• WWF Legend Says Vince McMahon Was Jealous Of Him
On his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross looked back at his complicated working relationship with Vince McMahon, a relationship he suggested was marked by lingering resentment on McMahon’s side.
Ross explained that he always struggled to make sense of what he perceived as McMahon’s hostility toward him, suggesting that jealousy may have played a role.
He pointed out that while McMahon was deeply involved in WWF/E’s creative direction, Ross felt his own contributions – particularly during the Attitude Era – were rarely acknowledged.
At the same time, Ross was careful to avoid overstating his role. He made it clear that he never claimed sole credit for WWF’s success during that period, stressing that the Attitude Era was the result of many people working together rather than one individual’s effort.
“I have never understood Vince’s intense animosity. I think he was jealous. He was never the play-by-play guy that I was, but he didn’t want to give me any credit for helping build the Attitude Era into what it was. I’m not the only person responsible for that, for God’s sakes. I’m not trying to say that.”
Despite the professional friction, Ross noted that he never harbored the same bitterness. He recalled that even during difficult stretches, he found reassurance in the fact that his work was well compensated, which helped him keep perspective. Looking back, Ross said the imbalance in animosity always stood out to him – he simply didn’t share the same resentment that he felt was directed his way.
• Why Vince McMahon Didn’t Book The Undertaker vs. Sting
The legendary battle between The Undertaker and Sting is widely considered the biggest dream match that WWE never booked. For years, fans wondered why the company passed on the opportunity, especially after Sting finally joined WWE in 2014.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the match failed to happen because of one person: Vince McMahon.
While millions of fans saw Sting and The Undertaker as equal icons from two different worlds, McMahon reportedly did not feel the same way. Meltzer explained that the former WWE Chairman never viewed Sting as being on the same level as The Deadman. Because he didn’t see the WCW legend as a true peer to his own top creation, the match was never a serious priority for him.
McMahon’s lack of familiarity with Sting’s full legacy also played a part. He believed that while a small group of fans wanted the match, it wouldn’t appeal to the general WWE audience. This line of thinking prevented what many believe would have been one of the highest-grossing matches in WrestleMania history. Meltzer suggested that if anyone else had been in charge at the time, the match almost certainly would have taken place.
Instead of facing The Undertaker, Sting was booked against Triple H in his WWE debut match at WrestleMania 31. This decision remains one of the most debated moves in wrestling history, as it effectively killed the chance for the Sting vs. Undertaker showdown before Sting’s career was cut short by injury later that year. Sting came out of retirement years later in AEW, but Undertaker had retired by then.
