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Oklahoma native J.R. Ross will be heard loud and clear at the BOK Center this month when he announces World Wrestling Entertainment's Smackdown.
J.R. Ross never thought that a stint officiating a fraternity fund-raiser wrestling match at Northeastern State University would turn into a career.
But that it did.
Over a 35-year career, Ross has become a wrestling world icon, announcing matches and, as an executive for World Wrestling Entertainment, hiring and training wrestlers (including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin) and developing business strategies. Early on, he worked for legendary Tulsa wrestling promoter Leeroy McGuirk, then TBS. He eventually caught the eye of WWE, moving to Connecticut in 1993.
After a significant health scare, Ross decided to relocate to Norman.
There, he realized another dream. In July 2007, he opened J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q, which features his family’s recipes.
“To me, this little restaurant is like our dining room,” he says. “I love to come here.”
When in town, Ross greets guests, signs autographs and poses for a photo or two at the restaurant. An ardent OU fan, he counts football coaches Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops as regular customers.
Ross continues to bring his familiar voice to WWE matches, commentating for Friday Night Smackdown, WWE Superstars and Pay Per View matches.
On Sept. 22, Ross will bring Smackdown to Tulsa for the WWE’s first engagement at the BOK Center. He says he looks forward to welcoming fans from across the region to Tulsa to show off all downtown has to offer.
And it’s the fans that he counts as his favorite part of his unique life’s work.
“When you’re sitting there at ringside surrounded by people who are having fun and smiling and laughing, it’s hard not to find yourself in that mind-set,” he says. “It’s pretty great. ... I feel like I’m in the place I’m supposed to be.”
