The Steve Austin Show – Legendary Broadcaster Jim Ross, Part One (SAS Classics)

Date: March 25, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Jim Ross (JR)
Location: Hollywood, CA (via the Broken Skull Ranch)

Episode Overview

In this "classic" episode, Steve Austin welcomes legendary pro wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross for a candid, heartfelt conversation about Ross’s life, upbringing, health, and early career. The interview balances personal stories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the wrestling business, and reflections on changing health habits, working in the territories, and lessons from mentors. This is the first of a two-part deep-dive, focusing primarily on JR’s formative years, family, roots in Oklahoma, and unusual journey into professional wrestling and broadcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Health, Lifestyle, and Wellness

[01:41 – 05:10]

• JR’s Health Upgrades:
  Jim Ross discusses significant changes made to his diet and exercise in recent years – cutting out fried foods and alcohol, watching his intake of dairy, sodium, and sugar, and swapping “happy hour” for regular trips to the gym.

  “I don't do any one of them anymore. Hell, it used to be a half a gallon of milk a day. So that's gone. ... I swap booze to the treadmill. I don't get the buzz, but it's better for me.”
  — Jim Ross (03:10)

• Exercise Routine:
  Focuses on lighter weights and more reps after abdominal surgery, with a humorous take on body image at his age.

  “I ain't got no six pack or a two pack. ... I never had one, so I've drank plenty of them, but I don't have none of that.”
  — Jim Ross (04:54)

• Steve Austin’s Take:
  Emphasizes caloric deficit, not just exercise, for genuine weight loss and commends JR’s commitment.

  "You can never out train a shitty diet."
  — Steve Austin (05:10)

2. Early Life and Oklahoma Roots

[06:21 – 11:51]

• Born in California, Raised Oklahoman:
  Although widely known as a proud Oklahoman, JR reveals for the first time (to Steve) that he was born in Fort Bragg, California, owing to his family’s migration during the Dust Bowl era.

  "I figured California wouldn't claim me. ... I've been Oklahoma guy at heart... all my family came to Oklahoma before statehood."
  — Jim Ross (08:48)

  • JR jokes about “half-assed” Californian roots and childhood time split between California and Oklahoma.

  • Family land: JR still owns a 190-acre tract in Oklahoma, deeded to his family since 1883, which is a source of pride and family heritage.

• Invitation for Arrowhead Hunting:
  Classic friendly banter as Steve tries to secure an invite to JR’s land.

  "Yeah. Oh, yeah, we can do that. That trip is probably about a 12 pack."
  — Jim Ross (11:58)

3. High School Sports and Lessons from His Father

[12:02 – 17:44]

• Athletic Background:
  JR details his high school sports days: All-conference football player (center), honorable mention All-State, baseball first baseman, and four-year letterman in basketball—though most notably as a “defensive specialist.”

  "If somebody got the hot hand, I was normally put in to shut them down by fish or foul and normally it was foul."
  — Jim Ross (12:53)

• Farm Life & Choosing Another Path:
  To avoid farm chores, he involved himself in every school activity possible.

  "It wasn't that I was lazy, I just wasn't motivated for it. ... I didn't give a damn about it. But as I got older... I should have appreciated it more."
  — Jim Ross (13:24)

• Tough Love from Dad:
  Memorable story of Ross’s father physically "coaching him up" after a football game, reinforcing toughness and humility.

  "He just beat the hell out of me... Nowadays it puts you on Dr. Phil and they'd have a whole week of shows about getting abused by your father."
  — Jim Ross (16:02)

4. Student Leadership, FFA, and Finding His Voice

[18:57 – 24:01]

• Speech and Student Activities:
  President of his student body, state vice president of the Future Farmers of America, state speech champion (1968). These early experiences foreshadowed his skills as a broadcaster.

  "I spent lots of time with my grandparents ... My grandpa was a big reader... he taught me to read... And then when I was ... I got a transistor radio.”
  — Jim Ross (19:34)

• Broadcasting Influences:
  Grew up listening to St. Louis Cardinals games called by Jack Buck & Harry Caray. Regularly absorbed sports radio and news, which inspired his interest in broadcasting as a path distinct from farm life.

  “The communication world kind of intrigued me...It was all about storytelling and immersing yourself into whatever genre it was.”
  — Jim Ross (23:43)

5. College, Radio, and Wrestling Fandom

[24:01 – 29:40]

• College Majors:
  At Northeastern State, JR studied teaching, speech, broadcast journalism, and PE (with humorous notes on kinesiology & anatomy proving tougher than expected).

• First Football Broadcast:
  Covered his college’s games for $15 a pop—a far cry from later career earnings.

• Pro Wrestling Fandom:
  A lifelong fan, started watching regional wrestling at age 8 or 10, closely following the stars and stories, with a particular draw to the episodic, simple storytelling of that era.

  "You knew exactly why they were fighting. You knew exactly what they were mad at each other about. ... the titles meant something."
  — Jim Ross (26:30)

  • Also speaks on the big tag team feuds (Kentuckians vs Assassins), graphic angles, and the way wrestling “suspends disbelief.”

6. Breaking Into the Wrestling Business

[31:58 – 39:44]

• Getting His First Job:
  Organized amateur wrestling fundraisers for fraternity reputation repair; pitched shows to promoter Bill Watts and Leroy McGurk, who hired him after successful events.

  "So that's kind of how that started. And then my first job was 114 a week, all in, no benefits. ... I was the driver for the blind promoter. I bought whiskey and cigars."
  — Jim Ross (32:02)

• Paying Dues – Rookie Life:
  Started as a driver, errand boy, did ring crew, then referee. Learned fast and traveled with veterans Danny Hodge and Skandar Akbar, picking up lessons and etiquette about the business.

  “You learned to respect your elders... You engaged in conversation when you were invited into the conversation, like, hey, what do you think, kid?”
  — Jim Ross (36:20)

• Mentorship & Lost Art:
  Discusses the value of road trips with veterans, their willingness to coach next generations, and how the dissolution of territorial wrestling hurt on-the-job education for new talent.

  "One of the biggest ills of the territories going away is the fact that the young guys don't have the mentors that they had back in the day..."
  — Jim Ross (38:48)

7. From Referee to Announcer

[39:44 – 44:23]

• Transition to the Booth:
  Started helping with TV inserts (localized promos), filled in for missing ring announcers, and eventually was put on commentary by Bill Watts. JR explains his early lines, learning key psychological distinctions in language usage for babyfaces and heels.

  “If a baby face left the ring, he was regrouping. If a heel Left the ring. He was a coward...”
  — Jim Ross (41:28)

• Learning from Mistakes:
  Illustrates “longest walk” backstage to get feedback and often criticism from Bill Watts, which refined his approach and understanding of match psychology.

8. The Role of Announcers and the Psychology of Wrestling

[44:23 – 45:18]

• The Importance of Announcing:
  Both men discuss how a good announcer can elevate both the winner and the loser, sometimes getting more out of losing if done right.

  "You can actually get more out of losing a match than the winner. But it's all how it's done."
  — Steve Austin (44:23)

9. Influences: Bill Watts & Gordon Solie

[46:17 – 51:37]

• Primacy of Watts & Solie:
  JR lauds Gordon Solie for his “class and believability” in contrast to over-the-top announcers; describes learning deep psychology from Bill Watts and how both set standards for serious, effective wrestling commentary.

  “He raised that whole profession, in my view, into an art form.”
  — Jim Ross (46:38)

• Behind-the-Scenes with McGurk:
  As note-taker for the blind promoter, Ross got a unique education in booking, story planning, and the importance of protecting kayfabe (the illusion of reality in wrestling).

  "So all that was all learning. It was all going to school. But Bill is the one that really raised it to an art form..."
  — Jim Ross (49:10)

  • Story of McGurk’s blindness and toughness; the importance of heels having “unmitigated heat” (being true villains).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Life Changes

“I swap booze to the treadmill. I don't get the buzz, but it's better for me.”
— Jim Ross (03:10)

On Professional Wrestling Fandom

“You knew exactly why they were fighting. You knew exactly what they were mad at each other about. ...the titles meant something.”
— Jim Ross (26:30)

On the Mentorship Lost with the Territories

"One of the biggest ills of the territories going away is the fact that the young guys don't have the mentors that they had back in the day when they were riding with these top hands who are more than willing, a lot of them more than willing to coach the other kids up. And that don't happen nowadays."
— Jim Ross (38:48)

On Learning from Bill Watts

“If a baby face left the ring, he was regrouping. If a heel Left the ring. He was a coward and he was. It got too hot in the kitchen. Both did exactly the same thing. But your psychological ploy that you utilized was the verbiage that you used.”
— Jim Ross (41:28)

On Announcing and Elevating Talent

"You can actually get more out of losing a match than the winner. But it's all how it's done."
— Steve Austin (44:23)

On Gordon Solie

“He raised that whole profession, in my view, into an art form.”
— Jim Ross (46:38)

Key Timestamps Overview

• 01:41 – Steve welcomes JR; discussion about Oklahoma and health changes
• 02:50 – JR on diet changes and exercise routine
• 06:21 – JR’s family roots; California birth story
• 08:48 – Why JR identifies as an Oklahoman
• 10:07 – Steve requests a visit to JR’s Oklahoma land
• 12:02 – JR’s athletic background in high school
• 13:24 – Avoiding farming chores via school activities
• 16:02 – Tough love story from JR’s father
• 18:57 – JR discusses student leadership, FFA, public speaking
• 19:34 – Early broadcasting influences and love of radio
• 24:01 – College and first sports broadcasting experience
• 26:30 – Early wrestling fandom; territory wrestling stories
• 31:58 – Breaking into the wrestling business, first jobs
• 36:20 – Value of riding with veterans and mentorship
• 39:44 – Transition from referee to announcer
• 41:28 – On learning how to call babyface vs. heel action
• 44:23 – Elevating both winners and losers as an announcer
• 46:38 – Major influences: Bill Watts & Gordon Solie
• 49:10 – Learning from blind promoter Leroy McGurk
• 51:37 – Wrapping up; preview of part two

Tone and Language

True to the down-to-earth, no-nonsense, and sometimes humorous nature of both Austin and Ross, the episode is a blend of straight talk, self-deprecating wit, and colorful storytelling. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and authenticity throughout, appealing to die-hard wrestling fans and casual listeners alike.

End of Episode One

The conversation will continue in Part Two, where Steve Austin and Jim Ross will delve deeper into JR's rise in wrestling, legendary moments, and more tales from the road.