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MAJOR, MAJOR NAME GONE FROM WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement on their website announcing that WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has retired from the company, effective immediately. The article noted Ross was leaving to "focus on personal business endeavors."

Ross, long considered one of the best announcers of all time, also presided over the then-WWF Talent Relations department, signing some of the most important talents to the company's modern age to deals, including Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus, Edge and many, many more.

Since leaving the talent relations end, Ross has been involved with a number of behind the scenes responsibilities including determining talent payoffs, WWE developmental and assisting with different licensed products, including the WWE video game series.

Ross broke into the business in Bill Watts' Mid-South promotion, which as irony would have it, was the featured subject of a DVD which WWE released this past Tuesday featuring new commentary Ross called over old footage.

Ross debuted for the company at Wrestlemania IX in 1993, coming over from World Championship Wrestling. He was in and out of the company several times but became one of the most important figures in the history of WWE, both as an on-air performer as the voice of the Attitude Era and as a backstage official.

WWE inducted Ross into their Hall of Fame in 2006 in Detroit, Michigan.

Ross' BBQ product had been sold via WWE online. There is no word whether that will change with his departure.

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