Professional wrestling icon, Jim Ross diagnosed with colon cancer

Professional wrestling icon Jim Ross has revealed he has been diagnosed with colon cancer. 

The 73-year-old took to Instagram to reveal the diagnosis this week, with surgery being scheduled over the next few weeks. 

Ross works for All Elite Wrestling as a part-time commentator and senior advisor and is best known for his long run as a play-by-play broadcaster with World Wrestling Entertainment. 

Ross’ diagnosis comes a year after he was hospitalized for being ‘short of breath’ last May. 

The Oklahoman returned to AEW television shortly after his hospitalization for sit-down interviews with Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland ahead of their world championship match at Wembley Stadium in front of over 50,000 fans. 

Ross was at ‘All In: London’ last year on commentary for the main-event bout, where Danielson won the AEW World Championship, two months before his retirement as a full-time wrestler.  

Well wishes came in for Ross from wrestlers and fans from around the world including Chris Van Vliet and the Major League Wrestling promotion. 

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

The diagnosis 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.