Legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross, 72, is hospitalized after 'unexpected' medical scare

Legendary professional wrestling commentator Jim Ross has been hospitalized, revealing Thursday morning he was short of breath. 

The hospital visit was 'unexpected' per Ross, 72, who posted to X about his medical scare.  

'Unexpected trip to ER in Norman this morning. Shortness of the breath. That’s all for now,' Ross said. 

Ross is best known for his long tenure as a WWE play-by-play commentator from 1993-2013. He returned to the WWE in 2017 and stayed for two more years.  

Ross is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling, having been with the company since its first official show, 'Double or Nothing', in May 2019. 

The well wishes quickly came in for Ross from many professional wrestlers. 

AEW wrestlers Dax Harwood and Thunder Rosa responded to his post on X, while former WWE star Hurricane Helms also said 'hope everything's okay buddy'. 

Ross, collectively known by wrestling fans as JR, formed a long-standing commentary team with Jerry 'The King' Lawler for several years on WWE's flagship television show, Monday Night RAW. 

Ross has worked for a major American professional wrestling company consecutively since 1974, right after he graduated from college. 

This hospital trip adds to the health problems Ross has had in recent years. He had an eye operation in 2018 and had successful cancer surgery earlier this year. 

Ross was originally diagnosed with skin cancer in October 2021 but said he was in remission by the end of the year.  

Ross was inducted into the WWE's Hall of Fame in 2007 and had been named the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's commentator of the year 14 times.