'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the world of professional wrestling, the announcers help in adding an extra layer to the characters. The truly great ones have the ability to enhance the aura of the Superstars, and portray them to be the larger than life Superstars they are expected to be.
The dynamic between an announcer and a Superstar is just as important. In the past, professional wrestlers weren’t expected to be entertaining on the microphone. Instead, it was the announcer’s job to sell the matches, and people like Howard Finkel and Gene Okerlund were masters at it.
Today, we take a look at the top five Superstar-announcer pairs in WWE history.
#5 Alberto Del Rio - Ricardo Rodriguez
Alberto Del Rio was destined for great things in the WWE. After Rey Mysterio left the company, the WWE needed someone who could connect with their Latino/Hispanic audience. Alberto, while working in Mexico, was one of the top two stars, and hence was recruited to be the future face of WWE in Latin American countries.
While Del Rio couldn’t live up to the expectations, one of the things that worked with the Superstar was his association with Ricardo Rodriguez. Much like Heyman’s mannerisms while introducing Brock Lesnar, Ricardo’s rolling of the R’s made his character unique, adding a different dimension to Alberto’s character.
The former Dos Caras Jr. won the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship in WWE, and owed a lot of his success in the company to his association with Ricardo.
#4 The Rock - Jonathan Coachman/Kevin Kelly
The Rock is arguably the greatest sports entertainer in the history of the industry. No other Superstar was as comfortable in front of a camera as “The Great One”. The Rock was also exceptional at ad-libbing, and had the uncanny ability to bounce off other peoples’ reactions.
Towards the end of 90’s, when The Rock climbed the proverbial ladder to the upper echelons of the company, he particularly enjoyed working with the likes of Jonathan “The Coach” Coachman and Kevin Kelly.
Coach and Kevin Kelly were two polar opposites - Coach being the smug, sly announcer that always had it coming, while Kevin Kelly was the sort of personality that could easily be picked on by The Rock.
#3 Edge - Tony Chimel
As iconic as Michael Buffer’s “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!” is in boxing, Tony Chimel’s high pitch introduction of Edge will always remain one of the most hilarious introductions in WWE history.
The story goes that Edge, noticing how Cena’s introduction was different during his reign as the champion, wanted something unique to be done during his introduction as well.
This led to Tony Chimel’s over the top intro, where his voice cracks while saying “Rated R Suuuuperstar”. Tony was brought to WWE on a couple of instances only to introduce Edge, and also interrupted Beth Phoenix during this year’s WWE Hall of Fame, to once again announce Edge!
#2 Hulk Hogan - Gene Okerlund
When Hulk Hogan became the American Hero in mid 80’s, defeating The Iron Sheik to capture the WWE Championship, no one would’ve envisioned the heights Hogan and WWE would reach in the next decade.
As "The Hulkster" became the giant slayer, there was one man that added to the legend of Hulk Hogan, Gene Okerlund.
Okerlund was one of the most experienced and talented backstage personalities, and complemented Hogan’s charisma with his verbal prowess. Hogan’s “You know something, Mean Gene?!” phrase became iconic, with Okerlund being the perfect foil to accentuate Hogan’s charisma.
#1 ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin - Jim Ross
The number one pick wouldn’t surprise many people. If there ever was a pair that complemented each other to perfection, it was Jim Ross and Steve Austin. With Ross being the perennial good guy, and a voice of reason on the commentary team, it was inevitable for Ross to side with arguably the greatest babyface in professional wrestling history.
With JR’s innate ability to bring a measured cadence according to the situation, his on-screen relationship with Austin blossomed into something tangible.
Ross and Austin were also good friends outside the ring, which helped them in understanding each other. Thus, it comes as no surprise that almost all of Austin’s greatest moments in WWE were called by Jim Ross.
