Jim Ross made his return to AEW commentary on the January 7, 2026 episode of Dynamiteand now we know it wasnt originally supposed to happen that way.
On the January 8 episode of Grilling JR, the legendary announcer revealed that he was initially only scheduled to call the main event, a familiar setup given his health recovery. But things changed thanks to AEW Director Mike Mansury.
Jim Ross, who has been gradually returning after dealing with illness, said there were concerns about whether he had the stamina to go the distance live on airbut it ended up being a great experience.
Ross also shared that AEW President Tony Khan personally reached out to him after the show to show appreciation for his work. Beyond just calling matches, JR reflected on the backstage experience and how much it still means to him to be involved and valued.
Jim Ross is slowly but surely finding his rhythm againand after a strong full-show comeback, its clear the AEW locker room and leadership still see him as a key voice.
Are you excited to hear Jim Ross back on commentary for an entire AEW show? Do you want to see him take on a regular full-time role againor just the big matches? Let us know your thoughts below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
