How Many Dates is JR Working?

Just how many slobberknockers are we talking? One of the biggest surprises of “Wrestlemania XXXIII” was the return of Jim Ross to commentary for the first time in a few years. Ross called the show’s main event and it was later announced that Ross had signed a two year deal with the company. Now we have some more details on that deal.

According to an interview with the AV Club, Ross will be working 30-40 dates in the first year of the deal with the shows to be determined. Ross says he doesn’t care what he calls because he’s just glad to be back behind the mic. He will also still be calling the New Japan show on AXS TV.

“Talks with WWE began around six months ago. I never had any reservations about going back to WWE, it just wasn’t the right time based on other things I had committed to do in my career at that time. Talks escalated a couple months ago, and my wife was very excited about the opportunity for us to go home, as she termed it. She was excited about going to WrestleMania and seeing all her old friends, and I shared her optimism. I didn’t get a chance to get her to the red carpet, but I do believe she was present when I called the Undertaker match.

“Anyhow, my contract was signed Friday night of WrestleMania weekend. I did most of my negotiations with [executive vice president] Kevin Dunn. But [chairman and CEO] Vince McMahon was also very involved, and I did speak with him. I spoke to [executive vice president] Paul Levesque. It was a team effort.

“I think I’m going to do 30-40 dates in my first 12 months of my deal. Those dates are to be determined. There’s nothing they can assign me that I haven’t done before. How many wrestling matches you think I’ve called in my lifetime—100,000? If they want me to do U.K. or NXT or Main Event, I don’t care. It’s all good to me.

“My days of being the lead guy, the No. 1 voice—all that is way yesterday. Guys who’ve had those issues like I have had in my career, they have self-esteem and confidence issues. I have both those. Totally happy to admit it, but I ain’t got them no more. I’m 65 years old. I feel great, I just lost my wife, I’m trying to get back on my feet here, and I’ve said this and I truly mean it: I’m happy to get my jersey back. I’m happy to re-sign with my old team. Whatever role I need to play, I’m fine with.”

The Undertaker makes perhaps his final WrestleMania entrance: WrestleMania 33 (WWE Network)

Opinion: I’m just glad that Ross is back. He was the voice of the company for so many years when a lot of fans were growing up and it feels right to have him back. I don’t know if this was meant as something for WWE or a way to mess with the “World of Sport” show in England but it’s still a good ending all around.

Are you glad Ross is back? What do you want him to do? Let us know in the comments below.