Jim Ross recently spoke for a new interview. Check out the audio and highlights below:
On if Big Show pulled the curtain back too far on the Stone Cold podcast: “That argument can be made about a litany of things regarding pulling the curtain back. I think the genie is out of the bottle. It didn’t strike me that it was too much. I think that the audience that is watching that by and large, I would suggest, kind of understand what is going on. At least by and large. No, I didn’t think it was too much. When it was over I was still wanting more and I think that is always a good sign that you just saw good programming. I enjoyed it. Whether we like or not, if you’re asking me, “Do I think the curtain’s been pulled back too much?” That there’s too much information out there? Yeah, in general I would say that. I think that what has happened is that with all of the social media and information flow that it’s hard to have a surprise. Sometimes the business itself, those within the business are their own worst enemies in that regard. You got somebody that’s going to do a surprise bit on RAW? You’ve got to keep them hid during the day. In other words, you can’t even protect that surprise. Your own people won’t even protect the surprise. Somebody is going to tweet somebody or text somebody or whatever so that they help their buddy get a scoop. That happens all the time. I didn’t think it was too much. In general I’m not comfortable with all of the information flow because I think it adversely affects some storylines. By and large last night’s podcast cast with Austin and Show I thoroughly enjoyed.”
On if he contacted Big Show after he won the WCW World Title in 1995: “I guess I did. 1995? Let’s do our math here. Would that be 20+ years ago? 1995? If I was trying to remember all of my phone calls from 21 years ago, even tho he’s a big call… no pun intended. He is a big call, an important call. I would be challenged. I know I was on his trail. I know we wanted to sign him. He was a high priority. Very few of my recruits did the front office vet. Basically, I was left to my own devices for better or for worse. Which is good, you kind of sink or swim on your own there with you staff. Recruiting who you think is going to be a player. The Big Show got everybody’s attention because, obviously, he was so massive. He was a huge man. He was the new Andre so to speak. That was a Vince and Shane McMahon matter where they were really excited and motivated for me to get on him and to see how we could negotiate. He (Sh0w) was also very right, as far as I was concerned I figured he was probably under contract. You can say, “You can’t tamper. Tampering can result in a big lawsuit.” Hey, look, I don’t know he’s under contract until I talk to him. He told me he was under contract and wanted to keep his obligation and I thought that was the right thing to say. I thought that he did the right thing. He didn’t go in to some sort of conspiracy to free himself of his obligation. He said it and he’s heard me say this, “You break an obligation with the other guy you’ll certainly break it with me.” He was a high priority recruit, no doubt. Young, massive, athletic so we were on him. I don’t remember the specific nature of the call because it was 21 years ago. That’s older than some of the people listening to this show.”
On Titus O’Neil’s WWE suspension: “I think you have to take any instance of unprofessional conduct, or anyone that is violating company policy, you kind of have to take it on a case by case basis. Every instance comes with it’s own set of personalities and consequences and timing. I think that you look at everyone of them by what they bring to the table. I would not look at all of them and say, “Titus did this so that’s going to be the standard for any unprofessional conduct of this nature. You’ll get a 60-day suspension, you’ll get fined and publicly reprimanded.” I think you have to look at everything individually. It’s like a parent disciplining kids. I think you have to look at each indiscretion at it’s own merits then dial up the punishment you feel is appropriate for that situation. I can’t tell exactly what happened in the Titus and Vince thing based on the little clip of video I’ve seen bandied about. It’s too hard for me to figure out what happened for sure. There’s got to be more to the story than meets the eye.”
On Daniel Bryan’s future in wrestling: “Obviously at some point Daniel Bryan will be a WWE Hall of Fame guy. No doubt in my mind that he is deserving. Of course with the fans we all want that now. So do you rush to judgement and put him in the WWE Hall of Fame this year? I don’t know. I’m not saying no. I don’t know. I don’t know anyone other than Sting who all is going in to the WWE Hall of Fame. I’ve made my list, I’ve talked about it on my podcast… which drops every Tuesday night at 9 pm EST on PodcastOne… I talked about it on my blogs and websites. I’ve written about who I think should go in there and be a good class. That’s just me fantasy booking. No more, no less. I think Daniel Bryan is the kind of guy you don’t let get away from the company. Any company. Whether you’re sports entertainment or elsewhere. You can’t get too many Daniel Bryans. You can’t get too many guys that are low maintenance, sincere, intelligent, passionate and overcome all these odds. For me he’d be a perfect guy to work with young talents. He’d be a perfect guy to do PR and charity work for the company which is a big part of their presentation. There are a lot of things Daniel Bryan could do. Could he be a color analyst? I don’t know. Maybe we’ll find out. Would he be a great mentor to kids in NXT? I don’t know how the hell he wouldn’t be.”
