AEW’s Jim Ross Speaks Out on WWE ID Program: ‘Long Overdue’

This week, WWE ID has been generating considerable attention in the wrestling community, with several prominent figures offering their perspectives on the company’s bold move to develop future talent for WWE while also reshaping the independent circuit.

On his “Grilling JR” podcast, Jim Ross shared his thoughts on the initiative, reminiscing about a past conversation with Vince McMahon regarding a similar approach years ago.

“It’s about time,” Ross commented, reflecting on McMahon’s historically limited interest in investing in the independent scene. He recalled asking McMahon where WWE’s current talent pool was sourced from, likely trying to highlight the importance of the indies.

Ross also noted the diversity of their roster, mentioning that many talents came from colleges and stressing the need for different personalities, body types, and ethnicities. While some believe WWE ID could diminish the leverage that talent holds when negotiating with promotions, Ross disagrees with this view.

He explained, “If you don’t sign a contract and you have something like a letter of agreement, I think it could be a good recruiting tool because it helps talent build confidence and self-esteem, knowing they have a deal in the works with WWE.”

Ross also emphasized that it would be unwise for any talent to sign a deal that restricts them from working with other companies, though having a guaranteed offer from WWE would be beneficial.