Jim Ross to Undergo Brain Surgery

Famous wrestling announcer Jim Ross has revealed plans to have brain surgery following a lengthy hospital stay.

The 74-year-old, who currently works with AEW, shared during a return to the “Grill JR” podcast that he will require a shunt to help drain fluid from his brain. He made light of the situation, mentioning, “It’s going to be an adventure, because I don’t think they’ll discover much in my brain,” though he quickly turned serious.

“I hope nothing goes wrong. I have a great surgeon. Today, I had to see the cardiologist and discuss the upcoming procedure. If he didn’t give the green light, they wouldn’t proceed,” Ross explained.

While he hasn’t been given a specific surgery date yet, he anticipates it will take place within the next week. He also mentioned that the condition has significantly impacted his quality of life.

“You have to deal with it,” he expressed. “I couldn’t live my life as I was. I would forget things—like, really, it was terrible. I felt terrible.” Ross was hospitalized for about 40 days before being discharged on June 30.

In the weeks leading to AEW Double or Nothing in May, he experienced serious health problems. He fell at his home in Oklahoma, missed a flight, and suffered from a sore back, culminating in overwhelming pain during his hotel stay.

Despite his health issues in recent years, Ross continues to make occasional appearances on AEW television, still providing commentary for the shows. He understands the gravity of the surgery ahead.

Shunts are generally used to manage excess brain fluid, directing it to another area of the body through a tube, and require regular monitoring. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, this helps with brain fluid absorption.

“This is pretty serious,” Ross said. “Whenever I open up a skull, it’s always a big deal, and I certainly feel that way this time. I’m planning on a short hospital stay, then going home to heal. That’s my option, and I’m going to do it.”