10 Wrestlers Who Are In The Wrong Company

7. Jim Ross

Tetsuya Naito NXT
WWE.com

Shouldn't be in AEW because...

It never feels like his heart is in it, and that is deeply counterproductive to the presentation of AEW as un upstart venture driven by a passion for showcasing a new breed of professional wrestling. Ross doesn't seem to like this new breed: he complains out loud about the referee leniency gimmick, how much sh*t the guys get in, and what he perceives as a lack of logic in the performances. He called PAC a "dumb bastard" at All Out when PAC was given the mega-push as a talent able to out-wit the talent (Kenny Omega) presented as the best wrestler in the world. Because of this, Ross is eroding the sentiment many fans (including your writer) have for him; when he confused Matt and Jeff Hardy back in the day, it felt endearing. With age comes authority and the odd lapse in memory. But now, when he calls Jungle Boy 'Jungle Jack', it reeks of a lack of preparation.

Should be in WWE because...

WWE has shown a renewed appreciation for the veterans that helped shape the company (Paul Heyman, Bruce Prichard). Ross, for totally understandable personal reasons, is after a full-time gig, and not a Saudi Arabia payday or one-off WrestleMania appearance. If he can't do it anymore - and he can't - perhaps he can teach, away from Vince McMahon's weird grudge, at the UK and U.S. Performance Centers.

Ross in AEW is like Chevy Chase in Community. Maybe it's time to go home.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!