James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American author and podcaster who has previously worked in the professional wrestling industry as an agent, booker, color commentator, manager, promoter, trainer, and occasional professional wrestler. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest managers in wrestling history, due to his extraordinary mic skills.
During his career, he has worked for the Continental Wrestling Association, Mid-South Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation (now called WWE), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now called Impact Wrestling), and Ring of Honor. From 1991 to 1995, he was the owner and head booker of Smoky Mountain Wrestling, and from 1999 to 2005, was the co-owner, head booker, and head trainer of Ohio Valley Wrestling. During the later years of his career, Cornette focused primarily on backstage positions and transitioned away from his role as an on-screen manager.
In 2017, Cornette retired from managing. During a transitional period prior to the retirement, he worked as an on-screen "authority figure" character in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Ring of Honor, promotions where he also held backstage positions. Cornette has also had an extensive commentary career, most recently serving as a color commentator for Major League Wrestling, What Culture Pro Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance. Cornette is a member of the NWA, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Memphis, and Professional Wrestling Hall of Fames. Cornette is also noted for his long-standing real-life feud with fellow professional wrestling booker Vince Russo; in June 2017, Russo filed a restraining order (EPO) against Cornette for stalking. The Cornette vs. Russo feud has been featured on two episodes of Viceland's Dark Side of the Ring series.
Queen of the Ring
NWA Commissioner
2025
Ospreay: The Rise of an International Pro Wrestler
2020
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2020
NWA Powerrr
(9 episodes)
2019
Dark Side of the Ring
(15 episodes)
2019
Dark Side of the Ring
Self · (3 episodes)
2019
Dark Side of the Ring
Himself · (1 episode)
2019
The Beautiful One: Bobby Eaton
2019
NWA 70th Anniversary Show
Jim Cornette
2018
Back To The Territories: Houston
Self
2018
Nature Boy
Himself
2017
Back To The Territories: Puerto Rico
Self
2017
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1990 – As Told By Jim Cornette
Self
2017
Back To The Territories: Georgia
Self
2017
Back To The Territories: Calgary
Self
2017
Back To The Territories: All Japan
Self
2017
Back To The Territories: Amarillo
Self
2016
Inside the Ropes: The Rise of the Attitude Era with Jim Cornette & Jim Ross
2016
Back To The Territories: Indianapolis
Self
2016
Back To The Territories: AWA
Self
2016
Back To The Territories: Florida
Self
2015
WWE Table For 3
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1989 – As Told By Jim Cornette
Self
2015
Back To The Territories: Mid-Atlantic
Self
2015
Back To The Territories: Mid-South
Self
2014
Jim Cornette: Uncut, Uncensored and Unleashed
2014
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Self
2014
A Corny In The UK: The Jim Cornette Documentary
2014
Jim Cornette Live In Manchester
2014
Jim Cornette Live In Cardiff
2014
Jim Cornette Live In London
2014
Jim Cornette Managing and Booking Seminar
2014
Jim Cornette Live In Birmingham
2014
Breaking Kayfabe with Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
2014
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Himself
2013
Timeline: The History of WWE – 1997 – As Told By Jim Cornette
Self
2011
The True Story of WrestleMania
Jim Cornette (archive footage)
2011
Ring Roasts III: The Roast of Jim Cornette
Self
2010
YouShoot: Jim Cornette 2 - The Lost Questions
Self
2010
YouShoot: Jim Cornette
Self
2010
Card Subject To Change
Self
2010
Guest Booker with Jim Cornette
2009
WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s
Jim Cornette
2009
TNA Against All Odds 2009
Jim Cornette (TNA Management)
2009
TNA Bound for Glory IV
Jim Cornette (TNA Management)
2008
TNA Sacrifice 2008
Jim Cornette (TNA Management)
2008
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
Jim Cornette (Manager)
2008
Heroes of World Class
Jim Cornette
2006
TNA: The 50 Greatest Moments
Himself
2006
TNA No Surrender 2006
Jim Cornette (TNA Management)
2006
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
Himself
2006
Road Warriors: The Life & Death of the Most Dominant Tag-Team in Wrestling History
Himself
2005
WWE: Road Warriors - The Life & Death of the Most Dominant Tag-Team in Wrestling History
2005
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
Himself
2004
ROH: Midnight Express Reunion
2004
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
Jim Cornette
2004
TNA iMPACT!
(207 episodes)
2004
WWE: Undertaker - He Buries Them Alive
James E. Cornette (Manager)
2004
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
2004
ROH: Wrath of The Racket
Himself
2003
USA Championship Wrestling
Jim Cornette · (6 episodes)
2003
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
Jim Cornette
2001
Jim Cornette Shoot Interview
Self
2000
WWE SmackDown
Jim Cornette · (1 episode)
1999
WWE King of the Ring 1998
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1998
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1998
WWE WrestleMania XIV
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1998
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1998
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1998
Ohio Valley Wrestling TV
(2 episodes)
1998
WWE Action Zone!
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1997
WWE In Your House 12: It's Time
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE Survivor Series 1996
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE In Your House 10: Mind Games
James E. Cornette
1996
WWE In Your House 9: International Incident
James E. Cornette
1996
WWE King of the Ring 1996
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE WrestleMania XII
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1996
WWE In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
WWE Survivor Series 1995
James E. Cornette
1995
WWE In Your House 4: Great White North
James E. Cornette
1995
WWE In Your House 3: Triple Header
James E. Cornette
1995
SMW Superbowl of Wrestling
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
Blood, Brawls and Grudges
Jim Cornette
1995
WWE In Your House 2: Lumberjacks
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
WWE King of the Ring 1995
James E. Cornette
1995
WWE In Your House
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
WWE WrestleMania XI
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
ECW Extreme Fancam
(uncredited) · (1 episode)
1995
WWE WrestleFest '95
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1995
WWE Paul Bearer's Hits from the Crypt
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
WWE Survivor Series 1994
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
WWF Sunday Night Slam • November 20th, 1994
1994
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1994
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
German Fan Favorites 2
James E. Cornette
1994
Razor Ramon
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
SMW Night of The Legends
Jim Cornette
1994
WWE King of the Ring 1994
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Himself
1994
WWE WrestleMania X
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1994
WWE March to WrestleMania X
James E. Cornette
1994
WWE Royal Rumble 1994
James E. Cornette (American Spokesman)
1994
SMW Thanksgiving Thunder 1993
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1993
WWE Survivor Series 1993
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1993
WWE SummerSlam 1993
James E. Cornette (Manager)
1993
SMW Fire on The Mountain 1993
Himself
1993
SMW Bluegrass Brawl 1993
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1993
WCW SuperBrawl III
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1993
Raw
Jim Cornette · (52 episodes)
1993
Raw
James E. Cornette · (49 episodes)
1993
SMW Fire on The Mountain 1992
Himself
1992
SMW Volunteer Slam 1992
Himself
1992
TWA Summer Sizzler II
Himself
1991
TWA Winter Challenge II
Jim Cornette
1991
WCW Halloween Havoc '90
Himself
1990
WCW Great American Bash '90: New Revolution
Himself
1990
NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1990
NWA WrestleWar '90: Wild Thing
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1990
NWA Clash of The Champions IX: New York Knockout
Himself
1989
WCW Halloween Havoc '89
Himself
1989
NWA The Great American Bash '89: The Glory Days
Himself
1989
NWA Clash of The Champions VII: Guts & Glory
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1989
NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1989
NWA Chi-Town Rumble
Himself
1989
NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1989
NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1988
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1988
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1988
NWA Clash of the Champions
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1988
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Himself
1988
NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!
Himself (Manager)
1987
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Himself
1987
NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation
Himself
1987
NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers
Himself
1986
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Jim Cornette · (1 episode)
1986
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
Himself (Manager)
1986
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
Himself
1986
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1986
AWA Monsters of the Mat: volume 1
Jim Cornette
1986
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1986
NWA Superstars on The SuperStation
Jim Cornette
1986
NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering
Jim Cornette
1985
WCCW Parade of Champions '85
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1985
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '84
Jim Cornette (Manager)
1984