WrestleMania is the biggest event of the year for WWE, and it’s normal to see them pull out all the stops for the big show. Still, there weren’t many who saw a Jim Ross reunion coming down the pike, but that’s exactly what happened. WrestleMania 33 ended up being the final WrestleMania of The Undertaker‘s long and storied career, and no one could have done it justice more than Ross.
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In a recent interview with the A.V. Club, Ross reveals that it was indeed Undertaker’s (real name Mark Calaway) idea to bring him back for the match, and with full approval from Vince McMahon. “I was told by others that Mark and Vince collaborated, and they talked about it. Mark had a suggestion, Vince thought it was a great idea. Look, there’s one captain of the ship, and I give Vince a hell of a lot of credit because if it wasn’t for him facilitating it, it wouldn’t have happened. I’m very grateful for both guys. It was quite the honor.”
Ross also details a moment he had with the phenom backstage before he eventually made his way to the ring against Roman Reigns. “Yes, I did. And I had interactions with him before. He used an RV as his dressing area. I went in his RV when I arrived hours before we were going on. So we had a very good personal conversation. We’ve been joined at the hip for a long, long time, even back to the WCW days. I helped get him into WCW from World Class Championship Wrestling. I thought at the time, you don’t see too many 6-foot-9, 300-pound guys who were athletic. Young Mark Calaway was an athletic beast. So we had a nice conversation. [And after the match], a big hug afterward. I cried, he didn’t want to cry, though he might have had a tear. It was very emotional for him afterward, and I didn’t want to monopolize his time. It sure as hell wasn’t about me, it was about him. What he helped facilitate for me was the greatest honor I have received in wrestling. I’ve been in three Halls Of Fame, and they pale in comparison to having a legendary guy wanting to bring me back—whether I was under contract or not—to be part of the broadcast team, so I can add to his soundtrack of that match. It was a really emotional day.”
The Undertaker set his hat, gloves, and coat in the middle of the ring after the match, and was given a warm sendoff by the fans as he made his way down the ramp. It meant even more that Ross was in attendance, and the good news for fans is that he is sticking around after signing a new two-year contract.
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