WWE News: After 20 Years, Jim Ross Retires with His Head Held High

A few days ago I purchased the new WWE home video release Legends of Mid-South Wrestling, due in in no small measure to the publicity WWE Hall of Famer and former announcer Jim Ross afforded the project.

Ross was not only part of the Mid-South story, as he has been part of the story of so many great promotions, he was also actively contributing to the production of the DVD.

Ross is no pitchman. My purchase was not based on any kind of hard sell he did, but instead because of his genuine excitement and enthusiasm. Jim Ross got into the business because he was a fan of the business—and has remained its biggest fan ever since.

Some things you just can't fake, and Ross' love for professional wrestling burst through every broadcast, every blog, every tweet and even on Superstar profile articles for toy maker Mattel.

Prior to my Mid-South purchase, I watched the WrestleMania 29 DVD. The Undertaker vs. CM Punk was amazing—probably the best match of the year—and for the first time in some months, I felt compelled to write about wrestling, to share my excitement as a fan with other fans.

Unfortunately, when I heard that Jim Ross had announced his retirement, the wind was taken out of my sails. The man had meant so much to so many, as the 2014 Hall of Fame induction speeches on that WrestleMania DVD will attest.

Early Tuesday evening, JR updated his blog, offering his perspective on Monday's WWE Raw. Yet, inexplicably and unexpectedly, WWE.com broke the story of the legend's retirement only the following day.

Wednesday night, Ross issued a stately confirmation of the news on his blog and closed that chapter of his career with dignity:

"

Other than health issues my "run" in WWE has exceeded my wildest dreams.

I was fortunate enough to have a key role in arguably one of the most interesting and compelling eras in our business's history. 

Hmmmm....perhaps a book is in order some day. Time will tell. Now I actually have the time to write the autobiography many have asked about over the years. 

For the record, I'm not purchasing a rocking chair so I'm not "going away." I have many interests & I plan on exploring them all. 

"

If this was the end of the story, I would not have been so dejected. If anyone has earned his retirement, it is Jim Ross. 

Ross, to his credit, has always taken the high road in response to how his former employer treated him, even when WWE has not deserved it.

For a company that advocates an anti-bullying campaign, their treatment of Ross over the years has been vicious, from mocking his colon surgery and his features affected by Bell's palsy, to not informing Ross prior to broadcast that he would be "drafted" from WWE Raw to Smackdown.

Ross took the slings and arrows in stride. He maintained a professionalism that WWE seemed to lack.

A picture is emerging that Ross' retirement may have been brewing since SummerSlam, where he moderated a panel of Superstars and Hall of Famers there to discuss and promote the next WWE video game.

About a half an hour into the do, an animated Ric Flair hijacked the discussion. According to ProWrestling.net, "Half the panel was cracking up over his antics while the other half looked uncomfortable." Flair talked about his late son Reid, mentioned rival wrestling promotion TNA and discussed John Cena going out for drinks, among other topics unrelated to the purpose of the panel.

The live crowd seemed to enjoy Flair's antics. Paul Heyman and Ross even joked about the discussion getting out of control.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported:

"

Ross took heat from management for not cutting Flair off and keeping the symposium to what it was scripted to be.  Even though it was a 2K Sports symposium, and 2K Sports people had no problem with Flair's behavior, those in WWE were not happy with certain subjects and how they were brought up.

Since nothing had happened for three weeks, many expected that the heat had blown over.

"

Rather than being blown over, however, Meltzer claims "Ross met with Vince McMahon [on Wednesday] where the decision was made to end his run with the company."

Though Meltzer cites an unnamed "source in the company," it is unlikely this speculation will be confirmed anytime soon by Ross—who has historically been a gentleman in these matters—or from WWE, which already published that Ross retired of his own accord.

While I hope the panel was not the scapegoat reason for Ross' departure from WWE, the entertainment provider's disgraceful track record with Ross lends credence to the possibility, and for that, WWE has only itself to blame.

This is the problem with WWE: Every time they start building momentum and doing things right—currently, the excellent work being performed by Punk, AJ Lee, Vickie Guerrero, Daniel Bryan and Antonio Cesaro, to name a few—WWE officials always find a way to shoot themselves in the foot, overshadowing the good that they do.

As I mentioned, Ross has always been too much a gentleman to lash out at WWE. As a fan, though, this alleged reason for Ross' dismissal—even the possibility of it being true—has made me angry.

Who was "watching the Watchmen?" If Flair was out of control—and it was obvious the moderator was not able to reign him in—then another WWE official should have calmed down or removed Flair. Could anyone else have done better?

Unfortunately, Flair has a notorious reputation for screwing up his chances, and, "by going into business for himself," as the old wrestlers say, he has only lived up to it.

You get what you pay for with Flair, and surely WWE officials must know it is too late in the game to expect any more or any less then the behavior on display at the panel.

Maybe in a few months Ross' retirement will "blow over," as well.

I'm grateful for the years Jim Ross gave us fans, and I am looking forward to his next chapter, one in which will be on his own terms, out from under the yoke of a master that never fully appreciated the gift they had in him.