Jim Ross was the guest on WWE Byte This yesterday. The following are Jim Ross's comments on:
Steve Austin's departure:
We had a great run with Stone Cold and Stone Cold with the WWE was great partnership for so many years. WWE did great with Stone Cold and Stone Cold did great with WWE. Stone Cold became a multimillionaire through his efforts with this company and it's unfortunate that we could not come to terms on a new agreement. I've read a lot of erroneous information on that subject. I think the bottom line is Steve is a little burnt out. Steve wanted to free himself up and do some projects. I wish him the best. I consider him a friend. I do think down the line he will be back with WWE. I can't envision that we've seen the last of him but I do think that he probably will explore some other options. I hope those that are advising him have some intelligence and do not put him back in the ring in a wrestling environment where he's going to be wrestling. I don't think Steve is going to allow that to happen unless he's pressured or has a lot of money thrown in his face because I don't think he needs to be competing with people who aren't as solid as he is fundamentally. So, I think the world of Steve. Steve's done great here. We really all left on good terms. We didn't come to terms. We wished him well in our press release and I mean it"
Bill Goldberg's departure:
"Ross said Goldberg's contract was for about a year. He said that he read a new contract was offered to Goldberg, but that didn't happen. He said there were some casual discussions about Goldberg staying. Goldberg was interested in staying if some things could be worked out from a creative standpoint but "Our philosophy is if it ain't broke, don't fix it." He said that Goldberg was a good guy and he considers him a friend, but his passion to be a day in and day out wrestler probably waned a long time ago."
Brock Lesnar's departure:
"Ross said that Brock really wanted to see if he could cut it in the NFL. Ross said that he thinks it is a long shot at best, but brings up another amateur wrestler who made it with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said Brock is big and strong enough and his numbers are there to make it. He said that the key is whether he has the fundamentals to make it in the NFL in a prominent position. Ross said he thinks it
