Velocity had some good matches last night. The American Dragon looked really good against Jamie Noble. This match had everything you need in a six minute match: action, psychology, and cool finishing moves. It's interesting that the WWE encourages its wrestlers to wrestle a more ground based submission style yet they pass up wrestlers who could actually wrestle that style (the signing of Little Guido not withstanding) in favor of big, clumsy guys like Nathan Jones. This was the second best match on WWE television this week, a high compliment consider the best match was Benoit and Edge vs. Team Angle.
Xavier tried to have a watchable match with Chuck Palumbo but he had to work with Chuck Palumbo. Chuck Palumbo sucks and I don't see him getting any better. His career peaked with the Billy and Chuck tag team. Xavier came out with some nice moves but Palumbo is nothing but a piece of lard.
Spanky strikes again and Shannon Moore actually shows a personality. A fun little match with some flying action and another win by Spanky.
The best part of the show, Josh Matthews was back. The worst part, The Cat is still around. If Josh gets a better partner, the Velocity announcing could actually be the best announcing team in the WWE.
I'm still trying REALLY hard to find out why people actually like Josh Matthews. He has absolutely no charisma and can't make a goddamn facial expression for his life. Remember on Heat before Armageddon, when he tried talking to Brock Lesnar? OUCH. The "man" can't even sell being scared of Brock Lesnar, when he probably was in real life.
I like Josh because he actually calls the matches. When was the last time a WWE announcer took the time out to actually call moves and tell the audience tidbits about the wrestlers in the ring. He also displays passion for wrestling that is lacking in the other C-level announcers, Coach and Mark Loyd. Being a real fan of the product helps a lot. Yeah, he needs to improve on several aspects of his game, especially his interviewing style and his voice but considering that he is only a few months into his announcing gig he's doing quite well. I look forward to his improvement as an announcer. I think he has what it takes to become a respected announcer.
Originally posted by FurryHippieI'm still trying REALLY hard to find out why people actually like Josh Matthews. He has absolutely no charisma and can't make a goddamn facial expression for his life. Remember on Heat before Armageddon, when he tried talking to Brock Lesnar? OUCH. The "man" can't even sell being scared of Brock Lesnar, when he probably was in real life.
Give him time. Michael Cole was horrible for years before blossoming into the fine announcer he is today. Plus, he is young and appeals to the college age demographic.
From the infamous Wrestleline SS interview:
DTD: If you were to make changes in WCW, if you were in charge and not Ric Flair, what would they be?
SS: I'd get rid of all the old guys, and push the talent that has waited to get the push. The things they are doing, it's back in the 1980s. It's just bad, man. Flair doesn't even deserve to be on the show. You've got to get rid of all the old guys. Like what Vince did, they started pushing guys. Nobody knew who The Rock was 2 years ago. He made The Rock. Now The Rock just did Saturday Night Live. You've got to start with the young talent, talent people can relate to. Who are we trying to relate to if we've got a 50 year old man out there? Are we trying to relate, so a 50 year people and above will go out and buy a f*cking little toy? That ain't gonna happen. It's a f*cking joke.
"Michael Cole was horrible for years before blossoming into the fine announcer he is today."
I think all their announcers suck. J.R. used to be good, but he's a parody of himself now. Cole is just another Craig DeGeorge/Sean Mooney/Todd Pettingill that has lasted way longer than anyone else thought he would. I really thought Ernest Miller would be great, but he was kind of disappointing (although I'll still take him over Tazz or Lawler).
"I think all their announcers suck. J.R. used to be good, but he's a parody of himself now. Cole is just another Craig DeGeorge/Sean Mooney/Todd Pettingill that has lasted way longer than anyone else thought he would. I really thought Ernest Miller would be great, but he was kind of disappointing (although I'll still take him over Tazz or Lawler)."
Cole does NOT suck. He's actually developed a sense of humor and recognises when he's saying something stupid, plus he's got a much much better move-calling ratio than any other current announcer. he still makes the odd bone-headed remark but hey, he's young, and he's still playing the secondary announcer-type role. Also, Tazz rocks. Totally. he is so far ahead Lawler that it's not even funny.
Of course, all this is moot considering the absolute best announcer they have is currently managing the Big Show. What I would give to have Heyman back behind the desk..
How can you say Tazz and Cole are horrible? They could announce circles around JR and King at this point. Tazz calls it like it is(ie: appologizing for the Dawn Marie/Al thing), and Cole can actually call moves. Sure he's spotty sometimes, but JR is always spotty.
Matthews definitely has some potential. He's a while away from being good, but he's certainly the best B-show announcer they have. Ernest Miller has been kind of underwhelming as a color guy so far, but hopefully he'll progress along like Tazz, who used to be pretty bad during his Heat days.
And the best announcer they have isn't managing Big Show, he's wearing tiny pants and jobbing to Jeff Hardy.
It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!
Can't Do It In Real Life? Do It On Underwater. YES PLEASE
Originally posted by oldschoolhero"And the best announcer they have isn't managing Big Show, he's wearing tiny pants and jobbing to Jeff Hardy."
Debatable. But Raven AND Paul Heyman...now THAT'S a commentary team. but who would be the face?
Go three way annoucing and have Michael Cole or Tazz be the third man and the face.
You don't get it boy, this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table. And I'm the surgeon. Something tells me to stop with the leg. I don't listen to it. But where in the world is there in the world A man so extroardinaire?
I never thought I'd hear the words "Roaring Elbow" on WWE programming. Matthews should stick with the play by play but he needs to stop doing the backstage interviews. He's a good enough B Show play by play guy and he's really inexperienced. Now The Cat, he needs to go.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedI never thought I'd hear the words "Roaring Elbow" on WWE programming. Matthews should stick with the play by play but he needs to stop doing the backstage interviews. He's a good enough B Show play by play guy and he's really inexperienced. Now The Cat, he needs to go.
I agree. His backstage stuff is terrible, but he's doing just fine behind the desk. There have been times when he was "play by play guy of the week," beating out both JR and Cole, IMO.
Ideally, we would replace The Cat with Stevie Ray, Lawler with Heyman, and Lita with Raven (ok, maybe D'Lo. Guilty pleasure!), but we're probably not going to see any of that happen. I figure Lita would be replaced once she's healthy enough to wrestle again, but Raven just started wrestling on Raw again, and by all accounts I'm aware of, Heyman hates announcing.
Maybe I'll start writing letters to WWE just saying "FRUIT BOOTY!" and see what happens.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedI never thought I'd hear the words "Roaring Elbow" on WWE programming. Matthews should stick with the play by play but he needs to stop doing the backstage interviews. He's a good enough B Show play by play guy and he's really inexperienced. Now The Cat, he needs to go.
Great, now we get the same incorrect terms repeated by the new guys! It's Rolling Elbow, but "l" and "r" sounds are not distinguised in Japanese.
Tazz is excellent with submissions and suplexes, probably MA throws as well.
Cole has improved and being crappy is part of his gimmick IMO.
JR is as outdated commentating as he is on "talent relations."
Lawler will surprise once in a while but he's clearly as sarcasm/dirty old man.
With Cat you have to already know the references and even then it's not THAT funny.
I don't think people appreciate the distinction between calling a live match and talking over something that you know can be edited and won't be aired for 48 hours. Cole/Tazz have been getting pretty good on PPV's, but it's obvious that they benefit greatly from the taped format. (as anyone would) Put Cole/Tazz in front of a live mic every week and I'll gladly consider them as the #1 team. Until then, it's still JR and the King for me. Hell, even I would sound competent on the mic with some fine post-production and a few quips from JR in my headset.
The WWE could put on 2 hours of Kevin Kelly sitting on the toilet reading a phone book, and I'd still watch next week.
Originally posted by FurryHippieI'm still trying REALLY hard to find out why people actually like Josh Matthews. He has absolutely no charisma and can't make a goddamn facial expression for his life. Remember on Heat before Armageddon, when he tried talking to Brock Lesnar? OUCH. The "man" can't even sell being scared of Brock Lesnar, when he probably was in real life.
Give him time. Michael Cole was horrible for years before blossoming into the fine announcer he is today. Plus, he is young and appeals to the college age demographic.
Josh still has that "deer in the headlights" look when he's on camera. He's obviously freaked out to be there.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
"...release the dogs, or the bees, or the dogs with bees in their mouths, and when they bark, they shoot bees at you?" -- Homer Simpson
Originally posted by FurryHippieI'm still trying REALLY hard to find out why people actually like Josh Matthews. He has absolutely no charisma and can't make a goddamn facial expression for his life. Remember on Heat before Armageddon, when he tried talking to Brock Lesnar? OUCH. The "man" can't even sell being scared of Brock Lesnar, when he probably was in real life.
Give him time. Michael Cole was horrible for years before blossoming into the fine announcer he is today. Plus, he is young and appeals to the college age demographic.
Josh still has that "deer in the headlights" look when he's on camera. He's obviously freaked out to be there.
With time that will go away. Michael Cole didn't look like he belonged either when he started doing wrestling announcing. Cole and the other guys they hired do have the advantage of having previous broadcast experience, something Josh doesn't have. Give him time, the more on-air experience he has, the more natural he will look on-air. I have faith in Josh. For the first time I think actually found a B-Team announcer who might just last.
Originally posted by Wonderful1He also displays passion for wrestling that is lacking in the other C-level announcers
Wonderful1
Don't forget the passion lacking in the A-level ones too... Unless people count yelling "puppies" and saying the same overly-rehearsed and forced things ("Damn him! Damn him to HELL!") week after week as 'passion'.
Thread ahead: Matt Hardy commentary - no more faces and heels? Next thread: Enterance music. Previous thread: Can Wrestle Mania ever go back to the arenas?
Thanks for the replies everyone. I certainly have a better understanding of it now. I glanced through The Cubs Fan's CMLL recap and actually understood some of it this time.