Jim Ross Explains Health Problems And Announces Hiatus

Legendary Wrestling commentator Jim Ross has rarely missed a day behind the desk in his nearly 50 year career. Ross has since announced that he will be stepping away from his role on AEW television after a nasty fall left him with bruises on his eye.

Speaking on his podcast “Grillin’ JR” Ross spoke about his recent health dilemmas.

I had a rough week on my leg. I’m not changing doctors, I’m just adding to doctors. I went to one doctor and he said, ‘I have to get you to a specialist that can give you an antibiotic shot.’ ‘Why can’t you do it?’ ‘That’s not what I do.’ They recommend me to this guy. It’s been a challenging week. I think we’ve made some improvements. We have a good game plan, I just need a break. I need a break in the action and move on. It will happen. I have good doctors, good care. If I don’t get the results that we’re looking for, I’ll go to the Mayo clinic and start over and see where it takes us. I’m okay, it’s going to be alright. It’s just frustrating as heck to have to deal with this every day.

Jim Ross on Grillin’ JR, episode 222.

Ross explained in further detail what issues he has dealt with recently, leading to uncertainty as to when he will return to the announcers desk.

My sciatic, I didn’t realize how crippling that is. It’s been driving me crazy. It was three days where I had a hard time even walking to the bathroom. It’s not been good the last week or two, but I see improvement, I see the direction, and I have hope that it’s going to be fine. That’s where we are. It’s just one of those deals. I don’t have any timetable on returning to work. I have to get better. I can’t start traveling again. They’re worried about infection and being on an airplane or at an airport with an open wound is not ideal. It will work out. I’m positive, I’m optimistic. I want to get back at the booth doing something. I don’t know if I’m going back on Collision. My debut on Collision was not very auspicious because of my voice, which I still don’t get. It’s interesting, the doctor said it might be stress induced. I said, ‘that’s a weird analogy.’ Stress being because of my illness. I have a lot to be thankful for and it’s all going to be good, I just have to make it good.

Jim Ross on Grillin’ JR, episode 222

JR also announced his intention to return at or before AEW’s All In event at Wembley Stadium.

I really want to make Wembley. Right now, I don’t know if I can. I hope so. I don’t want to say I have a target date, but you have to have some kind of goal. Wembley is my goal. I hope I’m back before then, but certainly Wembley is something I want to be part of.

Jim Ross on Grillin’ JR, episode 222.