What the hell is going on with the announcers lately? Ross and Lawler *finally* hit their mark during Judgment Day 2000(during the Rock/HHH IronMan Match) and kept it up until Lawler left. Then Ross and Heyman are gold on the announce team. Tazz and Cole suck at this point. Fast forward to the brand extension. JR and Lawler(who returned after dumping his wife) suck monkey nuts at the Table. Meanwhile, Cole and Tazz are quietly becomming my fav. announce team. It's a total 180. JR and King used to focus on what was going on in the ring and not treat the viewers like total morons, while Tazz and Cole talked about everything *except* what was going on in the ring. Now, Cole and Tazz are calling moves *correctly*(well, Tazz more than Cole), bringing up things that a casual fan wouldn't notice, but a hardcore fan would(Benoit busting out the swandive headbutt last night), and even getting *their* shot at doing the announcing for the PPV. Major Kudos to Michael Cole and Tazz. Lawler screams for puppies, JR still can't believe Austin's gone, while Cole and Tazz forge ahead and bring something new and fresh to the Table. I love it. I used to think Smackdown was Raw's little sister that nobody wanted to take to the movies. Now though, Smackdown as a whole is right on par with Raw. Kudos again.
I disagree with you on a few points. OTHER than the Iron Man match JR and King haven't changed one lick. JR's definitely better with King than Heyman. JR and King are good together, call moves occasionally, schilling the main event, and putting over the big storylines. Now, JR and Heyman WERE good. But, only up to a point. Heyman was THE single best at putting over the wrestlers, I'll give him that. But, JR and Heyman as a team was way to stiff. JR was nervous the whole time, and with Heyman keeping him on his toes it was like watching a shaky tightrope walker. It was really cool up until about their last one or two months together. Then the magic wore off and I HATED Heyman and JR together. I still like the JR/King chemistry, better than the JR/Heyman chemistry, myself. Just a preference.
Now, Cole and Tazz are simply great. I've said for months how the two have gotten better show by show. I think the two of these guys are on par and sometimes BETTER than King and JR.
As for the shows, I would say they're about even EXCEPT Smackdown doesn't have that live magic working for it. That and the fake crowd noise kind of irk me. But, other than that, I can honestly say I like both shows equally, even if RAW is the better show I watch Smackdown more hoping to see what Angle, and guys like Rey and Benoit are going to do next.
Actually, Deion, I felt the opposite way about the JR-Heyman team. I agree with you about Heyman's talent about putting over the wrestlers... haven't seen someone do that so well in a while. On the other hand, I loved the J.R.-Heyman chemistry, for the very reasons you listed. Because Heyman was putting over the wrestlers and keeping J.R. on his toes, J.R. was uncomfortable... because he actually had to put some effort in the product, despite possibly being more interested in commentating for the XFL (at the first half of 2001). I also loved Heyman for blasting J.R. on some of his habits, like his undying asskissing of Steve Austin.
My problem with J.R. and Lawler right now is that they're still so lazy and sloppy and predictable. Since someone lit a fire under the Fed's collective asses about a month or so ago, they've had matches when they were totally on and on top of things. However, J.R. still gets sloppy and makes a lot of mistakes. Of course, if Lawler gets within 500 feet of a female on camera, it's all "AHHHH!! PUPPIES!!!" Thank God Eddie's on Smackdown!, so we only need endure "LATINO HEEEEEET!" maybe once a month on PPV.
While I haven't been watching Smackdown! that much, Cole and Tazz have been doing a pretty good job. The few times I've seen Heat recently, D'Lo and Coach are also pretty good. I don't enjoy them as much as I enjoyed Coach and Raven, but I think there's something good going on there.
THE CONSPIRACY FAILS - Randomly Selected Wiener of the Day, August 13, 2002 "Thanks RageRockrr! You're the coolest!" - Excalibur05, March 10, 2002. "Thank you for bringing back a DEEP 80s memory, Rage. THANK YOU." - DMC, June 6, 2002. "Big Props to RageRockrr: '+ Oh, and three simple words: Optimus. Fucking. Prime.' You're DAMN right!" - Bizzle Izzle, August 7, 2002.
Mr. Broslofski: Now you go brush your teeth, and march into bed. You won't be opening your Hannukuh present tonight. Kyle: Probably just another stupid dreidel anyway. Mr. Broslofski: What did you say?!? Kyle: I said Ike's on fire. - South Park, Episode 110 - "Mr. Hanky, The Christmas Poo"
I think that JR and Lawler should be replaced with younger announcers that the teen/early 20's audience can identify with. Lawler only pulls in the pedophile audience with his incessant desire to talk about sex. JR is becoming more like Nash, past his prime and talking up a spot that could be better used by a younger announcer.
Tazz and Cole work well together and have both grown into the announcing role. Anyone that remembers Cole from a few years ago cannot deny that there has been a massive improvement.
These commercials are superfine because they pay for the production costs of putting CHRIS MOTHERFUCKING BENOIT on my GODDAMN TV SCREEN! I will GO GREYHOUND! I am thinking OUTSIDE THE BUN! – Dean Rasmussen 8/1/2002 Smackdown Workrate Report
Originally posted by evilwaldoI think that JR and Lawler should be replaced with younger announcers that the teen/early 20's audience can identify with. Lawler only pulls in the pedophile audience with his incessant desire to talk about sex. JR is becoming more like Nash, past his prime and talking up a spot that could be better used by a younger announcer.
Who would that be? Aside from Joey Styles (who seemed uninterested due to pay reasons (aside from MLW (in which he WAS the star (which didn't really get him much credibility for his reasons for ducking out of a WWF deal (which would have been better for him))))), I can't think of anyone else in the wrestling business who'd fit the WWE void.
The announcing is at least TOLERABLE now, which is commendable enough. If it gets worse, they may resort to hiring MADDEN. and we don't want that.
Although it would be amusing to hear John Madden commentate a show. "The biggest Mark in the business" should stay on the radio.
-K
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I agree that Taz and Cole are much better. Taz calls moves while The King contributes nothing to my enjoyment of a match. Smackdown is a better show with more talented workers, so maybe it's just a case of Tazz and Cole having more to work with. In any case, they are the guys I would prefer to see calling ppvs at this point.
I bet a few years from now, some kid who just started seeing WWE will be saying: "Ross and the King are two boring old men! Tazz and Michael Cole are WAY better!"
That will be the day when I declare myself the Duchess of Norway.
After lots of thinking I finally came to a theory: Any non-wrestler who gets attacked by the Island Boyz will immediately recieve praise from the Wienerville community. There's no other way to explain it.
I couldn't stand Tazz a couple of months ago:yo Cole I got a friend named Joey Numbers....(I hated that crap)now I think he's the best the WWE can offer. He can call a move and doesn't spew out the useless crap that Lawler has recently moved on to. Coach can call a match but D-Lo is tryin' way to hard and sounds foolish. Cole just sucks. Heyman and J.R. was a nice change from Lawler and J.R.. For Raw I would love to see Tazz and J.R., as for Smackdown I would love to see my dream booking of Joey Styles and Bobby "The Brain" Heenen.
Originally posted by The Great ThomasI can't believe this! I can't believe this!!!
Tazz & Cole are actually good on commentating!
I bet a few years from now, some kid who just started seeing WWE will be saying: "Ross and the King are two boring old men! Tazz and Michael Cole are WAY better!"
That will be the day when I declare myself the Duchess of Norway.
Please pass the sardine-studded tiara -- that day has come.
I can't believe I'm saying this either but I think Cole/Tazz is even or better then Ross/Lawler. Unfortunate it's not all has Cole/Tazz has improved and caught up but a lot of it is how awful Ross/Lawler has become in the last few months.
Ross/Lawler- There is a thin line between being comfortable with each other and being predictable, which they crossed recently. There's no edge, it looks like they both could sleepwalk through a broadcast because they know exactly what each other will say. It truly looks like two man sharing one brain, and it's very boring. I do think Lawler is the weaker link who brings the show down. He used to have 2 or 3 witty lines of the night, now I hardly could find one. He doesn't bother putting anyone really over, just laughing, repeating what wrestlers say.
Ross/Heyman- was awesome, I love how Heyman kept Ross on edge and he actually you know put heels over (what a concept). I truly seemed like two guys pushing to get there guys over. And Heyman was pretty funny as well, especially making Ross life a living hell.
Cole/Tazz- far from perfect. But this week it really hit me that there not awful. Cole didn't make it worse, or even just making it even (not adding but not taking away). This week I actually thought the commentators ADDED to the show...Them putting over the headbutt like it was a special move that Benoit felt he had to do because he's in there with the Rock was great. And did a good job through out the show
One criticism I had in the past is that I never laughed out loud with Cole & Tazz. But recently they seem to be hitting my funny bone with Tazz hitting on Cole's nerves. Ever since Nidia made out with MC, and Tazz picking on him about "that means you kissed 15 guys" and Cole acting all geeky saying "I didn't enjoy it" and sounding legit pissed off is better then anything Ross & Lawler had done in months. And of course bonus points for Tazz for not killing it by saying it for an endless amount ot time, he hit on it during her entrance and then went to the match unlike Lawler... Who would have guess that Nidia's breasts would make Cole a more interesting play by play man (LOL) maybe she could go up to the Braves broadcast booth and straighten up those awful TBS announcers
Really amazing because months back I thought the change had to be on the Smackdown crew, no question. Now I think I could live with the SD guys but Lawler really has to go. Personally inhouse I'd like to see Raven, but who I'd love to see Cyrus. He's young, witty and might make a pop culture comment that isn't 30 years old... But it won't happen because Lawler is Ross's good friend and buh-god friends stick together and it doesn't matter if he does an awful job and makes the show worse.
I don't get it, everyone loves rats, but they don't want to drink the rats milk?
Originally posted by AngryJohnnyI can't think of anyone else in the wrestling business who'd fit the WWE void.
IRON.
MIKE.
TENAY.
Lest we forget his former partner in crime (when he gets back to 100% health).
BOBBY. THE. BRAIN.
(edited by El Nastio on 17.8.02 0216)
"When Eddy RUDOS like an absolute mother____er for Rey and Cena, I hope you realize that nobody else on EARTH- EARTH- Earth being Mexico/Japan/Puerto Rico- is as good as the absolute mother____er that is the mother____ing GREAT Eddy Guerrerro."
I hate to burst everyone's nostalgic Heenan bubble, but, didn't anyone notice that he was mailing it in for YEARS in WCW? He was the best, bar none, in his prime, and I'm sure he's a great guy, but trust me, you don't want him back.
Also note Foley's comment in "Foley Is Good":
"I worked with a famous announcer in WCW (not Jesse Ventura) who made a hell of a lot more money than me but continually undermined the wrestlers by not selling what was said. As a heel, it didn't matter how convincing you were on the mike becaue a sneaky little comment from that guy would kill any heat. As a babyface, it was tough to leave a lasting memory when the guy was always waiting with some stupid comment designed to get himself over."
gonna build a giant drill and bore straight into hell releasing ancient demons from their sleep-forever spell so they can walk upon the earth and get recituated and run the diet pill pyramid that MC Pee Pants has created
No, he's right, Brain did really, really suck towards the end. he literaly just lost all his good points and became a rambling mess. Lines like "Everywhere I go, the only thing people are talking about is Goldberg. And Sting-what an athlete. And Sid Vicious-he's the man. And what about Nash?" That went on for about two minutes, with him mentioning pretty much everyone on the roster until Tenay mercifully cut him off with a "And THAT'S why WCW is so exciting!" Otherwise he could've gone on all night.
Personally I think Raven should be moved up to the big show, but apparently he's not too keen on the commentary gig.
Molly, Goddess Amongst Mediocrity, The Only TRUE Diva! I Worship At Your Big-Assed Altar!
"Brain, why don't you take this one?" "Well, here you see Jerry Flynn gets hit by the spear. Not gonna get up after that one. There's the jackhammer. You could count to 50 on that. Your winner. Da man. Goldberg."
I hated WCW so much.
¡Azúcar, flores y muchos colores! Estos fueron los ingredientes elegidos para crear a la niñita perfecta. Pero el profesor Utonio agrego accidentalmente otro ingrediente a la formula: ¡la sustancia X! Y así nacieron, ¡las Chicas Superpoderosas! ¡Con sus ultra súper poderes, Bombón, Burbuja y Bellota dedican su vida a combatir el crimen y las fuerzas del mal!
My advice, since I know Vince McMahon is reading this.
Let Cole improve to the point where he's consistently OK, then do a swap-a-rooni with Tazz and Lawler. Tazz will take over some play-by-play duties on Raw, with JR shifting in the color direction. Lawler can be Lawler, except he's kept away from the Womens Division.
After Brock and Heyman split up, have Heyman do occasional guest commentary (at the very most two matches per week lest he become overexposed).
I can't think of anyone else available and experienced enough to fill the void for JR and Lawler, but they better start training somebody right fuckin' now, because those two are only getting older and worse.
Ferchrissakes, JR made a Henny Youngman reference a month or so ago. My *parents* barely remember who Henny Youngman is.
Get them the F out.
PMMJ
"Nothing remains interesting where anything may happen." -H.G. Wells
I must say it's kinda lame to see Foley come back to ref a match of such *magnitude* (he is ref'in this thing right because the end of Raw made it seem like he was the one feuding with Triple H).