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WWE legend, diehard Oklahoma fan Jim Ross announces colon cancer diagnosis

by: Alex Byington05/15/25_AlexByington
NCAA Football: Texas Christian at Oklahoma
Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fan Jim Ross during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Legendary WWE and AEW announcer Jim “JR” Ross, a diehard Oklahoma Sooners fan, announced unfortunate news on Thursday. Ross revealed he was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery in the next few weeks.

Ross, 73, has battled multiple serious medical issues throughout his career, including living with Bell’s palsy, which can cause temporary paralysis of his facial muscles. Ross previously beat skin cancer following a 2021 diagnosis, and also underwent cancer surgery on his right hip in 2024.

Ross is considered one of the greatest wrestling broadcasters of all time and is best known as the voice of the WWE during its famous “Attitude Era.” That was in the late 1990s and early 2000s while working alongside former wrestler Jerry “the King” Lawler.

Raised in Westville, Okla., Ross has been a diehard Sooners fan much of his life while living in Norman, where he opened J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q before it ultimately closed in 2010. He’s a longtime Oklahoma football season ticket holder and has been a staple on the sideline during Sooner football games in recent years. In fact, Ross’ wrestling entrance music is the school’s fight song, “Boomer Sooner.”

Jim Ross stepped away from AEW after scary 2023 injury

Legendary professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross temporarily stepped away from his duties with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to heal after taking a fall in June 2023. Ross made the announcement following the debut episode of “AEW Collision” on TNT, in which Ross admitted he didn’t sound like himself on commentary alongside Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness.

“I apologize for the way I sounded tonight,” Ross tweeted. “Going to step away to heal. Thanks for your support.”

Ross has spent roughly five decades in the professional wrestling business, most notably as the lead announcer for WWE. Following a 22-year run with WWE across two stints (1993-2013, 2017-19), Ross joined the upstart AEW in April 2019, signing a three-year deal. Ross served as lead commentator on Wednesday night “AEW Dynamite” until the summer of 2022, before transitioning to the commentary team on Friday night “AEW Rampage.”

— On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.