Jim Ross has weighed in on Mick Foley joining AEW as a Double or Nothing Buy In co-host, telling the latest episode of Grilling JR that the move is a great pickup for Tony Khan and that Foley’s analyst role on Sunday’s Buy In is the right format for what he can bring to the company.
Foley was announced on Wednesday by Tony Khan as the co-host of the Double or Nothing Buy In alongside Renee Paquette, ending months of speculation about Foley’s AEW interest. Foley has been winding down his WWE Legends deal, which expires in June 2026, due to WWE and TKO’s ties to the Donald Trump administration.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross broke down what Foley brings to the AEW table.
“I’m really excited about it. I think it’s a great get for Tony Khan. Foley brings credibility, he brings tenure, he brings name identity, and I think he’s looking at continuing to develop and evolve his commentating in this role. Of course, you’re kind of an analyst, and he’ll do a better job of being an analyst than he would if they had the bright idea to make him a play-by-play guy. You know, we’re loaded with play-by-play guys, so that’s good, and it’ll be a different sound on Sunday night.”
Ross was asked whether Foley should be expected to do any in-ring work during his AEW run, given the lighter physicality Foley showed at Sandman’s last match over WrestleMania weekend. Ross said he believes Foley will get involved in some way, but does not expect a full match.
“I can see him, you know, throwing a few punches, or getting somebody in the mandible claw, stuff like that, but him working out a complete match, I find that to be doubtful, and maybe it will happen. I’m not doubting it. I don’t think it’s a bad idea if it’s done right. You got to treat Mick very, very special and put him into situations that he can pull off that he’s good at, so, but I can’t see having Mick Foley on TV, and somewhere along the way, not using him with a little bit of physicality. I think that will happen.”
The Foley appearance prompted Ross to step back and praise AEW’s overall roster construction. He framed the company’s depth as impressive across the entire pay-per-view card.
“It’s funny, you know, you take a look intelligently at the roster of AEW, it’s all of a sudden almost, I don’t want to say overnight, because that’s not accurate, but I think it’s pretty impressive, the roster that they built, they’re building. That really struck home with me tonight when they were running down the card for Sunday night on pay per view. They all of a sudden you get deeper in a card, like in the middle, and that might be being too skeptical, I don’t know, but when you hear those matches that are used to build the whole card and all that, I just, I’m impressed. I’m really impressed with how their roster is coming together. It’s easy to see how hard these guys and gals work. They bust their ass, man. And I think this is awesome.”
Ross is set to be on the AEW Double or Nothing commentary call on Sunday alongside Excalibur, Taz, and others. Foley joins the pay-per-view itself as Buy In co-host. Whether Foley’s AEW presence extends beyond the Buy In has not been revealed.
If you use quotes from this article, please credit Grilling JR and include a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
