10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Dec 22)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Jim Ross Thought About Quitting The Day Of WrestleMania XV

Stone Cold The Rock Vince WrestleMania
WWE.com

Hours before he called the first WrestleMania battle between The Rock and Steve Austin at 'Mania XV in 1999, Jim Ross considered walking away from everything. Telling the Sam Roberts podcast about his dilemma, JR said a second bout of Bell's Palsy had knocked his confidence to the point he almost quit the WWF.

Both Rock and Austin had personally requested that Ross announce their main event match, and that's all that kept the legend in the building. Even though he suffered several panic attacks and didn't feel comfortable about being unable to smile, the veteran announcer saddled up and went to work, out of respect to his peers.

He came close to walking away, though. Knowing he'd be on television in front of millions in a featured spot, he was ravaged by self-doubt and didn't feel happy with how he might look. Things could have been so different, had JR stepped away from commentary on the biggest night of the year.

What other big wrestling facts did you learn this week? Let us know down in the comments section below!

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.