Jim Ross was a guest on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast this week and JR and Sam discussed a variety of topics about his commentary career as well as today’s wrestling.

Below are some highlights from the interview, with JR revealing how he almost quit the business, what he thinks about Woken Matt Hardy and who he would sign to WWE if he was still hiring talent today.

Almost Quitting The Business

“The reason that happened was it was my second bell’s palsy issue and it was more serious than the first one, HD TV was getting cool and big. I always had the round little face and now I can’t smile so I’m not doing well and I believed my return at WrestleMania with Austin and Rock was it and if it is stress causing these things then this isn’t helping the issue. I had never had panic attacks until that day of WrestleMania and I’m in a tuxedo in a little room thinking I have to tell good-lookingI can’t do this. Something just said, if this is going to be your last one then go out there and kick ass, so I talked myself out of it.”  

Thoughts on Woken Matt Hardy

“Matt has been around long enough to know where opportunities come and how fleeting they can be. He has one chance to make ‘Woken’ Matt Hardy work because it won’t get a second reboot, I like the persona, it feels organic and it’s interesting.” 

Who He Would Sign To WWE Today

“I am going to certainly work out a way to bring Chris Jericho back, I am looking at Kenny Omega and finding the interest out from Okada, he is a good-looking young man, he’s really good. I would certainly welcome Cody Rhodes with open arms and Young Bucks because I like those kids, as many shirts as they are selling now, get under that WWE umbrella and see how many you sell. I would try to figure out a way if there is one more run in CM Punk, and one more run means one WrestleMania, the only other way I would do him is have him return at WrestleMania and that way there is no pressure on anybody.”