Jim Ross firmly believes that a wrestler currently contracted to AEW is very much deserving of a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Debuting in WCW in 1988 and going on to have multiple successful runs in WWE as Goldust, Dustin Rhodes is one of the most tenured wrestlers still competing today and has left a lasting legacy with his work in front of the camera along with his influence behind the scenes, especially in AEW.
Respected by many and paving the way for some of the most memorable personas in the years that followed, many believe that Rhodes should be recognised for his contributions to the wrestling world and receive his long overdue induction, including the AEW announcer.
Discussing The Natural’s career on the Grilling JR podcast, Ross agreed that Rhodes is a Hall of Famer and hoped that his relationship with AEW would not factor into the decision:
“He’s a Hall of Famer, without a doubt. I wonder if he’ll ever be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame. He deserves it but because of his relationship with Tony Khan and AEW, which is well deserved, it may never happen and that’s unfortunate. I feel close to him, I feel a kinship to him still today and it’s growing because I’m so proud of the fact that he’s not dependent on drugs and alcohol, [he] saved his life. There’s no way that Dustin would have been alive today if he had not made those changes.”
Jim Ross Appeared At Forbidden Door
Prior to the pay-per-view on June 30th, Jim Ross gave the concerning update that he needed to return to the emergency room as he was once again experiencing breathing difficulties. With many understandably concerned for the health of the veteran announcer, it appeared that Ross would not be present to call the action in New York. However, in more positive news, Ross was able to appear at the show and call the final matches of the event.
Echoing the sentiment of Ross, The Undertaker also advocated for Rhodes to receive a future WWE Hall of Fame induction on his own podcast.
In a new episode of his podcast, Jim Ross described one WWE star as “very underrated.”
H/t to Wrestling Inc.