The commentary in wrestling is an interesting topic that I have wanted to write about for quite some time. It’s something that is an integral part of a professional wrestling show, but it can sometimes be overlooked. However, after discussing the subject with the Last Word On Sports wrestling team I began to become discouraged and unfocused. Not because I didn’t have anything to write about, quite the opposite. I had too many directions I could go with the article, and unfortunately none of them viewed commentary today in a very positive light. Let’s take a look at the reasons why.
Some say many of todays commentators, both play-by-play and color analysts, are old and out of touch. While that might be the case as in 2014 Jerry Lawler will turn 65, commentators don’t have to be “over the hill” to be out of touch with the product. Pro wrestling has changed and evolved considerably in the last 20 years. Jim Ross has stated that he himself doesn’t “get” the current product. So that might be the case for someone like Lawler, but what about Michael Cole, who is 19 years younger than Lawler? He certainly can’t be out of touch, can he? Maybe, maybe not. With Cole though, one of the frustrating things is how little he seems to care.
If the commentators themselves don’t seem to care about what is going on in the ring, why should we? The commentators are the voice of wrestling for the television viewers. They are supposed to be there to help enhance the story. They add to the drama. Yet half the time they are telling jokes, making fun of other talent, or too busy putting themselves over. I’m not saying there can’t be humor to commentary. Some of my favourite commentating moments came from the banter between Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. They added humor yet never did they seem disingenuous to the product. Whereas the current crop of broadcasters will have a heel like the character played by Michael Cole a couple of years ago, he took that character so far that he failed to do the job of a play-by-play announcer. Maybe that was his fault, or maybe he was simply doing what he was told, which brings me to my next issue with commentary nowadays, the bosses.
It can’t be easy calling the action in the ring with other voices in your ears telling you things to say and points to make. That was a reason Mick Foley gave about not liking his stint as a Smackdown color commentator. You’re trying to call the action, but you have someone telling you if you got something wrong, telling you to say this instead of that. Do those “voices” necessarily know any better than you? Case in point was a moment that caused me to just shake my head. About a month or so ago on Monday Night Raw, Cole, JBL, and Jerry Lawler took a “selfie” at ringside and the cameras cut away from what was going on in the ring to focus on it. I thought this was ridiculous. The reasoning for it is that apparently Vince McMahon wanted to poke fun at Barack Obama who had taken a “selfie” at Nelson Mandela’s memorial, because Vince isn’t a fan of Obama. Could he not find a different way to express his displeasure? Or, even if he wanted to use the commentators to do it, did they need to take so much focus away from what was a great tag team match? (It was during Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. Big Show & Rey Mysterio, for those keeping score) Personally I don’t think so, but this proves my point that maybe it isn’t always the commentators fault. They are after all just doing the job they are asked to do.
But where does it end? Is there any hope that we will see a resurgence of the quality of commentary from the 80s and early 90s? I grew up on Jesse “The Body” Ventura & Vince McMahon, and Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan. Commentators who could play a character whether he was a heel color commentator or a straight-laced play-by-play announcer, and still call the action. They were focused and had a real passion and intensity for the product. Now when I use the word “intensity” I don’t mean a whole team of Joey Styles screaming “OH MY GOD!” every five minutes. I just mean they brought energy to the proceedings, something that is rarely seen today.
John Bradshaw Layfield’s first run as a colour commentator was good. In fact he reminded me a little of Bobby Heenan. So when he returned in 2012 to fill in for Jerry Lawler after Lawler’s heart attack, I was pretty happy. But it didn’t take long for JBL to fit into the WWE mold and basically turn into another version of Michael Cole. I used to like JBL on commentary now I can’t stand his cheering and singing along with the likes of R-Truth and The Usos. But I guess if you don’t get with the program you get left behind, just ask Matt Striker.
Striker quickly became one of my favourite color analysts. He brought all of those things to the table that I feel are lacking now. You could hear his passion for wrestling. His transitions, alliterations, and descriptions of the workers weren’t something you heard very often from other announcers. He helped elevate the talent with words, and not by saying “This guy’s great because….” But simply by describing one’s demeanor. He perfectly described the action in the ring. Even if you couldn’t see the screen, Striker brought the action to life. He was one of the few who could do a real good job single-handedly, acting as color and play-by-play at the same time. However, it would seem that Striker didn’t fit in. Whether it was friction with other commentators or someone backstage thing, he was shifted and bounced around.
But whatever the show, ECW, Superstars, NXT, it was worth watching if Matt Striker was on commentary because he brought something to the show that you weren’t getting from other shows, and sadly haven’t seen since.
On behalf of the Last Word On Sports wrestling team, WWE please fix your commentary, because it is broken.
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