Jim Ross says his days as a wrestling announcer may already be coming to an end as he prepares for a shunt procedure on August 12.
The WWE Hall of Famer made the comments on the Thursday episode of Grilling JR, adding another clear milestone to a health situation that has kept him away from the AEW announce desk for a prolonged stretch. Ross said he expects to undergo surgery to drain excess fluid from his brain, and he noted that the procedure is scheduled for one day in the hospital.
Ross puts a date on the surgery
Ross said he does not exactly welcome the operation, but he is ready to get to that point and move through it. He also explained that he has never had brain surgery before and described the procedure as a shunt being placed in his brain. According to Ross, doctors told him he would only be in the hospital for one day.
The timeline matters because Ross had previously returned to his podcast last month to say he would soon need surgery after being found passed out at his house before a nearly 40-day hospitalization. This latest update gives the situation a firmer date and underscores how serious the issue has been.
His AEW future looks uncertain
Ross was even more direct when talking about what comes next. He said his AEW contract is set to end this month and that his announcing career is likely finished, or very close to it. Ross said he hopes any retirement is planned rather than sudden, explaining that he would rather know when he is leaving instead of simply appearing one night on Dynamite and announcing that he is done.
That is a notable shift for one of wrestling’s most recognizable voices. Ross has been a fixture in the industry for decades, and his work with AEW gave the company a major name with deep credibility on the announce desk. But with his contract nearing its end and his health still the central issue, the future is now less about where he works next and more about whether he works at all.
All In remains a possible target
Even with the uncertainty, Ross is still pushing to work AEW's All In event on August 30 at Wembley Stadium in London. Whether that happens will depend on how his recovery goes after the August 12 procedure.
Ross said he does not want to be done, but also said he would have no issue if Tony Khan decided to thank him for his efforts and move on. For now, the clearest takeaway is simple: Ross has put a date on the surgery, and he has also put his career situation in plain terms. The next few weeks may determine whether one of wrestling’s most familiar voices gets one more run or reaches the end of the road.
