Jim Ross shoots on getting drafted to Smackdown BY SURPRISE

For over forty years Jim Ross has been the Voice of Wrestling. From starting as referee in the regional territories to becoming the Executive Vice President for WWE, nobody has a story quite like Jim Ross. From recruiting and hiring some of the biggest superstars in the industry to providing the soundtrack for the most important moments in wrestling history, “Good Ole JR” was there for it all. Join us every Thursday morning as Conrad Thompson grills JR like you’ve never heard before, uncut and uncensored!

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[CaliforniaDreamin.]

2008 when JR and Lawler split WWE was never the same again. It was the day the PG Era and the downfall started.

[ncwunmi]

The night they broke up JR and Lawler (for good) is like a line of demarcation in WWE history, insomuch as it was never as good ever again.

[tasteewheat]

When that happened back in 2008... even i was in shock.. and i saw his look when he was drafted like he was not happy about it... His head was down and i honestly felt how horrible that was ... And the longer he stayed on Smackdown i knew he wasn't going to stay because he was happy on Raw.. And even taz wasnt happy about it

[mattcaporuscio]

I started watching WWE in 2003 especially Raw and JR and King was literally the voices of my childhood and once they split that magic or whatever you want to call it wasn’t the same again. To this day I hate that decision.

[grammysworld]

I never understood the lack of respect Vince had for J.R at times

[JeffreyMarksWorld]

Cole immediately stood up and handed the headset to JR, then he got drafted. Cole knew

[Megadebt]

It's crazy that Kevin Dunn would be part of that decision making... shows me what's wrong with WWE.

[PapaShango]

The overall feeling that night was completely akward. Even as a viewer I knew something was off. Jim Ross looked fed up and his partners barley had words. They knew JR was not gonna be happy.

[chasincash]

LOL @ Todd Grisham. Haven’t heard that name in years

[almightyone]

This is when WWE started going downhill coz Jim Ross to me was Raw.

[bartolomeestebanmurillo]

Someone at HQ must have really had it out for JR, I mean he and Lawler had good chemistry, so why separate them?

[CaliforniaDreamin.]

I think Dunn and Cole both knew… it was one big joke at J.R.’s Expense. Horrible thing to do to someone who dedicated their life and career to the company.

[ezcleghorn]

As a totally blind fan growing up in the late 90s early 2000s, JR and King were so much more to me than a broadcast team. They literally painted the pictures that allowed me to fall in love with this industry. I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say that June 23, 2008 other than someone dying, was for me and always will be the worst day in the history of the industry and nothing they could ever do now no matter what happened will ever be as black of a day For me as that was because they literally took away, the two people who gave me the ability to see the product. This also, this way of just doing something just to mess with someone’s life should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind. what a disgusting human Vince McMahon is and shows that, you can 100% believe the allegations that we have all heard about in the last few months. If he would do this to someone like Jim, who has such a loyal following and is so loved and respected, imagine what he would do to a woman that he thought no one would ever ever find out about.

[taylorwaenga]

It felt weird listening to him on smackdown.

[josecarlosgarciaii]

First Vince McMahon is a genius. Second JR was and is a babyface and yes for storyline purposes he would "mess" with JR but Vince wanted Smackdown to have the opening of bigtime with Jr's voice. And Vince has famously always gotten his. From pissing his pants live on tv to getting his face shoved both Rikish and big shows butts.

[kevindouglas]

Seems like Jim Cornette is right about Dunn

[James.chalmers]

Poor smackdown they talk like it’s nothing compared to raw… also what’s he on about triple h wasn’t there long he was on smackdown until the end of the year I remember his feud with Jeff hardy and even great khali, Shelton was us champion on smackdown at the time as well, could have just sent JR to ecw for his attitude

[cloudxz]

Vince is a amazing Businessman but sometimes he was such a Ass.
You can see Jim Ross and Michael Cole too where not happy in that Moment. There are Family Plans and other Stuff that where riped apart in Seconds.
Michael Cole too was ripped from everything. I remember how he said: I was at Smackdown for 10 Year's. I missed only 2 Shows in 10 Year's. He had probaly good friends at Smackdown.
Vince did them both so dirty that Night.