WWF Legend and current AEW commentator Jim Ross is beginning to openly acknowledge that the end of his on-screen broadcasting career may be approaching, even if he has no intention of stepping away from wrestling entirely. Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross reflected on his health, his future, and what retirement actually looks like for him at this stage of his life.
Ross admitted that the past year has taken a serious toll on him physically, explaining that recovery has been slow and far from complete. “I got to get well, man. I got to get healthy,” Ross said, noting that healing becomes more difficult with age. He acknowledged that while he’s grateful to still be working, the physical demands of travel and long days are increasingly challenging. “It still kills me to travel a little bit because I get still sitting in a chair in a seat. I got to heal and I’m not healed yet.”
That reality has led Ross to seriously consider the possibility that his days on television may be winding down. While he stopped short of announcing anything definitive, he made it clear that the thought is no longer hypothetical. “I may be off TV somewhere sooner than later,” JR said, offering one of his clearest acknowledgments yet that an on-screen retirement could be near.
However, Ross was equally clear that stepping away from television does not mean disappearing from wrestling altogether. Podcasting, in particular, remains something he has no desire to give up. “I’m not going to be off podcasting,” he said firmly. Ross described podcasting as both therapeutic and fulfilling, especially during his recent health struggles. “When I was sick and we weren’t recording, I missed it. It’s just a great way to express yourself and to feel what the audience is thinking.”
When the conversation turned directly to retirement, Ross rejected the idea of a drawn-out farewell or a scripted angle to mark the end of his career. For someone who spent decades immersed in storylines, he wants his exit to be as simple and understated as possible. “I don’t want a damn storyline. I’m an announcer. I’ll just say this is my last show and wave and that’s it.”
JR elaborated that he has never been comfortable being part of angles himself, especially later in his career. “That’s why I always disliked strongly being involved in angles,” he said, adding that those moments were often driven by ratings rather than what felt natural for him. Looking ahead, he envisions a quiet departure rather than a spectacle. “When it’s time, it’s time. You say goodbye, you say thank you, and you ride off and leave it to some younger guys to take over.”
Despite the seriousness of the subject, Ross did not sound bitter or fearful about the idea of retirement. Instead, he spoke with a sense of acceptance and gratitude. “Life is good and I’m alive and God bless. I’m happy that I am,” he said, reflecting on how close he came to not being able to have these conversations at all.
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