Jim Ross Defends Vince McMahon, Says ‘His Legacy Will Never be Replicated’

– As noted, Conrad Thompson’s AdFreeShows recently put together a charity event on behalf of former WCW wrestler and NFL player Steve “Mongo” McMichael, who is currently battling ALS. The event featured WWE Hall of Famers Jim Ross, Mick Foley, Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, and Jeff Jarrett taking part in a free-to-watch stage show. During the show. Conrad Thompson asked Jim Ross on Vince McMahon retiring as CEO and Chairman of WWE.

During the discussion, Ross spoke highly of and praised McMahon for his role in the pro wrestling business, even excusing McMahon for firing him multiple times, noting “I don’t give a ****,” adding that once Vince McMahon realized that, it became “more fun for him.” Below are some highlights and a clip of JR and Ric Flair discussing the topic:

Jim Ross on Vince McMahon retiring: “Well, he will never be replaced. He will always be at the top of the mountain. Look what he built. And he built it from s***, those little arenas, smoky this, and having to deal with commissions and all that stuff. He’s an amazing human being. He’s an amazing human being. And yes, because you got to look at this end, he’s fired me three or four times. I don’t give a s***. When he found out I didn’t give a s***, it made it more fun for him, and he just kept firing me. But here’s the good news. He hired me back. He never hired me back for less money than I was making before I exited. So, he’s always been fair to me in that respect.”

On his disagreements with McMahon on wrestling: “Have always agreed philosophically on how to present pro wrestling? No because I’m a pro wrestling guy, not a sports entertainment guy. I don’t even know what that really means. I just said it for the hell of it, so I can make a click. It’s really important to get clicks these days, you know. It’s essential in your livelihood and your life.”

Flair on Vince McMahon: “Wrestling meant everything to him. It meant everything to him, and he made a lot of people rich. I don’t care what you guys hear, don’t believe, don’t know, or don’t hear about, all the bad royalties and all that. There are so many guys luckier than s*** to have made the money they made, to have made the money they made for doing so little all because of him. If they had done what I did in the 70s and the guys, not just me, that whole era, 60s and all that, $15, $50 bucks a night, 300 miles every night, you have no idea. They couldn’t do it. They wouldn’t do it. Who would? He and his dad before him and him, he just had a bit of balls to say, ‘Guys, we can get bigger and compete with everybody, or we can compete stay separate.’ It wasn’t the downfall of other people, they just didn’t have the vision that he has, and look where it is now. The company can’t run by itself. I’m sure Stephanie [McMahon] and Hunter [Triple H] will do a good job, but it will always be Vince McMahon’s company, in my opinion.”

Ross on how this is Vince McMahon’s world: “It’s Vince McMahon’s world. Look at pro wrestling. We can denigrate anybody that we choose to, and it’s certainly in this form but the issue is is that McMahon’s legacy in his image will never be replicated period. ‘Well, I didn’t like that finish in 1973, and uh I don’t know…’ Take it easy. It’s f***ing fiction. Easy, easy, and he’s the most powerful man that this business has ever known. He’s the most powerful man this business will ever know, and those of you that don’t like this because of a finish or an angle, or he didn’t give someone his break, get over it. Get over it. We wouldn’t be here today in some shape, form, or fashion, if it wasn’t for guys like Vince McMahon and the passion of a guy like Mongo McMichael. They had something in common. They both believed in their mission. So, I’m a big fan of McMahon’s. I’m a big fan of Mongo’s. I love Mongo.”

If using the above quotes, please credit AdFreeShows, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.