Jim Ross Calls Out AEW’s Ego-Driven Backstage Environment

Jim Ross isn’t mincing words when it comes to AEW’s backstage environment.

During his May 27, 2025, appearance on Grilling JR, the legendary announcer took a brutally honest look at the politics behind the curtain—and reflected on how the business shaped him, for better and worse.

“It’s funny. The last time I was there, I listened to—I was really curious to hear the office talent talking, and they were like, you know, digging a—a space for themselves. And some weren’t. Not all of them. All of them had good intentions. But god damn it, some of them didn’t. Some of them didn’t, Connie.”

JR made it clear he wasn’t above it in the past, admitting he played the game too.

“You know, every—wrestling is a funny thing. It’s a… it’s very… The talents that work in the office are often times—not all of them—but oftentimes very, uh, self-serving. I was too. I was too. And I look back at what I have—at my experience. I would never do that again. I’d let you fire me or get rid of me because I’m not going to be that guy.”

He laid out how the wrestling industry conditions people to protect their spots—and how that pressure doesn’t go away even in a modern company like AEW.

“So, it was—it was hard, but it’s—it’s a tough business. And Tony is in a tough spot as far as that’s concerned.”

Despite calling out some of the ego-driven energy, Ross praised AEW’s production and crew.

“The TV shows are not bad at all. I don’t think—I—I’ve seen a lot worse. I’ve been on a lot worse, but you know, I’ve seen a lot worse than what we’re seeing now.”

“I think Tony’s people have done a really good job here lately of manufacturing the show and producing it. And there’s some good—good people there behind the scenes. Really, really good people.”

And he meant it when he said he’d build with them from the ground up.

“I’d start a territory with them in a heartbeat.”

Still, JR pointed out that even those hard-working team members aren’t immune from internal jabs and subtle digs from others in the locker room.

“They’re just—they’re getting nailed by their peers. Little pot shots. It’s like a—it’s like a Western. There’s a lot of common cheros out there that are using their guns to do their communication. And these guys are doing some of that too—not that extreme obviously—but some of that.”

Jim Ross has seen it all in pro wrestling—but his remarks show that AEW’s locker room isn’t immune from the same politics that have shaped the industry for decades.

Do you think JR’s take is a fair look behind the curtain, or is this just the normal grind of wrestling life? Drop your thoughts below and let us know where you stand.

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