- The backstage news on why WWE brought Ross back after pretty much firing him back in 2013 is because they didn’t want his “familiar voice” as the lead announcer for the upcoming ITV wrestling show. While the ITV show could end up being a gigantic success or a huge failure, ultimately WWE offered JR two years while ITV could only guarantee ten weeks.
- At this time, the plan is for Ross not to be involved in any regular weekly announcing team but that could change if Mauro Ranallo does not return. If Ranallo does not come back, Smackdown will move ahead with Tom Phillips, JBL and David Otunga with Phillips doubling up along with Corey Graves on 205 Live. There are a lot of possibilities for JR, including the new UK show as well as possibly the pre/post show or the talk shows on the WWE Network.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Subscription information & prices available at f4wonline.com
- On a related note, JR revealed additional details into his role with WWE in a recent interview. He said:
“I think I’m going to do 30-40 dates in my first 12 months of my deal. Those dates are to be determined. There’s nothing they can assign me that I haven’t done before. How many wrestling matches you think I’ve called in my lifetime—100,000? If they want me to do U.K. or NXT or Main Event, I don’t care. It’s all good to me. My days of being the lead guy, the No. 1 voice—all that is way yesterday. Guys who’ve had those issues like I have had in my career, they have self-esteem and confidence issues. I have both those. Totally happy to admit it, but I ain’t got them no more. I’m 65 years old. I feel great, I just lost my wife, I’m trying to get back on my feet here, and I’ve said this and I truly mean it: I’m happy to get my jersey back. I’m happy to re-sign with my old team. Whatever role I need to play, I’m fine with.”