WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is close of being announced as the new NJPW announcer for their show on AXS TV, replacing the current Smackdown announcer Mauro Ranallo who for obvious reasons can’t keep doing both jobs.

In his latest blog on JRsBBQ.com, Ross said that several talks were held between the two camps and there’s mutual interest to do business together however no agreement has been finalized yet.

“If we can all get on the same page, of which I am optimistic that we can, then we can get every thing signed and move forward to another exciting chapter of my broadcasting career,” Ross said.

He added that that calling such a “fundamentally sound and athletic presentation like NJPW” motivates him. Ross did commentary for NJPW’s WrestleKingdom 9 last year but has not done wrestling commentary since leaving WWE years ago.

The other commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling in the United States is former wrestler and MMA fighter Josh Barnett.