Jim Ross confirms he reconciled with WWE legend after years of not speaking
Jim Ross oversaw WWE wrestlers' pay structure in the late 1990s as part of his job as a talent relations executive. In a recent podcast episode, the legendary commentator recalled how he and Jeff Jarrett did not speak for several years due to a financial dispute.
Jarrett appeared in WWE between 1992 and 1999. The former Intercontinental Champion earned a guaranteed $350,000 per year at one stage of his career. However, Ross was instructed by then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to reduce the superstar's pay to $250,000.
On Grilling JR, Ross clarified that he and Jarrett made amends after the pay cut initially caused them to fall out:
"Ego issue, the uncertainty. 'Am I gonna make more? Am I gonna make less?' All those type things, so it was an interesting time and I wish it had worked out differently because there were years there that I didn't even talk to Jeff, and that's silly. No reason for that. But we did it and we got through it." [16:58 – 17:23]
In 1999, Jarrett left WWE and joined WCW. The wrestling legend did not appear in WWE again until he received a Hall of Fame induction in 2018.
Jim Ross on his current relationship with Jeff Jarrett
Since 2022, Jeff Jarrett has worked for AEW as a wrestler and Director of Business Development. Jim Ross was an original member of the company's broadcast team in 2019 and still commentates part-time today.
Addressing how he feels about Jarrett now, Ross confirmed they are on good terms again:
"When I work, I see him at AEW TV and it's always a nice conversation, shoot-the-s**t type thing, so we got whole again, so I'm happy about that." [17:24 – 17:34]
In the same episode, Ross said Jarrett "alienated a lot of people" after criticizing a fellow superstar in WWE.
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Please credit Grilling JR and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use Jim Ross' quotes from this article.