2026 has not been an easy year for AEW’s Jim Ross in the health department, and unfortunately, things only get harder for him as the year draws to a close. Heading to X on Tuesday morning, Ross’ “Grilling JR” co-host revealed the unfortunate news that Ross was scheduled for another surgery. Thompson mentioned Ross in the post to give the announcing legend some positivity and stated that Ross “deserved a break” from all the struggles he’s faced this year.
Good ole JR is having shunt surgery this morning.
Let us all pray for his speedy recovery. 🙏
Jim deserves a break.@JRsBBQ tagged here, so send some positivity so that when he recovers, his timeline will be filled with positivity. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/BvkrZGkjaO
— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) November 10, 2026
According to the post, Thompson confirmed that surgery was being performed on Ross’ brain shunt. Ross had previously had a shunt inserted during another surgerybut later complained that the procedure led to complications which left him with headaches so painful he couldn’t sleep. Ross went under the knife in early October to fix the problem; Thompson later announced that the operation was a successalthough a second shunt operation a month later may suggest complications have returned.
Ross’ three surgeries are just some of the issues he’s dealt with in 2026. including the fall he suffered just one day before appearing at AEW Double or Nothing still in May. Before the operation in October, Ross revealed that he was undergoing several biopsies to see if he had contracted the skin cancer he previously had several years ago, and that an X-ray had discovered a spot on his kidney. Just a week after the surgery, Ross was in the hospital for reasons unrelated to the surgery or cancer scares, as he was admitted due to lack of oxygen.