Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on his emotional return to the commentary booth for the first AEW Dynamite of 2026. The show, which took place in Ross’s home state of Oklahoma at the BOK Center in Tulsa, saw “Good Ol’ J.R.” call the entire two-hour broadcast. Reflecting on the experience on his Grilling J.R. podcast, Ross described the night as a “feel-good moment” that brought back memories of his early days in the industry working for Bill Watts and Leroy McGuirk.
“Oh, it was great. I had a great time. My kids were there, a couple of my grandkids were there. So, it was good,” Ross said. “I think it took a minute to get settled in. I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest with you, but my natural instincts took over, and I had a lot of fun. That was the key thing. That’s the key thing about doing commentary. If you don’t have fun doing it, it’s not gonna work for you.”
Ross revealed that while he was originally scheduled to call only the two main events, Mike Mansury suggested he be used for the entire show. Despite previous concerns regarding his stamina following a period of illness, Ross said he felt “great” and was revitalized by the energy of the event.
He also noted that AEW President Tony Khan sent him a supportive text the next morning at 1:30 AM to congratulate him on his performance. “I’m very blessed to still be a part of the AEW family, and working for Tony Khan is absolutely a blessing, without question,” Ross added.
Ross expects his next assignment to be in Orlando, Florida, for the January 21, 2026, episode of Dynamite at the Addition Financial Arena. He mentioned that Khan is using him “judiciously” to prioritize his health while acknowledging the positive reviews of his recent performance. Fans are also looking forward to the AEW Revolution Premium Live Event, which is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Grilling J.R. with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the full episode of Grilling J.R. on official podcast platforms or follow Jim Ross on social media for his latest updates.
