WWE Commentary. It sucks.

[Guest John Hancock]

Just started watching. The card looked fine, the talent looked fine, the crowd was hot, the production looked fantastic. Then the commentary team started talking.

 

"This is the sixth time these two have met"

 

"No other wrestler has caused such an emotional response"

 

"John Cena was conquered the WWE with his limited abilities"

 

I switched off before Cena's music had even finished. The shit-awful commentary that's over taking the WWE used to just be a Michael Cole problem, but this show, it was all three of them, and it was pretty much every single line. Completely unwatchable.

 

I really wanted to watch, I really wanted to try and not be down on the product all the time, but, no, unwatchable.

 

WWE, for the sweet love of the holy Moses, sort out your commentary.

Edited September 2, 2011 by John Hancock

[Guest Jamster26]

Aww, I'd at least watch the main event, John. :) Commentary has been pretty poor though...

[Guest John Hancock]

I've bitten the bullet and I'm now watching it on mute, which really sucks, because commentary is such a boost to wrestling, and can make a good match great and, so far, the show, muted, has been absolutely fine, but I just feel how it would actually be, like, A GOOD SHOW, if only the commentary was sorted out.

 

EDIT: I'm watching the main event and, to be honest, the commentary is WAY better. Hopefully that beginning was just them at their absolute worst and they aren't normally like that.

Edited September 2, 2011 by John Hancock

[Guest Jack]

Just started watching. The card looked fine, the talent looked fine, the crowd was hot, the production looked fantastic. Then the commentary team started talking.

 

"This is the sixth time these two have met"

 

"No other wrestler has caused such an emotional response"

 

"John Cena was conquered the WWE with his limited abilities"

 

I switched off before Cena's music had even finished. The shit-awful commentary that's over taking the WWE used to just be a Michael Cole problem, but this show, it was all three of them, and it was pretty much every single line. Completely unwatchable.

 

I really wanted to watch, I really wanted to try and not be down on the product all the time, but, no, unwatchable.

 

WWE, for the sweet love of the holy Moses, sort out your commentary.

Yeah, I agree. I don't really watch the WWE any more but whenever I do, there is a huge difference between the awful current commentators and the ones from a few years ago. Apparently JBL said he'd be interested in doing commentary again and that would be a much needed boost. The only commentator who isn't terrible is Jim Ross but everyone else, especially Booker T, is just shocking. I'm tired of the same old lines being regurgitated, the pointless bickering, the over the top reactions. There's just nothing good about the current commentary teams. Everyone sounds like they're forcing it, especially Booker T yet again. All this "WHAT THE HELL?!" stuff to things which happen week in, week out. It's terrible. Michael Cole would probably be good if he was a colour commentator but a play by play guy needs to be a face, so he spends half the time being a good heel and the other half being a tw*t. It doesn't work at all.

 

This is one part of the WWE which needs changing. The music, videos, sets, camera angles and all those things are spot on but then there's this huge flaw from the start until the end of the show that spoils everything.

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

I know, Lordy. Commentary is just the worst thing ever. I dont think anything has got me this close to feeling like I dont want to watch the shows more than this. I can handle boredom or a bad angle or annoying characters or no matches or Groundhog Day or whatever else. But commentary, being this annoying, constantly, for 4 hours a week, is excruciating.

 

Cole is still the main problem, by a big margin, but King has recently gone off the deep end himself, and Booker is a thousand times worse with Cole than without. And really its the entire philosophy and presentation that needs to change. The bickering, the heel rants from Cole, the breaking kayfabe, the burying random people, the not paying attention. THE F*CKING BICKERING.

 

I watched a couple of matches from early 2010, just over a year ago, before the Cole turn (which started it all), and it was RIDICULOUS how much better the commentary was, just with a normal Cole. And its not like he was that great at the time, but the fact that commentary itself was just normal commentary instead of the farce its descended into, its a universe of difference.

 

I f*cking hate commentary.

[etz 78]

It's gone so far now that I'd actually flat out say it's not commentary, it's a panel "debate" with occasional reference to what's happening 3 feet away, at least when the bitching starts or Cole goes off on one (so, the whole show then....)

[dsrchris 190]

I've learnt to stop getting so aggro about Booker's commentary now. When you appreciate it's epic awfulness, he actually becomes a pretty damn entertaining commentator. He's just stupidly excited about everything dawg!!

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

Oh no, I love Booker T. I love his enthusiasm and his catchphrases and his indecipherable speech.

 

My only problem with Booker is that when he's with Cole, Cole has to BICKER with him for 2 hours and make him look foolish. Sh*ts me.

 

It all begins and ends with Cole.

[Guest John Hancock]

Booker T's trying his best bless him, and his enthusiasm is great, but he does have a habit of saying incredibly stupid things. The "Cena's conquered the WWE with limited skills" had me close to just screaming, "WHY ARE YOU SAYING THESE THINGS!?" at the television.

 

Josh Matthews or whoever that other guy is is fine I guess, but it's just very obvious that's he's getting fed lines, and there's no real emotion to him at all. At least he doesn't make me want to self harm though.

 

J.R. is great, because he's J.R.

 

Michael Cole isn't actually as bad as he used to be when he was trying and failing to be late 90's Jerry Lawler. He's still terrible, but at least he isn't TERRIBLE anymore.

 

I have no clue what's happened to Jerry Lawler. He's just give up, he's completely given up. I'd totally support Vince if he just fired him again, the guy stopped trying years ago, and now he just openly buries the product for absolutely no reason, to no end.

 

I think my three major problems are;

 

- Bickering and ignoring the match or what they're actually supposed to be commentating on

- Noticing what they're supposed to be commentating on and then just completely burying it

- Noticing what they're supposed to be commentating on, liking it, and then just making up a steam of bullshit about how important it is which just makes them sound like lame try-hards and liars

 

If I was WWE, I'd just fire everyone, bring in JBL, and let him and J.R. do every show, with JBL as a heel colour commentary guy, and J.R. as a baby face play by play guy.

Edited September 3, 2011 by John Hancock

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

Booker occasionally says stupid things, but most of the time its just part of his charm. The monumental, "Cena has limited skills" ones aside, he'd be fine if he didnt have Cole sitting there saying "'THE THING YOU JUST SAID' IN A SARCASTIC VOICE?!?! AHAHA, ARE YOU AN IDIOT?! HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET BOOKER, THATS OBVIOUSLY STUPID!" to every arguable thing he ever says.

 

One thing I notice about older commentary, as opposed to now, is that. Like, years ago, even if you have a colour guy going a tiny bit insane, Lawler for example, saying something that makes you think "Hmm, I dont think thats right." In those cases, its either just completely ignored, or J.R. or whoever will politely and intelligently disagree or turn the conversation back on point, instead of outright BURYING him for saying something even semi-silly. And that isnt a "well J.R. is great" point, because Cole would do the same thing when he was normal. Its Vince and the announcing philosophy that is the difference. They're burying themselves, and they didnt used to.

 

On the guys individually, Cole is the main problem, as I've said. The last week or so he's been toned down, and its much, much better, but he's still burying Bryan the same way he always does and he's still BICKERING with everyone and burying the other commentators, which is just as annoying as burying the wrestlers, to be honest. He needs to be a completely sober, normal, non-heel PBP, or nothing at all.

 

King I've always liked, from my POV I think I've always liked him much more than most others seem to. He has off moments, mainly when his lack of preparation/attention comes back to bite him, but overall I think he's fine. The last couple of weeks, however, he's gone way off the reservation and basically turned into a Mini Cole, burying guys he doesnt like. If they'd cut that sh*t out quick, he'd be fine, and he works well with J.R.

 

J.R. is fine.

 

Josh, I agree in that he's fine, but he basically adds nothing. I always preferred Todd over him in that 'young bland PBP' role. There's no real room for him there.Three man booths can work, but they dont work when commentary is so sh*tty.

 

If I got to be in charge of re-structuring WWE commentary this very minute (without being able to bring anyone in), I'd honest to God have J.R. and King on Raw, and Scott Stanford and Booker on SD. Stanford is better than anyone they have apart from J.R.

 

Cole needs a break from commentary to get the taste of his heel douchery out of people's mouths. Scenario A, he takes a break off TV for a while, then is able to come back as a normal, non-douche PBP. Scenario B, he transitions into a manager/GM/non-wrestler role, does that for years, then later down the track comes back probably as a heel colour guy, a la other former managers.

 

But back into the real world, they can keep the teams as they are, I dont care, just STOP BEING SH*T. 95% of the sh*tness is purely the way they're produced and presented and told to act, and it needs to stop.

[ShaolinHandLock 73]

Part of the problem with WWE commentary for me is that instead of calling the match, they end up talking about something else. WCW was really bad with it too, I remember when I was watching some of the old cruiserweight division matches a couple of years ago, they'd ignore what was going on in the ring and keep going on about Hogan and Sting etc. In the WWE, they seem to talk about the participants in the match, rather than the match itself. Which isn't always bad, but there needs to be a balance, the older WWF stuff seemed have better balance in that regard.

 

I know that isn't the main point of this thread, but still.

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

I dont mind it in small doses. If something huge has just happened for the main event angle, they're naturally not going to completely forget about it and move on 3 minutes later, they'll say "I still cant believe what just happened between Hunter and CM Punk..." Its fine if its just to reinforce something and there's not much going in at the present moment.

 

Where it crosses the line is when they basically spend the ENTIRE match going on about it, and end up missing key spots in the match at hand, in that WCW/nWo way. I hate it when it gets to a point that they've been chatting/arguing about whatever for 5 minutes, and someone ends up going "Hey guys, there's a match going on..." because by that point they've usually missed everything.

 

So yes, I agree, is my point.

[ShaolinHandLock 73]

I dont mind it in small doses. If something huge has just happened for the main event angle, they're naturally not going to completely forget about it and move on 3 minutes later, they'll say "I still cant believe what just happened between Hunter and CM Punk..." Its fine if its just to reinforce something and there's not much going in at the present moment.

 

Where it crosses the line is when they basically spend the ENTIRE match going on about it, and end up missing key spots in the match at hand, in that WCW/nWo way. I hate it when it gets to a point that they've been chatting/arguing about whatever for 5 minutes, and someone ends up going "Hey guys, there's a match going on..." because by that point they've usually missed everything.

 

So yes, I agree, is my point.

 

That's exactly what I was saying.

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

I know, I said, we're agreeing. I just used more words, I guess.

[Omega 354]

It's till better than Tenay and Taz. Tenay is a decent enough play by play guy but he's being asked to sell TNA far too much than is good for him. Taz is mental and can't remember half the time if he's supposed to be burying the guy or bigging them up. There's no relation ship between the two of them. Think back to Heenan and Monsoon or Ventura and anyone or even any of the WCW lineups which I never rated but at least had the right dynamic even if Schivone wasn't exactly J.R in his ability.

 

I think Cole works but not in the group they have. King is too old school and really works as a heel to someone like J.R. Booker is great as a third wheel but he's going to say nuts stuff whatever and can't continuely be brought up for doing so. If you had Cole, a seriously plain play by play guy who's not going to fluff his lines and support the faces then it works. Cole can bury whoever he likes but the contrary opinion is going to be put across.

[Guest Jamster26]

Tenay and Tazz are a better commentary team, I think. I do agree, they do go off on one, a few times. One of them makes a joke and the other laughs but in general, they give a pretty good account of the matches. Especially Taz, I like how in detail, he goes into, when describing the moves. :)

 

I just get a headache from WWE's team, I'm afraid.

[Guest John Hancock]

I think TNA is pretty awful at the best of times, but even I prefer Tenay and Tazz to anyone in the WWE other than J.R.. I think maybe it's because they're trying, and their mistakes are genuine mistakes, but, with WWE, half of the commentary team don't give a shit, and all their mistakes are actually exactly what they're being told to do, which makes it even more annoying.

[DC 536]

I've just finished reviewing the Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century DVD for Wrestling 101 (shameless shill) and it reminded me of just how amazing a duo Paul Heyman & Jim Ross were on commentary.

 

I'd put them above JR & King at their peak.

[Omega 354]

I think TNA is pretty awful at the best of times, but even I prefer Tenay and Tazz to anyone in the WWE other than J.R.. I think maybe it's because they're trying, and their mistakes are genuine mistakes, but, with WWE, half of the commentary team don't give a shit, and all their mistakes are actually exactly what they're being told to do, which makes it even more annoying.

 

Tenay and Taz don't give a sh*t either though. Seriously, both guys just do their own thing and f*ck the other guy. whenever I have to hear Tenay try and act all cool with Taz I have to go hide behind the sofa. It's faker than DSrChris at a KKK revival. Taz needs someone who really can sell the action to justify his ecentric outbursts but Tenay is really just dull play by play and even he can't call half the moves that go on.

 

I;m not really defending the WWE commentary here, just making the point that the only thing WWE and TNa share is a lack of decent commentary teams. TNA could really use a guy like Cole who I think would work calling their poorer product and appealing to the smarks where as I think Tenay could prop up any team on the WWE by being consistent in what he does.

[Guest Jack]

The TNA commentators aren't too bad with their content. The problem they have, is both have absolutely terrible voices that make it hard to listen to. I know it's not something they can really change, so maybe it seems harsh to criticize them for it but does anyone actually want to sit through two hours of listening to Tenay's geeky voice? Or Tazz sounding like someone who has spent 35 years in Sing Sing? It grates on you after about 10 minutes. I think Tenay's content is brilliant though. He rivals Jim Ross for that but even though Ross has a strong accent, he is fine to listen to.

 

Anything is better than Booker T and Michael Cole arguing though. Christ, it's terrible.

[King 277]

WWE needs some Don West!!