When news broke that Jim Ross was going to miss Double or Nothing due to an emergency medical situation, fans wondered what the future held for the living legend, WWE Hall of Famer, and oldest member of AEW's commentary team.
Initially hired as the lead commentator of Dynamite back when AEW only had one weekly show on TNT, Ross has seen his role diminish for one reason or another, with his health issues playing a role in going from a weekly contributor to a Pay-Per-View-only special feature adding an aura of importance to highlighted matches.
Discussing where he's at in the recovery process on his Grillin' JR podcast, Ross revealed that he's doing much better and will be back in AEW a lot sooner than some fans might expect.
“I'm pretty good, Connie. Good to see you. I'm good. I'm getting better every day. Well, I'm in Oklahoma. So that's good for me. I flew out here about two weeks ago, thinking that it was time to come home and evaluate everything. But on the way here, I contracted a virus, which was not cool. So the guy that helps me here and runs my website, Steven Link, he picked me up and brought me home. I was feeling really bad, I don't know why. So we went to the emergency medical thing, and they admitted me to the hospital right away, so that was kind of scary. I stayed in the hospital here in Oklahoma for three nights, I think it was, which is never any fun. I was diagnosed as having I think they call it virus A or something along those lines. So I struggled a little bit for three days, but I got over the hump, as I always do. Seems like I always kick out. Can't do any jobs, not in Oklahoma. That's like [Jerry] Lawler getting beat in Memphis, it just don't happen. So anyway, I stayed in the hospital for a few days,” Jim Ross explained via Fightful.
“I got out of the hospital, obviously. I'm not there now, and feeling better. So it was a viral thing. I wasn't prepared for it, quite frankly. I had to get on oxygen, I had an oxygen unit in my home. Still do, I haven't been using it. I don't need it. So I had a little challenge, but that's the way it is. The thing you have to realize is, you just gotta understand that getting older comes with a price. Anyway, I'm battling. I feel good, actually. I've got some appearances coming up. Next time I'm going on the road will be for this AEW pay-per-view, so I'm gonna resume my schedule of that activity. So I'll be at the next pay-per-view, as far as I know. If Tony Khan doesn't want me there, then he'll tell me. But that's not been the case. He's been very supportive, which I appreciate. He's ended up being a really good boss in that respect, and I appreciate that. He doesn't have to be as nice to me as he is, but he's very nice, and I'm very appreciative.”
Considering Ross' pre-existing relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he called matches from 2015-18 between stints in WWE, bringing him back for Forbidden Door III feels like a perfect opportunity for AEW to make things feel special, especially if he's assigned a match like Jon Moxley versus Tetsuya Naito, where his history with both performers could seriously elevate the on-screen product.
Jim Ross and Mike Breen have mutual respect.
Sitting down for an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Jim Ross discussed his appreciation for Mike Breen, calling him the best basketball broadcaster in the game.
“Mike Breen is the [best] basketball broadcaster in the business. Period. End of story. There is no one better,” Jim Ross told Sports Illustrated. “He reminds me of a modern-day Curt Gowdy. I get inspired hearing him provide lyrics to the music on the court. He knows exactly how much to say, and when to say it. He maximizes his minutes with every word he utters.”
Breen, to his credit, is also a fan of JR's work too, telling Barrasso that the AEW commentator ia a legend across multiple mediums.
“Everyone in this profession should know Jim Ross. He's an icon. I'm always listening to different broadcasters, whether it's in baseball, football, hockey, tennis, or wrestling,” Mike Breen noted. “Right away you can feel how much passion he brings to his calls. When you hear Jim Ross, you can instantly tell how much he loves what he does.”
Welp, there you go, folks; game recognizes game, and despite having his schedule consolidated to accommodate for his medical issues, Ross still has fans at the very top of the industry due to his incredible legacy.