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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/051a59f02041d85a123135728c884048.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:300:Good Gawd almighty\
3You gotta be kitten me.]]
4-> ''"It's a Slobberknocker!"''
5
6James William "Jim" Ross (born January 3, 1952), a.k.a. "Good Ol' JR" or just "JR", is one of the greatest (and most beloved) commentators in the history of ProfessionalWrestling, having provided commentary for the Wrestling/{{WWE}} for almost 20 years (and having worked for several other promotions, including Wrestling/{{WCW}} prior to starting with WWF/E, and Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling after his unceremonious firing from WWE).
7
8He's semi-retired from commentatin' -- though [[TheBusCameBack he does come back every now and then]], and notably returned to the broadcast booth part-time in 2016, calling matches for NJPW on AXS (a tape-delayed show that's intended to showcase NJPW matches to American audiences).
9
10After his final WWE contract expired in late March 2019, Ross signed a 3-year deal to become a "senior advisor" for Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling. It wasn't initially clear whether he'd return to the commentary table, but he would later be revealed as the lead play-by-play announcer for AEW's first major event, ''Double or Nothing'', in May 2019. Ross also brings a world of other backstage experience, especially in talent relations.
11
12In his spare time, he also runs [[http://www.jrsbarbq.com a website]] that peddles his own brand of condiments and barbecue products, and he also offers a regularly updated blog about current events in wrestling and even boxing, MMA, football and other sports.
13
14Outside of wrestling, he [[HeAlsoDid sells his own brand of barbecue sauce, has written cookbooks, and opened a barbecue restaurant.]] He is also close friends with Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin.
15
16Ross was inducted into the Wrestling/WWEHallOfFame in 2007.
17
18----
19!! "Slobberknockin' tropes!":
20* TheAce: Regarded as the best commentator in the business by many inside and outside the business.
21* ActionSurvivor: Has actually wrestled several times. He even beat Wrestling/TripleH at one point. Of course, he didn't exactly "beat" Triple H so much as survive him.
22* ArchEnemy: Although they rarely came into direct conflict considering their roles, JR absolutely '''hated''' Triple H, much more than other heels, and spent most of his segments condemning him as an inhuman monster.
23* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: Granted, this seems to apply to a lot of wrestling announcers, but Ross has a tendency to say "Martial Arts chops" and "Martial Arts Kick" without referring to which martial art is being utilized at a given time.
24* BreakingTheFourthWall:
25** A covert case, but not obvious to the casual wrestling fan who assumes everything is scripted. During the 1998 Hell In A Cell match between Wrestling/TheUndertaker and [[Wrestling/MickFoley Mankind]] (a match now considered legendary), Mankind was thrown off the cage, through a table to the floor. He is stretched away, but gets off the stretcher, climbs the cage again and restarts the match - at which point, he was chokeslammed ''[[HowMuchMoreCanHeTake through the cage roof]]'' to the ring below. Ross shouted: "Will somebody stop the damn match? Enough's enough!" This was out of legitimate concern for Mankind, who had already taken quite a beating up to this point. There's also some debate as to whether Ross said "''they've'' killed him" or "''that'' killed him" after Foley's first bump. If Ross indeed said "they've," it could be a reference to the booking of the match, which would also be breaking the fourth wall.
26** In addition, Ross was so calm whilst telling the audience of Wrestling/OwenHart's fatal accident at ''Over the Edge 1999'' that it's often hard to believe it was live. Wrestling/JerryLawler, on the other hand, looked like a ghost. Ross's reiteration of that fact it really happened whilst trying not to outright say wrestling is fake was something to be absolutely commended. While he seemed slightly exasperated that the event would continue after Owen's death, he didn't appear to be too concerned for long.
27* TheCameo:
28** Present at All-American Wrestling and Wrestling/DragonGate's joint show in Chicago for autograph signings.
29** On Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact, he's never physically showed up, but they have used his picture and recorded statements regarding [[Wrestling/TheDudleyBoys Bully Ray]] putting Dixie Carter through a table.
30* CatchPhrase:
31** The aforementioned "slobberknocker" quote.
32** [[BigOMG "BAH GAWD!"]]
33** "GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY!"
34** "The ''hell'' you say?"
35** "[X is being beaten] like a government mule!"
36** "[Wrestler name] is running like a scalded dog!"
37** "LOOK AT THE CARNAGE!"
38** "[Insert Wrestler Name (Usually Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin) Here] IS STOMPING A MUD HOLE AND WALKING IT DRY!"
39** "...and business has just picked up!"
40** "Bowling-shoe ugly," used interchangeably to describe either a wrestler or a terrible match (most famously to describe "''That'' Jackie Gayda Match").
41** "He's a human being!" (usually accompanied by the aforementioned "Bah Gawd" or "Good Gawd Almighty!")
42** "That man has a family!!"
43** "Those stairs are [[CaptainObvious not made out of chocolate!]]"
44** "That unforgiving steel!"
45** "That's [x]'s music!"
46** "Kane, bringing hellfire and brimstone!"
47** "What a sick, twisted human being!"
48** And let's not forget, "STONE COLD!!! STONE COLD!!! STONE COLD!!!"
49*** '''[[DropTheCow STUNNER OUTTA NOWHERE!]]'''
50** "[Wrestler] went once too often to the well."
51** "Wait a minute!"
52** "AS GAWD IS MAH WITNESS, [[Wrestling/MickFoley HE]] IS BROKEN IN HALF!!!"
53** ''[after a particularly devastating-looking spot]'' "Meanwhile, some redneck in a trailer park is sitting in his La-Z-Boy with his gut hanging out and a beer going 'Oh, they just know how to fall right!'."
54* TheChewToy: An unpleasant example. During his time with the WWF/E, Ross has suffered an incredible level of degradation and hazing ''onscreen'', and all for no apparent reason. Vince [=McMahon=] just seems to want to [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence wipe JR off the face of the earth]]. The time he joined the "Kiss My Ass Club" might be one of the most public humiliations of all time, as were the jibes at Ross' deceased mother and Bell's palsy, to the point where Ross remaining with them sometimes comes across like a bit of a battered spouse, making excuses for his abuser. One theory is that J.R. enjoys GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity, having been fired numerous times only to be "invited" back once the WWE realized they had no one to replace him with (The push of East Coast-bred Michael Cole could be seen as a deliberate effort to distance themselves from J.R.'s iconic twang, if not for the later addition of Bradshaw). Ross has also frequently promised -- threatened? -- to write a tell-all biography about his time with the company, [[ShameIfSomethingHappened only to clam up once he's been re-hired.]]
55* CommutingOnABus: Between his frequent releases and bouts with Bell's palsy.
56* ConsummateProfessional: The fact that he kept a straight face while announcing the infamous Wrestling/{{WCW}}[=/=]Franchise/{{RoboCop}} crossover attests to this.
57* CoolOldGuy: He doesn't make nearly the same effort that Jerry Lawler does to keep up with the trends, but he's got multiple younger generations of fans anyway.
58* CoolTeacher: Jim Cornette credits Bill Watts with turning JR into the best commentator in the business.
59* CovertPervert: While not as bad as Jerry Lawler, JR has made more than a couple statements about the attractiveness of the female wrestlers, mostly Wrestling/TrishStratus. And here's one from ''Raw'' 11/19/2011 regarding someone else:
60-->'''Jim Ross:''' Huh, Wrestling/{{Melina}} may have had a wardrobe malfunction, or maybe I was just hoping?
61-->'''Jerry Lawler:''' What, I missed it?
62** It's gotten more overt in AEW, with people online joking that he needs to be locked up in "horny jail."
63* DeadpanSnarker: Whenever he's not yelling or getting worked up, he acts as this trope on occasion. Especially when dealing with Jerry Lawler.
64* DeepSouth: Actually, Oklahoma isn't traditionally "deep south", unlike Memphis or Kentucky where his broadcast partners Jerry Lawler and Wrestling/JimCornette are from. Nonetheless, Ross was the one who tended to get singled out for being "too southern".
65* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: From [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]]-[[Wrestling/BillyGunn "Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn]] match at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 99'':
66-->'''Jim Ross:''' The Rock just shoved Billy Gunn's face in that large woman's ass! I just said that, King!
67* EvilKnockoff: JR was the one that brought out the knockoff versions of [[Wrestling/KevinNash Diesel]] and [[Wrestling/ScottHall Razor Ramon]] to terrorize the WWF during the company's failed attempt at having him do a FaceHeelTurn.
68* FaceHeelTurn: WWE tried this (and failed spectacularly) a couple times, including assaulting Michael Cole in early 1999 because he thought Cole was stealing his job. It backfired as the crowd pretty much agreed and cheered. Turns out that beating on a CreatorsPet isn't the best way to gain heel heat.
69* FatBestFriend:
70** To Wrestling/JerryLawler. Under their bickering, [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther they truly care about each other]], with Lawler coming to Ross' defence when Triple H attacks him.
71** He's also this to Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin as well. Stone Cold is unusually nice to JR despite his "Don't Trust Anybody" attitude and considers him a close friend. Stone Cold attacking Jim Ross and choking him out with the WWE Championship belt is what cemented his FaceHeelTurn.
72* {{Flanderization}}: Many fans might not realize that Ross started out as a far more reserved, cerebral announcer in the mode of his mentor Wrestling/GordonSolie, before playing up his Oklahoman roots upon joining the WWF, and becoming increasingly reliant on catchphrases and wild outbursts in lieu of thorough play-by-play.
73* FreudianSlip:
74--> "That one eyed monster, Wrestling/{{Kane}}!"
75--> "Wrestling/MarkHenry is handling the big [[Wrestling/AhmedJohnson Johnson]]!" (''Royal Rumble 1998'')
76--> "Wrestling/{{Lita}}'s here! Jerking Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} off...[[VerbalBackspace the ladder]]!" (''Wrestling/WrestleMania 17'') [[note]]Which became Hilarious In Hindsight four years later...[[/note]]
77--> "He's either crazy as hell of the toughest SOB I have ever seen... in this type of environment." (a FreudianSlip because Ross was honestly calling Mankind the toughest SOB period, but "Toughest SOB" is one of Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin's {{Red Baron}}s)
78--> "Jericho looking right at you, Triple H". (Mistaking Wrestling/ChrisBenoit for Wrestling/ChrisJericho during the former's entrance on an episode of Raw)
79--> He accidentally said "WWF" on RAW 9/19/2011, which was censored. He apologized for it the next day on Twitter.
80--> "WWE Champion Wrestling/KennyOmega..." (''AEW Dynamite'' 2/17/2021)
81* GenreSavvy: Of wrestling, of course, and also of horror movies. Before the match between Wrestling/TheUndertaker and [[Wrestling/CharlesWright Papa Shango]] on the 1993 VHS ''Undertaker...His Gravest Matches,'' he mentioned Creator/StephenKing, Creator/BelaLugosi, Creator/BorisKarloff, Creator/VincentPrice, "[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] for a more current time" to set the tone for a match between a gravedigging zombie and a voodoo master.
82* GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity: He's been fired from Monday Night Raw a lot. Eric Bischoff, Linda [=McMahon=] and John Laurinaitis being the most famous cases where he was dismissed only to return with much fanfare.
83* HappilyMarried: Whenever Jerry Lawler or Wrestling/PaulHeyman drool over whichever Diva is wrestling in the current match and mention it to JR, the latter calmly replies that he's a happily married man. Of course, his clever retort would be, "I may be on a diet, but I can still look at the menu!" Sadly, his wife Jan is no longer with us, as she died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in March 2017.
84* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Joining the walk out resulting in Triple H's replacement firing him from commentary.
85* HotBlooded:
86** JR tends to yell a lot during big matches, but he never quite got as worked up as much as he did during ''[=WrestleMania=] 22'' when Wrestling/ShawnMichaels gave Vince [=McMahon=] a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown. Playing off of when Vince forced JR to ''[[{{Squick}} kiss his ass]]'' and off of Vince's continual mind games with Shawn, Ross went absolutely ballistic during the match. Even the usually over the top Jerry Lawler was (kayfabe) surprised when Ross stated that Vince deserved getting the crap beaten out of him more than anyone alive: "More than ''anyone alive'', JR?!"
87--->'''Jim Ross:''' ''[as HBK grabs the large framed ''Muscle & Fitness'' cover at ringside and prepares to hit Vince with it]'' That's right! Yeah, Hit him in the head with it '''AND THEN [[AssShove SHOVE IT UP HIS ASS!!!!]]'''
88** He was the same way at ''[[Wrestling/NoWayOutWWE No Way Out 2003]]'', when Steve Austin faced Eric Bischoff. Not only was Stone Cold coming back from a ten month absence, but Eric Bischoff had kicked a cinder block through Ross's head. Suffice to say, JR was as pumped for Bischoff's comeuppance as the red-hot Montreal crowd. JR was at his JR-est that night.
89--->'''Jim Ross:''' THIS IS A MOMENT! THIS IS A MOMENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! LOOK AT IT! FEEL IT! EXPERIENCE IT! STONE COLD IS BACK, AND HE JUST WHIPPED BISCHOFF'S ASS LIKE A GOVERNMENT MULE!
90** Ross absolutely flipped out at the end of ''[=WrestleMania=] X-Seven'', when Stone Cold did a FaceHeelTurn.
91** And then there was the time the Rock forced Vince [=McMahon=] to kiss Rikishi's ass, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjfIKUiff_Q giving JR and Trish Stratus some long-overdue payback]]:
92--->'''Jim Ross''': OH HELL YEAH! THANK GOD! THERE IS A GOD IN THIS WORLD! HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HUMILIATED? HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD? HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!?
93* ItWillNeverCatchOn:
94** When Wrestling/EricBischoff took over Wrestling/{{WCW}} and started executing his plans to make it the national juggernaut it became, decided that Ross was too fat and southern to be on TV. When Ross was hired by WWE, Vince [=McMahon=] played up these traits by giving him the name J.R. and giving him his ten gallon hat, both of which he hated at first. Eventually, he became beloved as "Good Ol' J.R.", the voice of professional wrestling.
95** Jim Ross said as much of Wrestling/SamoaJoe when scouting for talent in UPW. The Samoa Joe who came to be regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the country, if not on the planet. The one who had a hand in training John Cena, oops.
96* KnowWhenToFoldEm: He's accused many a baby face of having "more guts than brains" and has frequently called for matches to be stopped. To an extent, this is Jim Ross and WWE's relationship in real life. He might have to endure a lot of indignities, but they do pay him well.
97* LampshadeHanging: Ross famously did this in regards to the abundance of weapons under the ring.
98* LargeHamAnnouncer: He gets ''very'' excited and over-the-top when commenting on matches. It always sounded like he was about to die at any minute.
99* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Ross would occasionally refer to RealLife events that weren't part of Kayfabe. For example, he made a couple of references to Wrestling/HonkyTonkMan being the cousin of Wrestling/JerryLawler, a fact which was never otherwise acknowledged on WWF television.
100* ManOnFire: He was once set ablaze by unmasked Kane. "Kane Sucks" signs started appearing in the audience almost immediately afterwards.
101* MundaneMadeAwesome:
102** His commentary is well known for making matches exciting when they would otherwise be average without him.
103** His best Stone Cold line was when SCSA was walking down the ramp, angrily muttering to himself like always.
104--->"'''HE'S WALKIN! HE'S TALKIN!!'''"
105* TheNicknamer:
106** He has several nicknames for certain wrestlers. Some caught on, such as [[Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin The Texas Rattlesnake]], [[Wrestling/{{Kane}} The Big Red Machine]], [[Wrestling/CarlitoColon The South Paw From San Juan]] and [[Wrestling/TheUndertaker The Demon From Death Valley]]. Some didn't, such as [[Wrestling/StevieRichards The Enigma]], [[Wrestling/TheUndertaker The Big California Redwood]] or [[Wrestling/SantinoMarella The Milan Miracle]].
107** He also had names for several moves or CharacterTics wrestlers would fall back on, such as The Wrestling/{{Batista}} Bomb, [[Wrestling/{{Melina}} The Primal Scream]], [[Wrestling/CarlitoColon The Backstabber]], and [[Wrestling/ShawnMichaels Tuning Up the Band]].
108* OnlyInItForTheMoney: JR has implied this is one reason he's kept working with WWE and says he has a positive relationship with Vince [=McMahon=]. He's mentioned on his podcast that working for the WWE has earned him enough money to live comfortably and in particular to send his daughters to college.
109* PerpetualFrowner: On account of the Bell's Palsy. He used to have quite the expressive face.
110* ProductPlacement:
111** Comes with the territory. He and King are particularly remembered for zealously shilling Skittles and Subway sandwiches. There's also JR's own barbeque sauce, though he doesn't promote it nearly as much.
112** He'll put ''anything'' over. Once on ''Raw'' in 1997, he was promoting that night's episode of ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'' and mentioned that some character "turns against The Section. Damn him!"
113* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He was always more straight-laced than broadcast partner Jerry Lawler, who always held up the "heel" side of the commentator equation by (among other things) leering at all the Divas.
114* RedOniBlueOni: The more subdued blue to Jerry Lawler, Jim Cornette and Paul Heyman's red. The louder, more passionate red to Mick Foley and Todd Grisham's blue.
115* RuleOfThree: "RIGHT HANDS! RIGHT HANDS! RIGHT HANDS!"
116* SayMyName
117** "STONE COLD! STONE COLD! STONE COLD!"
118** And not much later, "TYSON! TYSON! TYSON!" You can tell his voice is almost gone by this point (if you didn't notice with the previous line).
119* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: He and Jerry Lawler fit this trope to a T.
120* ThatCameOutWrong: During the Wrestling/StacyKeibler-Wrestling/TorrieWilson [[GimmickMatches Lingerie Match]] at ''WWF No Mercy 2001'', October 21, 2001, during one sequence when the ladies were rolling around on the mat, he said that they were "jockeying for position," and then apologized for it. (Victoria's Secret-ing?)
121* ThemeNaming: [[http://www.jrsbarbq.com/store All of the products in his store are named after]] Professional Wrestling tropes and terminology.
122* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Inverted. Calling a suicidal Wrestling/TommyDreamer right before [=WrestleMania=] 17 and informing him that the WWE were bringing him to the roster managed to convince Tommy not to murder Wrestling/PaulHeyman at the event.
123* VitriolicBestBuds: With Wrestling/JerryLawler.
124* VocalEvolution: Young Jim Ross was neither as forceful nor as deep in voice.
125* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: When [[Wrestling/MickFoley Mankind]] started to climb back up the cell after recovering from the long fall into the Spanish announcers' table in ''Wrestling/KingOfTheRing 1998'', JR shouted out, '''"Are you kidding me?! He wants to climb back up!"''' As a bonus, in an unused camera feed that has since been shown in some videos like ''Eve of Destruction'', Wrestling/TheUndertaker gets the same reaction as JR at the same time mixed with "OhCrap" before scrambling back up to the top of the cell, hoping to get there before Mankind did.

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