The WWE recently underwent a massive roster cut in which they laid off or furloughed up to 34 employees, including wrestlers, coaches, producers, announcers and writers. This is the direct result of the business changes as well as the extensive evaluation and analysis the WWE went through due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now knowing that these people or Superstars don’t have jobs anymore to support and provide for their families, the big question on everyone’s mind is, where will they end up or what will we do going forward. Since AEW is the biggest competitor of the WWE at present times, many believe that the released WWE Superstars will end up there.
Former WWE Veteran and Announcer Jim Ross, who is now a Senior Advisor and an announcer in AEW, recently gave his thoughts on the released WWE Superstars possibly ending up with AEW and according to him, we are living in the most tumultuous unprecedented times ever. “Good Ole’ J.R.” Jim Ross also said that if he was AEW, he wouldn’t hire anybody right now.
This is what Jim Ross said:
“Sometimes you have to let people go that you don’t think deserve to be let go.” “It’s the nature. It’s not wrestling, man; it’s life we’re talking about. There are six million people right now in the unemployment line. We’re all roaring about 30 or 40 people in the wrestling business that also got laid off. Sometimes, I wonder where our heads are. We are living in the most tumultuous unprecedented times, ever.”
“On Twitter, I get, ‘What do you think about this? Who should AEW hire?’ I’m more worried right now about living to tomorrow. I’m at a high risk for the Coronavirus. You think I am concerned about who’s going to get hired tomorrow? If I were AEW, I would hire nobody. There’s no reason to hire anybody tomorrow. These talents that got laid off, I hope none of them go on a massive pity party. Come on man, you think you’re the only person in the wrestling business that’s been sat down, cast away or taken away from a job? Give me a break. The bottom line is that it’s unfortunate. Some people have to wonder why they were let go. There has to be a reason why they were let go.”
Jim Ross then talked about it all being about the push. JR also talked about Rusev being a nice kid and that he has a great upside to him, so the company must have a reason why they don’t want to do business with Rusev.
This is what Jim Ross said:
“What about Rusev? He had a great push. It’s all about the push man.” “We talk about that on Grilling [with] JR every Thursday. It’s all about the push. Well, something must’ve came up that made the company not want to do business with Rusev. I don’t know what it is; I have no idea. He’s always been a nice kid to me. I think he has a great upside to him. He hasn’t reached his potential [yet], so I just believe they have to reset.”
Jim Ross then talked about this situation of being let go not the end of the world and not ending one’s life. Jim Ross also said that he was in the same situation in the past and it is something that should motivate and drive the person to do better and show what they can really do for the wrestling business and the brand.
This is what Jim Ross said:
“They’re independent contractors; they’re entrepreneurs. How do you make your brand better?” “If your brand is on a shelf in a store and it stops selling, how do you resurrect it? You just do the same thing over and over, expecting change. Well, let me tell you, that doesn’t work. If I were these guys who were let go by the WWE, this situation wouldn’t be the end of the world. Trust me, I’ve been there. It won’t end your life. If you are that weak and shallow and this is the only thing you wanted to do – WWE is my dream, I love this – then you need to reset, and improve the brand.”
You can check out Jim Ross’ full comments in the video below:
