Breaking Update – Why Jim Ross Is Leaving WWE

Sep 11, 2013

Source: The Wrestling Observer

UPDATE x 2: As announced earlier, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is retiring after 20 years with the company.

Aside from Jim Ross wanting to focus on “other business ventures” (most notably his JR’s Barbecue company), we’re told that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had a role in his departure.

According to sources, Ross and McMahon met yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss Ross’s future with the company, which led to the decision for Ross to retire.

It’s being said that Ric Flair’s unruly behavior at the WWE 2K14 panel during SummerSlam weekend was a contributing factor in his departure. WWE management felt that Ross, who hosted the event, should have cut off Ric Flair when he went off-script and made several controversial remarks in front of WWE & 2K Sports executives.

UPDATE: Following WWE.com’s announcement that Jim Ross is retiring after 20 years with the company, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted ‘thank you’ messages to him:

“Thank you @JRsBBQ for 20 years of service with @WWE.”

Triple H tweeted:

“Can’t thank you enough @JRsBBQ for all you’ve done for me personally and for @WWE … Enjoy your time, you’ve earned it!!! #thankyouJR”

WWE.com has re-published video footage from last October’s Jim Ross appreciation night, which you can view here.

“Jim Ross” is also trending worldwide on Twitter and many fans are using the hashtag #ThankYouJR to share their favorite Jim Ross memories.

ORIGINAL: The following is from WWE.com:

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross announced that he is retiring from WWE today, after 20 years of service, to focus on his personal business endeavors.

Jim has had a long and storied career at WWE, both on the corporate staff as well as his television persona, calling some of the most memorable matches in WWE history as the voice of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown for more than two decades. He made his debut with WWE at WrestleMania IX in 1993 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his long-time friend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Jim has made many contributions to WWE and the sports-entertainment industry, and we thank him for his many years of service and wish him well.

UPDATE: Jim Ross FIRED by WWE?