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WWE hires Mauro Ranallo


Crowley

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As WWE was airing their final big event of the year with TLC, SI.com media critic and wrestling fanRichard Deitsch broke the news that longtime boxing, MMA, and New Japan Pro Wrestling play-by-play man Mauro Ranallo will be announced Monday as the new lead announcer on WWE Smackdown when the show moves to USA Network in January.

Ranallo told SI that Michael Cole had reached out to him a month ago to ask if he had interest in working with WWE. Ranallo sent along some clips, including some commentary he did for a mock Floyd Mayweather vs. Warren Buffett fight for a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder conference. From the interview: "This was an opportunity I did not think I would get at this point of my career and I jumped on it,” Ranallo said. “I have been a lifelong fan of the product. Michael said that when Vince saw the Warren Buffet video, it seemed to cinch it. They believed I could sell the entertainment part.”

Ranallo will continue to call both boxing for Showtime and GLORY kickboxing for ESPN, but will be a full-time employee of WWE, working backstage at RAW and other broadcasts in an unspecified capacity. While it wasn't mentioned in the piece, it can be assumed Ranallo will no longer be calling NJPW on AXS TV. It's also uncertain who his broadcast partners will be.

The 45-year-old Ranallo got his start in combat sports in the pro wrestling business at just 16 years old for Vancouver, Canada,'s All-Star Wrestling. He has always been a fan and advocate for wrestling, slipping in plenty of references during many a fight he's called cage/ringside.

- f4wonline.com

Surprised no one is talking about WWE hiring the best commentator in the world.

 

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Hopefully he won't get ruined with McMahon screaming in his ear all the time.

 

Give it a few months.

 

It's nice that they're trying something different. Now can we hire another competent commentator and have it be just two guys instead? Get rid of Cole, Lawler and JBL. Replace them with those two and keep Vince McMahon away from them please.

 

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Love his work on NJPW on AXS TV. I highly doubt he's gonna replace any veterans though and since he's been specifically assigned to SmackDown, I could see him replacing Byron easily.

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Brian Fritz of The Sporting News recently interviewed newly hired WWE SmackDown lead announcer Mauro Ranallo, who will be the new voice of SmackDown when it makes it's move to the USA Network in January.

 

Below are some highlights:

 

How he got the WWE announcing job:

 

"Yeah, this has been an expedited process to say the least. About a month and a half ago, maybe even less, it's been a whirlwind, I was contacted by Michael Cole. In addition to being the voice of the WWE, he also oversees all of the on-air talent. He emailed me to gauge my interest in working for the company which I found to be flattering and very surprising that at this stage of my career. Needless to say, I said I was very interested because anyone who knows me and has followed my career knows how much sports entertainment -- WWE -- has been a big part of my life as a fan. Even in my combat sports commentary, the myriad of references I've made to my first love are very evident. After I contacted Michael Cole and talked to him in person and understood exactly what they were offering and what they wanted me to do with the company, it really took off from there."

 

If we will see his same persona in WWE:

 

"Fair question and I think it begins with the fact that I will be known as Mauro Ranallo on SmackDown. I understand why they want to change people's names and want to give them their own identity but the fact that they respect my breath of work and respect what I've done over the last 30 years as a broadcaster already puts me in a proper mindset. I'm going to call WWE like I call everything. Yes, I'm going to be passionate. Yes, I'm going to be excited but at the same time I'm hoping to get better as a storyteller and I'm hoping to complement the people I work with who have been doing this a lot longer than I have. "

 

You can read the full interview by clicking here: http://www.sportingnews.com/sport-news/4688020-mauro-ranallo-wwe-smackdown-announcer-showtime-boxing-glory-kickboxing.

http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/41061/Mauro-Ranallo-Reveals-How-He-Got-The-WWE-SmackDown/

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