Jim Ross thinks AEW is doing almost everything right. He also thinks it needs one thing it does not currently have.
Speaking on the latest Grilling JR about AEW Redemption, Ross was effusive about the show itself.
“I thought, as usual, it was an outstanding pay-per-view from AEW. They never cease to amaze me. They keep out delivering the last one, and I think that’s one way to describe this past event. They keep doing it.”
He was upfront that he is not a neutral observer.
“I’m obviously pulling for them. They’re paying me. Tony Khan’s been a blessing in my life, and I certainly appreciate his support.”
Ross said his frustration is that the audience has not caught up.
“I just think there’s a lot of people that haven’t discovered AEW. Believe it or not, I believe that there’s a lot of people haven’t discovered AEW that are wrestling fans that I would encourage, tune into the TV shows. Check them out.”
“If you look at AEW’s roster, you got to be, if you’re objective, you got to be half-a** impressed that they have quite the talented roster.”
Then came the diagnosis.
“I’m a big believer that AEW is continuing to grow. They just need a break. They need for somebody on the roster to get hotter than hell, and that’s not impossible to pull off. I can tell you.”
On the new champions
Ross was positive about Willow Nightingale’s win and the match she has ahead of her against Mercedes Moné at All In.
“I’m a big fan of Willow’s, and her match with Moné should be really good. There’s no reason for it not to be good. If the two women have their heads on straight, and they’re objective, and they’re unselfish, they can deliver some real goods.”
On Andrade El Idolo taking the AEW National Championship, he recalled a tip from Ric Flair.
“Ric Flair told me that when he first came in here, he said, you’re going to be very surprised that the more you watch Andrade El Idolo, that you’re going to be very impressed. He’s really skilled, and that’s been true.”
On Kenny Omega turning on Will Ospreay
Omega laid out Ospreay after retaining against Kevin Knight, setting up their All In match. Ross approves.
“It’s a good idea. You want to keep guys fresh. There’s a lot of ways to do that. Kenny with an edge, it suits me better than Kenny as a pure babyface, just for my tastes. He’s an extraordinary talent.”
“He’s got something to prove to himself every time he goes out there, because he’s very competitive, and the folks in the UK that come to Wembley are going to see a hell of a match.”
