'Will never be the same': Wrestling icon to leave WWE for good

WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross has announced that he’s leaving the professional wrestling outfit at the end of March after 26 years.

“My WWE contract after 26 years will expire on Friday, March 29,” Ross said.

“And, after talking a couple of weeks ago with (WWE head) Vince McMahon, we have mutually agreed I need to move on.”

Long career in wrestling

After starting his career in the 1970s broadcasting regional wrestling, Ross later became the top broadcaster at World Championship Wrestling before joining what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1993.

He has since worked off and on with what is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment.

He rejoined the company in 2017 to call WrestleMania after originally leaving in 2013.

Now his contract is up, and he’ll be looking elsewhere.

No hard feelings

He announced that he was leaving on good terms and thanked McMahon for the opportunity.

“I’ve made a lot of money, Vince is amazing to Jan and myself,” Ross said.

“He set us up for life financially, of which I can never repay him.”

Joining the competition?

But he also sounded like a man who’s not done calling wrestling matches.

“I still think I can do play-by-play even though others that may surround Vince think I can’t,” Ross said.

“I’m 67, I still feel I can get the job done doing wrestling play-by-play, and I want to explore that opportunity and possibility.

There are rumours that Ross has his sights set on wrestling start-up All Elite Wrestling, which will look to compete with WWE.

“I still want to play in the game,” Ross said.

“I still want to stay busy.”

Big decision leaves wrestling fans divided

Some of Ross’s most iconic calls will live long in the memory of wrestling fans.

But with his contributions rare in recent years, many felt the WWE had passed him by.

Some were even surprised to be reminded he was still under contract with the company.

with Yahoo Sports