For many, Jim Ross is wrestling. His voice is synonymous with the sport. What many also don’t know is the scope of his influence behind the scenes, as a scout for new talent.
Talking in a recent interview with Sportskeeda, Jim Ross talked about his life in wrestling. Including talking about finding the one and only John Cena.
Love him or hate him, John Cena is a name almost as heavily linked to wrestling as Ross himself. However, you don’t become the face of a company overnight.
Discussing his firsts meeting with John Cena, JR said, “John was up in Southern California, working part-time in several jobs; moving company, truck driver, just a litany of things, while he was training with Rick Bassman in UPW in Southern California.”
It is quite ironic that Jim Ross was not even in So Cal to scout Cena, but rather, another wrestler, who Ross can’t even remember.
Talking to Cena, one conversation was all it took. Ross was sold upon hearing Cenas background. Cutting his trip short, Ross shot back to Connecticut.
“I remember I took the red-eye that night, LAX to New York City,” Ross explained. JR was excited to tell Vince McMahon about his find. However, Vince’s initial reaction is a head-scratcher.
“I think I saw a kid that will headline WrestleMania in five years or less.’ Vince said, ‘I think you need to go home and take a shower. You’re delusional.’”
The rest his history. John Cena carved himself a stellar career in the ring, and Jim Ross continued to his streak of finding the best talent around for WWE.
