Announcing Differences

It's been a while since the last fan interaction post and though this one took a few weeks to get together I finally am sharing it with all of you. Any wrestling fan knows that their are differences between announcers that cover the action and not by title but also just in the way that some call the action in general. Over the last few weeks I have asked a question to a random group of fans and here are their responses:

Question: In wrestling there different types of announcers. Do you prefer the sports entertainment or pure wrestling announcers? And who is your favorite

​DWIWrestling Podcast: I would have to say I prefer the entertainment announcer over just the pure wrestling announcer and as far as favorites go he would have to be Bobby the brain Heenan and as far as play-by-play most definitely JR.

Anthony Walker: I would say I prefer Pure Wrestling Announcers and my favorite announcer is by far Jim Ross.

​New Blood Rising Podcast: Lance Russell from Memphis Wrestling. I'm a huge fan of the way he called matches and action with such a sports broadcast authenticity. Not to mention, his voice is right up there with Solie and he dressed as snazzy and cool as anyone you'd think of calling sports or wrestling in the 70's. Heck during the famous Empty Arena Match (https://youtu.be/-B9dPlev9Lc ) between an irate and insane Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler, he quickly has to discard a lit cigarette when he finds out they're live and on the air. Here's a link to that match. With no crowd, Russell has to be selling the action to us, the audience. Russell was also great at promos with faces and heels. I'd dare say even more than Mean Gene, Russell would do a great job of standing up to heels and carrying wrestlers with otherwise awkward promo skills. There's just an authenticity to how he'd call the action. It's not like he was Mike Tenay in knowing holds or moves but you still got what he was saying as a fan watching the broadcast. Take the Tupelo Concession Brawl of '79 (youtu.be/xTndTO1tqVk ) where the match descends into sheer chaos and again it's Russell who describes the action as if it's a total shoot. It's not to be contrarian for the sake of it but Lance Russell ways stands out to me as a commentator who just could communicate pro wrestling to any level of fan watching the product. Years ago I went into more depth about Lance Russell in article I wrote for Bleacher Report. Here's the link to that piece: https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1326770.amp.html …

​Seth Burns: In my opinion pure wrestling announcers are a better way to go, especially when a major spot happens a pure wrestling announcer can make it seem more magical. And my favorite would have to be Joey Styles, yes JR is the greatest, but to me Styles doesn't get the credit he deserves.

​Through The Ropes: For me, the perfect commentary for a match or a card is a two man team, or an occasional three man team. For it to entertain me, It must include a dry wit like a Gorilla Monsoon or a Jim Ross, who knows what they are talking about in the ring, yet has a subtle sense of humour. Alongside him would be a Jerry Lawler, Bobby Heenan, or a Jesse Ventura, the annoying partner who always cheers for the one that everyone hates, Its a simple formula yet one that works all the time and a successful one. As for my favourites, I loved Mike Tenay & Taz, except for the babbling of football and baseball at times..... , and I like Josh Mathews, despite the hate he receives, I find that he is knowledgeable of the holds and moves, aswell as injecting some humour and the excitable nature when a big move takes place, so that's my picks of the modern era. As for the past, There were many great teams, so I've got to break it down. Of the 80's, it'd be Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura or Bobby Heenan, I liked either, both did a great job in my opinion. For the 90's, without doubt Jim Ross and Jerry 'The King' Lawler, Their chemistry was unbelievable, with JR's great play by play and King's great banter, plus both were excitable, so what's not to like? At times I have enjoyed the occasional guest commentator who has jelled well with the announcers, for example, 'Superstar' Billy Graham, Mr Perfect, and both Randy Savage and Roddy Piper in particular. Then for the 00's, I liked Don West and Mike Tenay, and JR and Lawler, But I didn't mind the Michael Cole and Taz team during the early Smackdown years.


​More from those featured above:
http://newbloodpod.podbean.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/user/AJWwrestlingmatters
​http://throughtheropes.wixsite.com/wrestling