{"id":3757,"date":"2017-04-08T18:43:07","date_gmt":"2017-04-08T22:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/?p=3757"},"modified":"2017-04-08T18:43:07","modified_gmt":"2017-04-08T22:43:07","slug":"report-mauro-ranallo-finished-wwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2017\/04\/08\/report-mauro-ranallo-finished-wwe\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Mauro Ranallo Finished With WWE"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been one of the most saddening stories out of Stamford the past year, as WWE’s lead announcer for\u00a0Smackdown Live<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>Mauro Ranallo<\/strong>, has been noticeably absent from WWE television, including his role on\u00a0Smackdown Live,\u00a0<\/em>205 Live\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>and most recently,\u00a0WrestleMania 33<\/strong><\/em> weekend.<\/p>\n

It was confirmed by sources close to Ranallo (and vaguely from Ranallo himself), that his absence was due to his own battles with mental illness. Ranallo, a strong advocate for mental illness awareness, is a sufferer himself, diagnosed as bipolar since his teenage years.<\/p>\n

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Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today CBS Sports<\/strong> reported<\/a> that it appears that Mauro Ranallo is indeed now finished with WWE, after just over a year with the company:<\/p>\n

A source close to the situation told CBS Sports that Ranallo, 47, is not expected to appear on camera for the remainder of his WWE contract, which he signed on Dec. 15, 2015.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

WWE would not confirm this but did tell CBS Sports in a statement that Ranallo remains under contract with the company until Aug. 12, 2017.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In most instances, these kinds of reports are easily dismissed as hearsay or rumour, but CBS Sports has strong ties to the WWE and often get breaking news from the WWE, such as official WWE Hall of Fame announcements. One would assume that their contacts within the organization are stronger than most of the dirtsheets.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/mauroranallo\/status\/850510459866198016<\/p>\n

It ends a rather unfortunate end to what was a glorious and invigorating saga involving Mauro Ranallo’s involvement with the WWE. A respected and loved broadcaster with his prior experience with NJPW<\/strong> and various MMA promotions, Ranallo was seen as a saviour of sorts, bringing back the passion of such elder broadcasters as Jim Ross to a product that was becoming stale due to lackadaisical broadcasting.<\/p>\n

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Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the exact cause of his recent bouts of depression have not been confirmed, many sources have indicated that the backstage and on-air bullying from broadcasting partner John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield (JBL)<\/strong> were a strong indicator, something that JBL himself has denied on several occasions.<\/p>\n

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No Joe, and I won't-I shouldn't commenting on Internet stuff. I play a heel. I sincerely wish Mauro nothing but the absolute best.<\/p>\n

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) April 7, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n