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Legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross returns to AEW following successful cancer battle

Danby: Daniel Hager07/13/25DanielHagerOn3
Legendary-wrestling-announcer-Jim-Ross-returns-to-AEW-following-successful-cancer-battle
Photo via AEW

Following a successful battle with cancer, legendary professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross returned to AEW programming Saturday night as part of its annual ‘All In’ pay-per-view event at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

Ross called the final two matches of the night, featuring Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW Unified Championship and “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW Championship.

Ross revealed on a late June episode of his podcast, Grilling JR, that he is indeed cancer free. The news came one month after it was announced that he would undergo surgery to fight the disease in his colon.

Ross, a diehard Oklahoma Sooners fan, is a longtime wrestling announcer known best for his time with the WWE. However, his career in professional wrestling dates back to the 1970s.

When AEW was able to sign Ross to the company in 2019, it was reported as the most lucrative contract for an announcer in professional wrestling history. However, his workload has dwindled throughout his tenure.

J.R. has worked a light schedule for the past few years

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. In 2024, Ross signed a one-year extension with AEW, which he revealed on his podcast at the time.

“I’m happy with it,” Ross said, via Fightful. “Tony Khan stepped up. Term wise, financial package wise, everything was to my liking. I was very blessed to be working with Tony on that deal. He wanted me signed. He got his man and I got my company. It all worked out real well.”

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. He 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, and is considered the voice of many’s childhood around the wrestling sphere.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.