Jim Ross comments on Vince McMahon allegations

Jim Ross never thought Vince McMahon would allow WWE to get as out of control as it became.

On this week’s episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross addressed the situation with McMahon following the allegations that were made in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Grant, a former WWE employee, has accused McMahon of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking.

“I just never believed that Vince would allow his company to get this out of control — and it has,” Ross said. Ross said he thinks it’s time to move on and get some rest and peace for some people.

Lots of change afloat. And personally, I’ll be glad when the winds have swept that change on through. I’m tired of it. It’s embarrassing in a lot of ways that it’s happened this way. It’s affected a lot of innocent people. That’s my take on it, I might be wrong. But it’s time to move on. It’s time to move on and cause some rest and peace for some people. And it’s time to move on, in my opinion. And I just never believed that Vince would allow his company to get this out of control — and it has. And I feel badly about that because I know how much the WWE meant to Vince. I’m sure it still does to some degree. So, anyway, I just…it’s time. Let’s go. Let’s move on. Let’s rewind it and cast the hook in the water one more time and see if we can catch something more positive.

McMahon resigned from WWE and its parent company TKO Group Holdings after Grant’s lawsuit was filed. McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis are named as defendants in the lawsuit. McMahon has vowed to vigorously defend himself against the allegations.

Grilling JR co-host Conrad Thompson asked Ross how he thinks the lawsuit will affect McMahon’s legacy. Ross believes it will impact McMahon’s legacy to some degree, but he doesn’t believe it will be earth-shattering. Ross said you’ll never be able to take away what McMahon was able to build in WWE.

Well, it’ll affect it to some degree, but it won’t be earth-shattering. It won’t be a big seismographic change, because he’s still Vince McMahon and he’s still built this amazing company that many of us in different forms of pro wrestling are still celebrating and still playing off of. I just think it’s time for all of us to move on and find happier days and build from there. But you’ll never be able to take away from what Vince built and how he’s helped a lot of people. I mean a lot of guys that are making a living in pro wrestling right now can look at it any way they choose, but if they’re being realistic, they look in the mirror and see Vince McMahon staring them right in the face because he was the catalyst that created a lot of this change and the incomes going up and all those things. So, I just wish it was over. I just wish we were moved on and all these issues were settled and we have moved on to happier days, because I think that’s what the business and the world needs is happier days and still get that with the old WWE memories, at least I do.

I’m very thankful I had the chance to work there. I’m even more thankful I have a chance to work for Tony Khan now in AEW. So, it’s all good man. It’s all good, Conrad. We have to build on the positives. And that’s what I’m trying to do at my stage of life and my health situation. It’s important for me to build on the positives, and that’s what I’m trying to do.

Ross was the voice of WWE during his decades working as a commentator for the company. A WWE Hall of Famer, Ross also served as WWE’s executive vice president of talent relations for a period of time.

Ross joined AEW when the promotion was founded in 2019. Ross revealed on Grilling JR that he’s signed a new AEW contract. The deal is for one year.

Ross called the final two matches of AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view on March 3. It was Ross’ return to AEW programming following recent health issues.