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Legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross operates without compromise in the battle with cancer. The WWE Hall of Famer sent out a defiant message that rallied his army of supporters on social media instantaneously.
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“Checked in and ready to kick this cancer out on its a!” Along with a picture of Ross preparing for treatment, these fighting words from the 71-year-old broadcasting legend drew immediate praise by wrestling personalities and fans worldwide.
The greatest power behind Ross’s announcement lies in the same energy he gave commentary for wrestling for decades: This is not just some sad update about his health; rather, it’s JR calling the fight of his life as if it were an actual WrestleMania main event. And just as with those original classic matches, there are now people standing in line to cheer for him.
“From one colon cancer survivor – you got this!” encouraged Hilyard with a kind locker-room-style encouragement. This exchange between Ross and Hilyard said much about how Ross’s genuine personality, cultivated over decades in wrestling, could easily create camaraderie in challenging situations.
Good wishes came flying in all the way from Italy and throughout the continents; maybe it is the other way-round to connect this to a worldwide fanbase that grew up hearing Ross’s iconic voice calling matches.
Many of the replies to JR’s words cleverly mixed in his famous terminology. “Whip that cancer like a government mule,” one fan stated in reference to Ross’s iconic line, “as God as my witness, he’s broken in half!” Another urged him to “stomp-a-mudhole” into the disease, another phrase JR made popular during the Attitude Era broadcasts.
The wrestling community’s response makes it evident that Ross has impacted several generations. From younger-than-podcast generation fans, and AEW joining water with old-timers that remember his WWF golden years, all united by that unmistakable Oklahoma drawl that could have made even a vanilla Sunday mat appear historic.
Medical issues are nothing new to Ross. He has talked openly about his former health problems, including Bell’s palsy and the many skin cancer scares. But in true Ross fashion, he faces this newest challenge with every ounce of grit that has seen him through professional setbacks and personal tragedies the past several decades.
Aside from that, the utmost adoration for the man becomes apparent throughout the hundreds of replies. People are not merely rooting for “Good Ol’ JR” the character – they’re rooting for Jim Ross the person. The barbecue sauce entrepreneur. The devoted husband. The guy who somehow convinced everybody that even some of the more perplexing WCW storylines mattered.
From the message alone, one thing seems clear- he’s treating this cancer just like any professional wrestling broadcast he ever called. Prepared. Passionate. And capable of making people care. Looking back at history, that probably means he’s going to win this fight, too.
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What further proves that giant response from the wrestling community only serves to solidify a truth wrestling fans have always known: Jim Ross’s voice does not just narrate unforgettable moments; it actually consists of that half. And now, the whole business is struggling to find their voice to put some of that energy back into him when he needs it most.
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