Felix Upton on January 8, 2026
Jim Ross made his return to AEW commentary on the January 7, 2026 episode of Dynamite—and now we know it wasn’t originally supposed to happen that way.
On the January 8 episode of Grilling JR, the legendary announcer revealed that he was initially only scheduled to call the main event, a familiar setup given his health recovery. But things changed thanks to AEW Director Mike Mansury.
“I asked Tony Khan earlier in the day what I was going to do. I was originally just going to do the main events, but Mike Mansury—the director—said, ‘Since JR is here, let’s use him for the whole show.’”
Jim Ross, who has been gradually returning after dealing with illness, said there were concerns about whether he had the stamina to go the distance live on air—but it ended up being a great experience.
“There was some concern about my stamina since I’ve been sick, but I feel really good, so I’m rebuilding that energy. I just had a great time—it was a fun, fun day.”
Ross also shared that AEW President Tony Khan personally reached out to him after the show to show appreciation for his work. Beyond just calling matches, JR reflected on the backstage experience and how much it still means to him to be involved and valued.
“I got a text this morning at 1:30 a.m. from Tony Khan saying what a great job he thought I did on the show. Those kinds of things make you feel good. He gave me a chance to come back.
I saw a lot of talent, had time to talk to talent, and they seek me out for feedback. I’m very blessed to still be a part of the AEW family, and working for Tony Khan is an absolute blessing—without question.”
Jim Ross is slowly but surely finding his rhythm again—and after a strong full-show comeback, it’s clear the AEW locker room and leadership still see him as a key voice.
Are you excited to hear Jim Ross back on commentary for an entire AEW show? Do you want to see him take on a regular full-time role again—or just the big matches? Let us know your thoughts below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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