Jim Ross has called All In: London the best show AEW has ever produced, revealing he personally texted Tony Khan to congratulate him.

Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross said he watched from home in Oklahoma after doctors advised him against flying. Despite missing the Wembley Stadium event, the legendary commentator was impressed from start to finish.

“I thought All In was the very best pay-per-view or television broadcast that AEW has presented since they were formed,” he said. “I love that show, and I am an old-school grouchy fart, get off my lawn guy. I want to see a hold every now and then, so I’m not a high-flyer exclusive proponent. However, I never got tired of anything I was seeing, and I thought it was just a phenomenal show.”

Ross made sure Khan heard his verdict directly.

“I congratulated Tony Khan, and he was in London when I texted him. We exchanged text messages after the show, and he appreciated my feedback,” Ross said.

Watching on his phone with closed captions switched on, Ross particularly enjoyed the entrances and video packages.

“The quality of the vignettes leading into a match, and the entrances, I thought was as good as I’ve seen from anybody anywhere anytime,” Ross said.

He compared the presentation to a Hollywood-themed WWE event in Los Angeles, but felt AEW’s London production was even better.

His few reservations concerned the length of the show and its relentless pace, although he admitted he was reaching for criticisms.

“It might have been a little too long. It was over four hours long, as I understand. That’s a long time. Old man’s got to go pee,” Ross said. “And the high-flying stuff never let up, so I never got to catch my breath.”

Ross also acknowledged that some fans would question his praise because he works for the company.

“People say, JR works for AEW, what do you think he’s going to say?” Ross said. “You don’t hear me bitching about AEW very often. I try to find positive things to talk about.”

The commentary team earned particular credit, with Ross praising Excalibur for keeping a busy announce desk organised throughout the lengthy outdoor broadcast.

“As the play-by-play guy and the lead, you’ve got to keep the rudder in the water. You’ve got to stay in your lane and get these guys to stay in their lane and coordinate it,” Ross said. “I thought all those guys were unselfish. They seemed to be passionate. Excalibur gets from me special recognition, because you didn’t find yourself listening to two guys talk at the same time very often. It just worked.”

Ross was equally complimentary about Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale’s women’s championship match. He felt the blood added drama, but stressed that their performances deserved recognition in their own right.

“They were laying their stuff in. They’re serious about their profession and having a great performance, and I’m proud of both those ladies,” he said. “Tony Khan has done a great job of evolving his women’s participation in AEW television shows. He’s done a good job developing that side of the roster.”

For Ross, there was no match on the card that was merely okay. He also felt the event showed why wrestlers should make the most of opportunities to surprise their audience.

“Talents have got to realise, like they obviously did in London, that when you get the opportunity to go on pay-per-view and do things that you don’t normally do, sequencing to the finish, false finishes, that’s the time to try your new stuff,” he said. “Wrestling fans like new, and they like surprises.”

However, Ross did not share the views of Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair, who both criticised aspects of the praise surrounding Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega.

Bischoff argued on 83 Weeks that their AEW World Championship match lacked structure and compared watching it to a Nasty Boys match.

Ross first made clear that his disagreement was not personal.

“I like Eric. We didn’t always get along, but we have for the last several years,” Ross said. “And I admire his work ethic, because he’s a hardworking son of a gun.”

But his assessment of Bischoff’s comments was straightforward.

“I would choose at this point in this conversation to say I think that he’s wrong,” Ross said.

“If you want to compare it to something else, another match, but not the Nasty Boys. I just don’t feel it,” he said. “But I respect his opinion. Glad he gave one. I’m glad he watched the show.”

Flair, meanwhile, rejected comparisons between Ospreay and Omega and his classic matches with Ricky Steamboat, pointing to his own demanding schedule and lengthy bouts.

Ross felt the response was unnecessary.

“I didn’t think it was. I thought it was unnecessary,” Ross said. “I respect his opinion. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.”

That disagreement did nothing to diminish his admiration for Flair and Steamboat.

“No one will ever make me say negative things about him or Ricky Steamboat. They were perfect for each other. Great booking,” Ross said.

However, he questioned Flair’s reference to 200 hour-long draws.

“The fact they went an hour Broadway 200 times is troubling, because you mean you couldn’t figure out a finish?” he said. “I don’t mind a Broadway, but it’s not something I relish.”

Ross ultimately welcomed the discussion, even while taking a different view.

“I didn’t agree with Ric’s tweet, but I respect his opinion. I appreciate the fact that he expressed an opinion on Ospreay and Kenny, which leads me to believe, I don’t know about you, Conrad, that maybe Ric watched the show,” he said.

Ospreay defeated Omega at Wembley Stadium on August 30 to win the AEW World Championship. Ross described both men as great workers of any generation, rounding off a glowing review of AEW’s London showcase.

Do you agree with Jim Ross that All In: London was AEW’s best show ever? Share your thoughts in the comments.