Jim Ross addressed reports that made the rounds on Friday that he was close to agreeing to terms with AXS TV to do commentary for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
In a new blog on his official website, Ross reiterated tweets he had sent out on Friday noting that while the initial reports weren’t accurate, talks with AXS TV remain ongoing.
“Twitter was abuzz Friday wth the rumors that I had signed a contract to become the new play by play voice of AXSTV’s New Japan Pro Wrestling broadcast that airs every Friday night on AXSTV. Mauro Ranallo has filled that seat along side of Josh Barnett quite well since the network began airing NJPW events. Mauro has since moved on to become the Smackdown play by play voice and, by the way, has done doing a stellar job the first two weeks of his tenure on the USA Network for WWE. Mauro has recorded NJPW commentary along with Josh Barnett through February.
The bottom line is my camp and AXSTV have had talks over the last couple of months and there is a mutual interest to do business together but we have yet to finalize our agreement. As of Saturday morning, I was told that the “lawyers are reviewing the revised points on the contract.” If we can all get on the same page, of which I am optimistic that we can, then we can get every thing signed and move forward to another exciting chapter of my broadcasting career. To be able to get back in the game is something that excites me and to be able to call such a fundamentally sound, athletic presentation like NJPW motivates me.
I think that within the business itself that the news of AXS and our side talking didn’t come as a surprise but at the end of the day the story that made the rounds on Friday simply isn’t accurate.”
You can check out the full blog from Ross at the link below.