Jim Ross Reveals His Top 5 Wrestlers-Turned-Commentators and Explains Why They Still Matter

Jim Ross has called countless wrestling matches, but on the latest episode of Grilling JR, he took time to call out the best of the best behind the desk.

With Bryan Danielson now joining AEW Dynamite’s commentary team, JR broke down his top five wrestlers-turned-announcers — and explained exactly why each man earned their spot. Kicking things off at number one was his longtime partner in crime, Jerry “The King” Lawler. JR didn’t hesitate in ranking him at the top.

“I gotta go with Jerry Lawler. You know, we broadcast through some chaotic moments, some major moments, some epic moments. When he’s on, he’s the best. So Lawler will be number one in my list. Probably no surprise. When Lawler and I were doing our thing, it was just automatic. It was smooth and it was entertaining. Lawler’s got great knowledge of the product.”

Coming in at number two, JR named the legendary Gorilla Monsoon — someone who not only left a lasting impression with fans but gave JR a warm welcome during his early WWF days.

“Monsoon would be number two. And that’s kind of an easy decision for me. He was a star. Super heavyweight, moved around like a smaller guy, had great amateur skills, had just a great feel for the game, which helped him announce. Gorilla was just special. He was a godsend to me because I wasn’t the most welcome dude in WWE when I first went there. I had heat — a lot of guys thought I was pushing him out, which was ridiculous. But he made me feel welcome. Just a wonderful man.”

At number three, JR saluted the one and only Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, calling him both hilarious and impactful.

“Heenan’s good. He was great. He was funny. He could be serious — and when he was serious, it seemed to elevate the broadcast. He would sometimes lean on the comedic side, but when it was a serious angle and he needed to be serious, he could damn sure get it done. I loved working with Bobby. He was a joy to work with until he had some health issues later on. He could be a heel or a babyface and do it really, really well.”

At number four, Taz got his flowers — and JR made sure people knew that the former ECW Champion has grown into a dependable voice in AEW.

“He’s a good storyteller with a big personality. He’s got credibility, experience as a heel or a babyface. He’s kind of become a babyface now. The longer you’re around, the more you get close to the hearts of the fans. He’s sometimes overlooked, which I don’t think is very smart. I like his work. He’s analytical, sports-oriented more often than not. The only time he seemingly gets out of his lane is when he tries to be too funny. But he’s evolved into a hell of a broadcaster.”

Rounding out the list at number five was Excalibur, the current voice of AEW Dynamite. JR admitted Excalibur might not have had the most famous in-ring career, but his intelligence and skill on the mic made him undeniable.

“He’s a better announcer, I think — in all due respect — than he was a wrestler. But he’s really, really smart. He’s good at analyzing things and telling stories and connecting the dots. His wrestling career was mostly in the indies, a lot of it in California, so a lot of it’s been overlooked. But he does excellent work. The only thing — he might be overexposed a little at times. He’s rode hard and put up wet from time to time. But he’s reliable, he’s easy to work with, and that’s important.”

JR’s picks show just how important it is to blend wrestling knowledge with the ability to communicate effectively — and it’s clear that Bryan Danielson will be stepping into some elite company as he transitions to the booth.

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