WWE.com has learned that Joey Styles has signed a five-year contract to be the play-by-play man for Monday Night RAW. When we spoke with Styles a few weeks ago, he mentioned that becoming the voice of RAW would be a dream come true for him. WWE.com would like to congratulate Joey Styles on his new position.
Check back here Monday at noon for an in-depth interview with Joey Styles regarding becoming the full-time play-by-play man for RAW.
Looks like WWE did something to convince him not to stay with his current job, eh? I guess there are no hard feelings about forcing him to withdraw from that whole Extremely Hardcore Wrestling deal as well.
So, are they gonna let Joey Styles keep 1wrestling.com in his name? Ever since he started calling RAW the last few weeks, I noticed he isnt really posting anything on there anymore.
I REALLY hope that they do away with the 3-man announce team now. Those guys are all over each other's sentences. As the old saying goes "Too many cooks spoil the broth".
So, the question now is, what's the sitch with J.R.? Last time his name was mentioned on RAW, I think, someone mentioned that Styles was filling in for J.R. "until he returns" from his surgery. Obviously, that wasn't the original plan, but with Styles getting the RAW job (which I think is a great move, by the way), it kind of muddles the picture a little bit. Is J.R. gone from announcing altogether?
"You talk tough and you get so intense that you almost make sense, and that's what scares me the most." --"Cold War" (from Kilroy Was Here), Styx
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Thank god the WWE listened to reason and went with a proven voice rather than that UFC guy. Styles has been a breath of fresh air and he's shown a remarkable aptitude for restraint (as compared to his overexcited ECW style, which fit that organization's image but wouldn't have worked on RAW).
Originally posted by ekedolphinSo, the question now is, what's the sitch with J.R.? Last time his name was mentioned on RAW, I think, someone mentioned that Styles was filling in for J.R. "until he returns" from his surgery. Obviously, that wasn't the original plan, but with Styles getting the RAW job (which I think is a great move, by the way), it kind of muddles the picture a little bit. Is J.R. gone from announcing altogether?
The plan was to have Ross (and presumably Lawler as well) to do announcing for RAW on WWE.com, but they've backed off that somewhat due to (understandable) concerns aired by USA, who doesn't want anything (not even the WWE itself) taking away from its ratings. Maybe they can use Ross/Lawler as a special, non-partisan announce team for the SNME specials?
(Incidentially, I also believe that the three-man booth should be done away with - and you can probably guess who I want removed based on the previous paragraph.)
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; July 5, 2005) It's good to see that the WWE isn't backing away from Batista or Cena. There's still some questions lingering over a few of the draft moves they either made or didn't make (Jericho being a prime example), but the stage is set for a solid run to Summerslam that may send the indicator down. The longer Triple H stays away is also a plus...
Originally posted by Texas KellyThank god the WWE listened to reason and went with a proven voice rather than that UFC guy. Styles has been a breath of fresh air and he's shown a remarkable aptitude for restraint (as compared to his overexcited ECW style, which fit that organization's image but wouldn't have worked on RAW).
Originally posted by ekedolphinSo, the question now is, what's the sitch with J.R.? Last time his name was mentioned on RAW, I think, someone mentioned that Styles was filling in for J.R. "until he returns" from his surgery. Obviously, that wasn't the original plan, but with Styles getting the RAW job (which I think is a great move, by the way), it kind of muddles the picture a little bit. Is J.R. gone from announcing altogether?
The plan was to have Ross (and presumably Lawler as well) to do announcing for RAW on WWE.com, but they've backed off that somewhat due to (understandable) concerns aired by USA, who doesn't want anything (not even the WWE itself) taking away from its ratings. Maybe they can use Ross/Lawler as a special, non-partisan announce team for the SNME specials?
(Incidentially, I also believe that the three-man booth should be done away with - and you can probably guess who I want removed based on the previous paragraph.)
As bad a job as Lawler has been doing pretty much since he came back, I'd have to think he might do well with a change of partner. With Ross he fell into the pattern of saying ridiculous things so that Ross, as the face PBP guy, could admonish him. I think that he can and will alter his schtick a little bit to mesh better with Styles who is obviously a totally different type of announcer compared to JR.
Plus Coach is damned near untenable in a commentary role where he has to be on his feet getting things over that matter (i.e. I think he's good on Heat where things are more low key). Plus I love coach in the asshole heel manager/mouthpiece role where he gets his comeuppance just about once a week.
Anyway, as much as I thought getting rid of JR was a bad play by the E, Styles has done a great job so far, and he really has freshened up the broadcasts. It's funny because I laughed when it was suggested that part of the problem with Raw was the announce team, but now I can see how stale that situation became eight or nine years later. Every good thing has to come to an end I guess.
Ever since Ross left it seems Lawler is now playing the good guy with Coach as the heel talker. But now that Styles is their he can be the face guy to Lawler's heel route. Take Coach off and let him become a manager of a group of mid carders. Before they broke up Cade and Murdoch I really thought Coach would have been a great manager for them.
I know the idea is that they don't want JR's face on the product anymore, so as good as Texas Kelly's SNME idea sounds to me, or maybe moving out Cole on Smackdown (JR and Tazz were pretty good on the Royal Rumble, yes?) - I don't see it happening. Hopefully they can find some way to give Ross a more fitting on-air send off - maybe as part of the new GM's reaching out to fans? (depending on what happens on Raw tonight)
My guess is that JR ends up doing work on .com, possibly columns, PPV preview infomercials, a weekly superstar sit down interview. How about JR/King announcing for PPVs bought on the website? That must be more lucrative than splitting with the PPV company. And maybe some introductions for the 24/7 service.
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And I'm sure Joey will have to give up any visible role on 1wrestling now, if not divest his interests. Although now that he's in the fold, maybe he can give the E some ideas how to better work with the websites?
Originally posted by TheOldManHopefully they can find some way to give Ross a more fitting on-air send off - maybe as part of the new GM's reaching out to fans? (depending on what happens on Raw tonight)
My guess is that JR ends up doing work on .com, possibly columns, PPV preview infomercials, a weekly superstar sit down interview. How about JR/King announcing for PPVs bought on the website? That must be more lucrative than splitting with the PPV company. And maybe some introductions for the 24/7 service
I like this idea alot actually. JR doing the somewhat non-kayfabe stuff would be a great way to go. I would add to that task list hosting or doing voiceovers for any TV specials that come on.
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