville.

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"I want to give back to the most loyal fans because they're the ones who are going to be at our shows, like in Sayreville at the Starland," Ross said. "Those are loyal, die-hard wrestling fans. And, what they're going to hear is they're going to hear humor, they're going to hear poignancy, they're going to hear some motivation. They're going to hear 100 percent truth.

"And, when we get to the Q&A aspect of the show, which is the biggest aspect of the show, I basically turn it over to them and it's an open forum. They can ask any question they choose. No off-limit questions, nothing of that nature whatsoever."

Ross also will appear Sunday afternoon at Underground Arts on Callowhill Street in Philadelphia. That night, the WWE will host its annual Royal Rumble event in Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center.

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"I don't have an act. I don't have a teleprompter," Ross said of his one-man show. "I go from the gut, and from the heart. I'll have some stories, and I'll try to be the GPS to take everybody from how I got in the wrestling business and my journey through it. ... Some of the characters that I worked with over the last 40 years reads like a who's-who.

"I was just at the right place and the right time to live all these changes and evolutions in the business. So we talk about all of that."

From broadcaster to podcaster

For nearly a year, Ross has hosted his own highly regarded wrestling-centric podcast, "The Ross Report." Presented by PodcastOne, the same company behind podcasts by wrestling legends "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Chris Jericho, "The Ross Report" is one of the top sports podcasts on the iTunes charts.

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With nearly 50 episodes on record already, the podcast features Ross' professional opinions on the current state of the wrestling business, insightful commentary and candid conversations with wrestling legends including Austin, Mick Foley and Trish Stratus.

"I've been really, really lucky that the fans didn't forget who the heck I was and were interested enough to download it," Ross said of his series' success. "We're coming up on a year, and it's been great. I've had fun doing it. It's been a way of connecting with the fans because they send me Twitter questions.

"I use social media in that respect, to get their feedback on what they liked, what they didn't like, what guests they'd like to hear and this, that and the other.

"It gives me the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends, old acquaintances and so forth. So it's been a winner from day one and now I'm getting into the routine of it, so I'm having a great time."

RINGSIDE: AN EVENING WITH JIM ROSS

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, with a VIP meet-and-greet starting at 6

WHERE: Starland Ballroom, 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville

TICKETS: $20 to $65

INFORMATION: 732-238-550, http://www.starlandballroom.com/

ALSO: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., Philadelphia. Tickets $20 to $65. For more information, visit undergroundarts.org.
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