12 Things We Learned From Jim Ross: Under The Black Hat

12. He Was The Shoulder To Lean On After The Loss Of Owen Hart

The loss of Owen Hart at 1999's Over the Edge PPV is one of the saddest, most tragic days in the history of professional wrestling.

While Jim Ross was handed the thankless, heartbreaking responsibility of having to break the news of Owen's death to the millions of people watching at home - including Owen's family - many wrestling fans won't be aware of Jim's role behind the scenes on that tragic night.

As J.R. explains in Under the Hat, he effectively had to serve as a counsellor to the WWE locker room once his announcing duties concluded. Some were crying, some were angry, some were in disbelief - but Jim Ross was there for them all, as he provided a shoulder to cry on and a presence to vent at.

Rather than allowing his own emotions to overcome him on that tragic night, Jim first and foremost put others before himself.

Under the Black Hat reads, "After the show ended, I sat on my own for a couple of minutes. Backstage veered from quiet confusion to anger, from sadness to tears. I cried for my friend. I cried for his family. And then I felt like I had to wipe my eyes and offer counsel to anyone who needed it. Just an ear, someone to listen.

This was a tough, tough night for the family, friends, and fans of Owen Hart, and Jim Ross was a rock that so many others turned to in their moments of shock and grief.