Jim Ross isn’t the biggest fan of the way WWE is handling the Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan storyline heading into their WWE Championship showdown at WrestleMania 35.
J.R. went back-and-forth with some fans on social media after posting a tweet criticizing WWE for bringing race into the Kingston/Bryan storyline.
“Race should never have been brought into the [Kofi Kingston] storyline,” wrote Ross via his official Twitter page this week. “It’s a classic, underdog story. Race, Religion & Politics have no place on rasslin tv, IMO.”
Race should never have been brought into the @TrueKofi storyline.
It’s a classic, underdog story.
Race, Religion & Politics have no place on rasslin tv, IMO.
Hope to see you #WrestlemaniaWeekend pic.twitter.com/JRjMRWcMPU
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
One fan responded, sharing his belief that race is a big reason why the Kingston storyline is resonating with fans. Ross replied to that fan by saying, “Only because the racial component was so strongly introduced within the storyline….IMO.”
Another fan pointed out how race, religion, politics and “other unnecessary bullsh*t” being part of pro wrestling storylines is a long standing tradition in the business.
To that, “Good Ole’ J.R.” responded, “I realize that, Chris. But that doesn’t mean a short biz entity should attempt to voluntarily add race, religion or politics to a rasslin story. IMO.”
This led to even more back-and-forth with Jim Ross and fans on Twitter talking about this topic. Ross ended up posting six more comments about this topic, exchanging comments with fans who argued his initial claim about race being involved in the Kingston/Bryan storyline.
Check out all of the tweets Jim Ross posted regarding the subject below.
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Only because the racial component was so strongly introduced within the storyline….IMO. https://t.co/WFyaUAffno
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
I realize that, Chris.
But that doesn’t mean a short biz entity should attempt to voluntarily add race, religion or politics to a rasslin story. IMO https://t.co/NTsBHX3Uwx— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
Because of numerous obstacles forced on Kofi. https://t.co/oTT5grLoT9
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
Many wrestling promotions have distastefully used race to sell tickets for decades.
That doesn’t make it right, Joe.
Thanks for chiming in. https://t.co/yPCC4cAJEp— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
You miss the point in your haste to engage in an argument.
I simply expressed my opinion. https://t.co/cISBGMGg55
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
That certainly doesn’t make it right. https://t.co/9CsFKptJ2w
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
No…but what difference would it make?
If I was, I was doing as I was instructed but that certainly doesn’t make it strategic in today’s world. https://t.co/XKryfEfcNm
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
Fully aware of it Ben, likely before you were even born.
Nonetheless, I’d prefer to stay away from storyline re: race, religion and politics on TV Wrestling. Just my 2 cents. https://t.co/iLVso2kWa7
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) March 27, 2019
