Jim Ross has praised boxing legend Mike Tyson’s 1998 WWE appearance, claiming he was “born for the pro wrestling business.”
Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross looked back at Tyson’s involvement in the feud between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels, which culminated at WrestleMania 14. Tyson served as the special guest enforcer for the main event, ultimately helping Austin capture the WWF Championship and delivering a memorable knockout punch to Michaels after the match.
Ross recalled Tyson’s contributions fondly, highlighting the energy and enthusiasm the former world heavyweight champion brought to the company’s programming.
“Mike was happy, he was involved, and he was tuned in,” Ross said. “Mike was fun to work with, I did an interview with him, kind of a lost interview; I don’t know where it is. But there was an interview where I talked to Mike, and it worked out beautifully. Mike Tyson was born for the pro wrestling business, and he did a great job for us, no question.”
Tyson’s participation in WWE not only generated significant mainstream attention but also helped elevate Austin’s rise to superstardom, cementing a key moment in the company’s late-90s “Attitude Era.”
It was later reported that Tyson earned $3 million for his role during the build-up and at WrestleMania itself, a hefty sum that the company viewed as a worthy investment given the publicity and success that followed.
Why Did Hulk Hogan’s 2005 WWE Run End According To Jim Ross?
Jim Ross spoke about what brought about the end to Hulk Hogan’s brief 2005 WWE run and said that backstage politics were the ultimate reason, stating that due to Hogan’s advancing age (Hogan was 51 and turned 52 during his 2005 run), coupled with the fact that younger talent felt they were being sacrificed at Hogan’s expense made it difficult to justify his continued involvement in their programming.
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