What Happened to James Mark Cornette?

James Mark Cornette began his illustrious career in professional wrestling in 1981, quickly becoming an on-air manager for Memphis Wrestling in 1982, just before his 21st birthday. Known for his distinctive persona and sharp wit, Cornette managed numerous tag teams and singles competitors, establishing himself as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. His career saw him hold various positions across major promotions, including the Continental Wrestling Association, Mid-South Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), where he worked as a manager, color commentator, and booker.

Beyond his managerial roles, Cornette was a significant behind-the-scenes figure. From 1991 to 1995, he owned and booked Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW), a promotion that gained critical acclaim for its traditional wrestling style. He later co-owned, head booked, and served as head trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) from 1999 to 2005, a developmental territory for WWE that produced many future stars. Cornette officially retired from active in-ring roles around 2017, though he continued as an announcer until late 2019.

In recent years, Cornette has found a new platform for his insights and opinions through podcasting and online content. He launched "The Jim Cornette Experience" in 2016, followed by "Jim Cornette's Drive-Thru," both co-hosted with Brian Last. These podcasts have become immensely popular, with "Jim Cornette's Drive-Thru" being the most-played wrestling podcast as of July 2026, and both consistently ranking among the most listened-to wrestling podcasts of all time. His official YouTube channel, launched in 2018, features full-length episodes and clips from his podcasts, accumulating over 475,000 subscribers and 759.1 million views by July 2026.

As of August 2026, Cornette remains highly active in the wrestling media landscape. He regularly releases new podcast episodes, such as "The Jim Cornette Experience Episode 646" on August 12, 2026, where he discussed the life of Dory Funk Jr. and reviewed current wrestling shows like AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam Mexico and Dark Side Of The Ring. His YouTube channel frequently features his reviews of recent WWE Raw and SmackDown episodes, with videos posted as recently as August 16 and 17, 2026, covering events like Chelsea Green & Gunther's confrontation and Dave Meltzer's SummerSlam 2026 star ratings. Cornette also offers personalized messages through Cameo, continuing to engage with his fanbase. His influence persists through his historical knowledge, sharp critiques, and often controversial takes on the modern wrestling product.