Jim Ross slams TMZ's Hulk Hogan documentary: "It's filler on steroids"

Since Hulk Hogan’s death in July 2025 at the age of 71, multiple opinions have emerged about his legacy. Among them is that of Jim Ross, who on his Grilling JR podcast harshly criticized the recent TMZ special, The Real Hulk Hogan, which aired this week on FOX.

For Ross, the documentary glossed over the controversies of the WWE icon, focusing solely on the 2015 leaked sex tape scandal that affected his career. “Everything else is love, flowers, apple pie, and ice cream,” he quipped. According to JR, the documentary was “filler on steroids” with a clear agenda to pay tribute to Hogan rather than present an honest, complete view.

The former commentator pointed out that the special “didn’t dwell” on the racism allegations against Hogan or his alleged politicking within the industry—topics that have marked his career. For Ross, the production should have taken a “tougher” tone with the former champion and Hall of Famer.

Vince McMahon reappears and raises concern

The documentary also included a rare appearance by Vince McMahon, who, according to Ross, “looked horrible,” showing signs of fatigue and a withdrawn demeanor. JR even suggested that McMahon seemed “a bit frustrated” and might have regretted agreeing to take part in the special.

I thought he looked horrible. I mean Vince. I thought he looked tired, withdrawn, and deeply concerned. Having his eyebrows colored was one detail that caught my eye. He looked so old.

In Ross’s opinion, although many personalities spoke in the documentary, the final result lacked the necessary objectivity to portray both the achievements and the shadows of one of the most influential and controversial figures in professional wrestling history.

Vince McMahon and Jim Ross: a complex relationship

The relationship between Jim Ross and Vince McMahon has been one of the most complex and talked-about in WWE history. For much of his career, Ross was one of the company’s top executives and commentators, earning McMahon’s trust thanks to his work ethic, eye for talent, and business knowledge. He was responsible for signing future stars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar, and his voice became synonymous with the Attitude Era. For years, the two shared mutual respect, with McMahon valuing JR as a key piece in the company’s growth.

However, over the course of that relationship there were also tense episodes in which McMahon did not hesitate to treat Ross harshly or even humiliatingly. Ross has often recounted that, despite being one of his most loyal employees, Vince publicly put him in uncomfortable situations on television, such as segments mocking his facial paralysis caused by Bell’s palsy. At different points in his career, he was fired or removed from his commentator role without warning—sometimes for health reasons, other times due to creative disagreements. These decisions left an emotional mark on JR, who has always felt that, in certain ways, Vince did not give him the same support he had given the company.

Despite these frictions, Ross has always acknowledged the influence McMahon had on his life and career. In interviews, he has noted that while Vince could be ruthless and sometimes unfair, he was also a boss who gave him great opportunities and allowed him to leave an indelible mark on the industry. Their relationship can be described as a mix of professional respect, gratitude, and personal wounds not entirely healed—a duality that reflects how McMahon has historically treated many of his closest collaborators, combining recognition with extreme demands.