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WWE's Jim Ross comments on his eventual successor and whether he's ever felt like quitting

Posted in: WWE News
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Apr 18, 2008 - 11:41 AM

Jim Ross updated the Q&A section of JRsbarbq.com. The following items are among the highlights.

-Ross on his successor as the Raw announcer: "Michael Cole is the undisputed voice of Smackdown, so my guess is that when I am no longer around that the WWE will go with a fresh young face who doesn’t have a southern drawl and Cole will stick with Smackdown. That is making one change and not making two."

Powell's POV: The $300,000 contract the company gave Mike Adamle is a good indication that they wanted to groom him to serve as Ross's heir apparent. J.R. will retire eventually and it's a wise move for WWE to begin making plans for a transition. Yet based on everything we've heard about Adamle's struggles on live television throughout his run as a Chicago sportscaster, it sounds like they have their work cut out for them.

-Ross on whether he's ever thought about quitting WWE: "We all have our challenging days where some days are tougher than others, but I still love the business and as I have said on many occasions, my Dad did not raise a quitter. I know my time will come to be replaced on Raw, but I can not and will not ever 'poor me' it because I have had a blessed career and am ready to kick ass a few more years or until I begin to adversely affect what legacy I have been able to build."

-Ross on WWE distancing itself from Chris Benoit: "The WWE distancing itself from Chris for the time being had to be done. How long will the moratorium last? I have no idea. Chris’s actions the last few hours of his life doesn’t diminish that he was a great in-ring wrestler. I think the WWE Wellness Program is still and perhaps always will be a work in progress.

"However, education at an early stage of one’s career and not tolerating senseless drug use will help deter any epidemics in the future, but for one to think that any drug policy will 100 percent eliminate the problem of drug abuse is ill advised. We are dealing with humans here and some humans are simply stupid, have self destructive personalities or have on going issues that need long term, managed care, which should eliminate them from the profession of wrestling."

Powell's POV: I hope there comes a day when WWE can get back to acknowledging Benoit's history in the business. I realize the company is in a tough spot and they will be criticized either way, but I don't believe in erasing a person from history under any circumstances. I'd never want to see WWE exploit the situation, but I won't have a problem if they get back to including his name on DVD listings and include his Raw and Nitro matches on WWE 24/7.

Other topics include Mick Foley, Bret Hart, and bathroom breaks during Raw and pay-per-views.

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