Jim Ross believes jealousy may have been at the root of the long-standing tension between himself and Vince McMahon.
During his years as WWE’s lead announcer, Jim Ross was frequently placed in storylines that appeared designed to humiliate him. Speaking on his podcast, Grilling JR, Ross offered his own explanation for why Vince McMahon often seemed to single him out.
“I have never understood Vince’s intense animosity. I think he was jealous,” Ross said. “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 saying I was the only one responsible, but I signed a lot of the guys who made him millions of dollars and helped take the company public. That was my roster.”
Despite the years of on-screen and backstage friction, Ross said he never carried the same resentment toward McMahon and instead chose to focus on his work.
“I always put my faith in my work,” Ross said. “As much grief as he gave me, I could always look at my bank account and be happy. I never had the animosity toward Vince that he had toward me. I showed up, I worked hard, I was doing two or three jobs. I never understood it, but I made the choice to let it go and move on.”
Ross ultimately declined to renew his WWE contract in 2019 and later joined AEW as a commentator. Despite ongoing health challenges, he has remained involved with AEW and made appearances throughout 2025, including at this year’s All In.
Will Jim Ross Be Back In AEW?
Jim Ross plans to return to commentary for AEW in 2026, as he has signed a one-year extension to his contract and hopes to be back in the commentary booth for the first Dynamite of 2026, which takes place on January 7 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ross’s home state.
Ross has been involved in the wrestling business for over 50 years, having started his career in 1974 as a referee for Leroy McGuirk’s NWA Tri-State.
