Jim Ross Fires Back at D-Von Dudley’s Shocking Racism Claims
In a situation that has been simmering since October 2025, Jim Ross finally broke his silence regarding the heavy allegations leveled against him by D-Von Dudley. And true to form, the legendary announcer didn’t just issue a PR statement; he took to his Grilling JR podcast to dismantle the accusation with a mix of confusion, defense, and a little bit of subtle shade that only a veteran of the territory days could pull off.
The Accusation That Started the Fire
Let’s rewind the tape a bit. Back in October 2025, D-Von Dudley decided to pull the curtain back on his time in WWE. He claimed a “top official” once told him, to his face, that he was disliked specifically because of the color of his skin.
At first, D-Von played the mystery game, but in the wrestling world, secrets have a shelf life of about five minutes. Former wrestler Maven eventually “let the cat out of the bag,” pointing the finger at Good Ol’ JR. Once the name was out there, D-Von confirmed it. He admitted he had “a problem with JR back then” but claimed to have moved past the anger, even offering prayers for Ross’s health.
Ross Breaks His Silence on Christmas
On the Christmas edition of his Grilling JR podcast, with co-host Conrad Thompson teeing up the question, Jim Ross finally addressed the elephant in the room.
His verdict? “Absurd.”
Ross didn’t mince words, claiming the statement didn’t even merit a response before giving a pretty lengthy one. His defense relied heavily on the business side of things. He noted that he was the one who hired the Dudley Boyz. He booked them. He put them in the legendary TLC matches that made them icons.
“I never uttered those words,” Ross insisted. He sounded less angry and more confused, claiming he was “shocked” because he didn’t recall ever having a cross word with D-Von.
A Touch of Shade: The “Jealousy” Defense
After denying the racism claims, Ross took a pivot that felt a little pointed. He questioned D-Von’s motives for bringing this up now, speculating that perhaps D-Von isn’t enjoying his post-ring life as much as his partner. Ross pointed out that Bubba Ray Dudley has carved out a “tremendous success” for himself as a broadcaster.
The implication? D-Von is making up stories to get attention because he’s falling behind his tag team partner. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly adds a layer of personal animosity to the situation.
The Ghost Of Bill Watts
During the podcast, Conrad Thompson brought up an interesting point. Ross came up under Bill Watts in the Mid-South territory. Watts was an old-school promoter who had faced his own share of criticism regarding race relations over the years. Thompson suggested that Ross might be suffering from “guilt by association.”
Ross tried to counter this by listing his resume of African American talent he signed and worked with, dropping names like Shelton Benjamin, Butch Reed, and Junkyard Dog. He even credited the late Ernie Ladd, a legendary black wrestler and booker, as a mentor.
Where Do We Go From Here?
So, where does that leave us? On one side, you have D-Von Dudley, a man who swears he was looked in the eye and told he was hated for his race. On the other hand, you have Jim Ross, vehemently denying it and pointing to the millions of dollars they made together as proof of his professionalism.
It’s a classic “he said, he said,”. Ross says he isn’t mad, but he also isn’t running to invite D-Von over for a barbecue. D-Von hasn’t responded to the denial yet, but for now, we are left with a messy, uncomfortable situation involving two legends.
