WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has recently talked about issues he cannot ignore when listening to bad wrestling commentary.
With over 40 years behind the announcer’s table, Jim Ross is one of the most experienced wrestling commentators working today. Representing the likes of WWE, NJPW and AEW over his career, Ross’ voice has played a part in some major moments over the years.
Now working for AEW, Ross has recently talked about his WWE successors. Speaking on the Grilling JR Podcast, Ross has revealed some of his pet peeves when listening to commentary nowadays.
Ross called out commentators talking through false finishes, arguing that it’s hard to get invested in a pin if it is made obvious that this isn’t the end of the match.
Also noting he had a problem with the overuse of pronouns, Ross recalled conversations with Vince McMahon, where the WWE Chairman would ask him who “he” is. Ross remembered learning multiple nicknames for wrestlers so he had numerous ways to refer to them.
Here is the full quote:
“Sometimes I have a big issue with commentary to this day, I’ve had it forever, one is talking through false finishes. How do we know it’s a false finish and not the finish unless we know the finish? All of a sudden we just talk through those false finishes because we know it’s not the finish.
“The other thing is the friggin’ use of pronouns. I know we’ve made fun of Vince about that, but one of the best things Vince taught me on commentary was to not over use pronouns. Who is he? If I said, ‘Conrad Thompson did, Conrad overcame the odds, he is the champion of the world’, or I could say ‘he did it, he’s the champion of the world’, it doesn’t have the same stick. I catch myself doing it and I hate it. The best way to get talent over, and that’s the only job a broadcaster has is to get talent over, you do it with their names, nicknames.”
Ross would go on to explain how the top priority of a commentator is to get talent over in the most memorable way. It is interesting to hear one of the most iconic voices in wrestling talk about how they use their medium to get fans invested in the product.
Many forget that McMahon announced for WWE as far back as 1971, so his words were valuable advice for creating better commentary.
Ross currently commentates for AEW, so his voice could be heard for free during the Bleacher Report AEW showcase match on February 28.
Quote via Wrestling Inc.
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