In wrestling, there are numerous factors at play in getting a superstar ‘over’.
The look, the entrance, the personality, however, one of the biggest factors is the commentary team.
The purpose of a commentator is to call the action that they see in the ring, and add the emotion, whether that be drama, humour, suspense or shock.
So why in 2016 does the WWE commentary team well and truly suck at providing any of this?
This isn’t a ‘bring back JR’ rally, or a ‘let’s bash Michael Cole’ rant, this is simply pointing out the poor standards in commentary.
The current RAW commentary team consists of Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield and Byron Saxton.
Now, Michael Cole is a good commentator, let’s firstly give him credit where it’s due, he’s had his moments where he’s added to the overall excitement of the match or the action, such as Seth Rollins’ money in the bank cash in, although I’d only know that watching it back as I was there live in person (any excuse to mention that).
Despite this you can’t help but make the comparisons to Jim ‘JR’ Ross, and his play by play on Monday Night RAW and his undersell of the superstars.
Cole seems to be complacent in his job, and has forgotten in the mindset that his job is to put the superstars over, not bury them.
Remember in 2010 when he was a commentator on NXT? I personally found his commentary and overall ‘hatred’ of Daniel Bryan rather irritating and repetitive. His complete undermining of the superstars is a problem, and always has been.
If, for example, you have a smaller superstar (Sin Cara, Tyler Breeze, Sami Zayn) battling a giant (Braun Strowman, Kane, Mark Henry), instead of boasting of the smaller superstars talents, building him up so the viewer believes that they genuinely has a chance, Cole spends the most part downplaying any chance they have at every opportunity. Now I’m all for the element of a surprise upset, but this is a weekly occurrence.
More recently he has belittled the chances of Dean Ambrose against Brock Lesnar, to a point where it’s taken Ambrose himself to build up the possibility of him defeating Lesnar. People want to think Ambrose has a chance to beat Lesnar, not, as Cole has painted the picture, be destroyed by him.
The main thing that JR brought to the commentary table that hasn’t been replaced since, is passion. That man could sell a Khali V Big Show submission match to us on Monday Night RAW, and we’d be excited to see it.
He had the storytelling ability of nobody else, and when a superstar made a run in, he’d make you feel like it was such a big deal.
Michael Cole doesn’t even acknowledge it half of the time.
It’s hard to say negative words about Jerry Lawler, because he is a genuine wrestling legend, but his day has come and gone a long time ago. Lawler is pretty worthless out at the announce table these days.
He used to offer us a critical heel analysis, and under your skin type rooting for the bad guy, but I can’t remember the last piece of commentary I enjoyed of his.
He clearly worked much better with JR than he ever has done with Michael Cole or anyone else for that matter.
Back when John Bradshaw Layfield (or JBL for the benefit of not wanting to type that out again) rejoined the commentary team he was a breathe of fresh air, he was witty, intelligent and critically excellent.
These days you’re just listening out for the tired cliches and pop culture references (likely fed to him by someone in the headset.)
In order to make memorable moments, you need the commentators to make you feel like you’re witnessing something great.
Go back on YouTube or “The Award Winning WWE Network” (wait, nobody’s paying me to say that, forget that last one), and search for Mike Tyson brawling with Stone Cold, or The Undertaker throwing Mankind off the Hell In A Cell and my personal favourite Stone Cold joining forces with Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania X7.
Classic moments yes, but enhanced by the commentary of Ross.
One positive note about current commentary, is over on NXT in Tom Phillips and Corey Graves.
An injury to Graves forcing him to retire from the ring saw him take the position of colour commentator on NXT, and his enthusiasm, intelligence and knowledge and impressive for someone so inexperienced.
Once teaming with the talented Rich Brennan (now of the Smackdown commentary team), Graves has proved he can provide the heel commentary that is very ‘Attitude Era Lawler-esque.’
The chemistry between Graves and Phillips make each NXT match feel that little bit more special. Even the unknown wrestlers (or local jobbers as they’re known) are talked about and built up so you genuinely think they could have a chance to win, and before the end of the match you feel like you know so much more about them to actually care.
It’s only a matter of time before these two are offered a more primary role within WWE broadcasting together.
Who is your favourite commentator of all time? Which commentry team would you have announcing Monday Night RAW?
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