WRESTLING NEWS
All The Times Jim Ross Was Hired And Fired By WWE
By DAVID BIXENSPAN
After being removed from WCW, Jim Ross confirmed on his radio show that he had signed with the WWF by having his guest Vince McMahon announce it. This had a big impact because WCW was the main sponsor of the radio show and according to Dave Meltzer, McMahon said, “Christmas came early for the WWF this year because they've gotten Jim Ross.”
Hired in 1993
In early March 1994, it was reported that Jim Ross wouldn’t be re-signed after his year-long contract expired at the end of the month. This was just weeks after Ross’ first attack of Bell’s Palsy happened, and when Ross didn’t want to “don a cowboy hat and a western jacket and a string tie” per McMahon’s wishes, he was let go.
Contract not renewed in 1994
While Vince McMahon prepared for his criminal trial on federal steroid distribution, Jim Ross returned to WWF on a two-month contract. According to Matwatch’s Steve Beverly, “Ross has apparently been turned loose to call bouts in the style which made him the mat industry's top commentary of the late 1980s and most of this decade.”
Rehired in 1994
In 1994, Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer that "Jim Ross is through once again as a WWF announcer effective this past weekend." The reason the announcer’s contract wasn’t renewed is because he went into detail about the degree to which Howard Finkel was the butt of Vince McMahon's jokes in an interview.
Not Renewed In 1994
In a roller coaster of a year, Ross was re-hired, not as an announcer, but to work behind the scenes as part of the creative team. However, after a few days, Ross was back on TV, replacing McMahon on Action Zone alongside Todd Pettingill, who remarked, “You've been on vacation! Either you went to the moon or had a baby!”
Rehired At The End Of 1994