Legendary WWE broadcaster Jim Ross joins upstart wrestling company
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
Legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross signed a deal with the upstart promotion All Elite Wrestling and will become a senior adviser for the company.
Ross, who had recently left WWE, will make his first appearance the AEW’s “Double or Nothing” pay-per-view, which is set to take place in Las Vegas on May 25.
The company called its “groundbreaking” deal with Ross “the most lucrative deal in pro wrestling commentary history.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}JIM ROSS, VETERAN WWE COMMENTATOR LEAVING COMPANY AFTER 26 YEARS: REPORT
However, UPROXX noted that Alex Marvez and Excalibur will be calling the event, making it unclear what Ross’ role will be at the pay-per-view.
“I’ve been part of the wrestling community since I was 7 years old, and there’s no greater thrill than welcoming the voice that I grew up with, Jim Ross, to our AEW family,” AEW co-founder Tony Khan said in a statement. “We all share a common goal to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a professional wrestling fan. And, as a business, we also seek to make this a new golden age for the performers and our staff members. Our entire team is thrilled to have Jim onboard and we can’t wait to shake things up together.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ross, 67, made an announcement last month he was leaving WWE after decades on the job. He said he and WWE CEO Vince McMahon “mutually agreed” he needed to move on.