On a recent episode of his widely popular podcast “Grilling JR,” renowned wrestling commentator Jim Ross delved into why he never joined the WWE creative team. The highlights from this insightful discussion can be found below:
Discussing his absence from the WWE creative team, Jim Ross stated, “I was never coerced into doing anything. I do enjoy crafting TV narratives and characters, but simultaneously I was immersed in my full-time role as the Head of Talent Relations. Balancing a multi-million-dollar budget and ensuring that all the ‘animals’ were satisfied and well-cared for, consumed most of my time. Hence, taking on the added responsibility of the creative team would have been quite overwhelming. I had to focus on my primary role, undistracted. Talent rapport is critical, and a delayed response from my end could potentially strain it, considering the inherent paranoid nature of the talents.”
Ross continues illustrating, “They never check on you out of the blue. Calls from them usually mean they require something, predominantly monetary or creative solutions. Subsequently, they’d discuss their ideas with me for my insights, and while I enjoyed assisting them in that aspect, time constraint was always an issue.”
Sharing an intriguing anecdote regarding WWE trying to cast Kurt Angle as a babyface, Jim further reflected, “The real question is whether Angle bought into the role. Babyfaces in the Attitude Era were quite the polar opposite of what was portrayed, attracting mixed reviews. It seemed inevitable that Angle would eventually play a heel. The kind of heel he evolved into was something I hadn’t anticipated. Angle didn’t just ace this role; he was exceptional. His ability to be his authentic self contributed to this success. Kurt is a comics off-camera, his demeanor sways between serious and jovial. His multifaceted personality always shines through.”
Here is a link to the episode of “Grilling JR: Survivor Series 1999” where all this and more was discussed.