Commentators play a great role in sports and sports entertainment. They are an essential part for the TV audience since they are instrumental in telling a story as it unfolds bit by bit in front of them. Since WWE has a rehearsed and pre-determined product, commentators are valuable in bringing to the forefront the underlying elements at play and what to focus on. They are also essential in bringing the humor out of things and making it entertaining for the ones watching at home. Their job is to keep the viewer’s attention.
Much can be said about how WWE has been lacking in that aspect since Jim Ross left and his teams with Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler and Paul Heyman are much missed.However, Corey Graves’ promotion has given us some hope.
Here are 5 superstars who can be better at commentary than the commentators:
Kevin Owens
The redoubtable, unanimous, invincible choice for a superstar who can transition well into a commentator is the man they all call KO. Owens is an MVP on the microphone and he’s taken his verbal skills to the announcer’s desk as well. Him renouncing Byron Saxton and chiding Michael Cole hasn’t gotten old one bit. He’s saved a lot of flop segments with the mere utterance of a few words. Owens is incredibly entertaining the moment he decides to address a subject that bothers him to a great amount. If there is any new wrestler in this new era that can be great in any speaking role, it is Owens.
Dean Ambrose
Ambrose has long been hailed as one of the best talkers in the industry. This reputation has followed him from his extreme and relentless indy career all the way to the WWE. He has shown why exactly he’s gained that reputation on many occasions, especially in the former FCW (now known as NXT).
He’s been on commentary multiple times since he debuted with The Shield, during his US Championship and IC Championship runs and while he was embroiled in a feud with Seth Rollins. Some of his best moments at the announcer’s desk have come when he was part of The Shield. Oft funny, insightful and to the point.
CM Punk
Sure, Punk is not a wrestler anymore but he once was and in wrestling ‘Never say Never’. Punk was a regular at the commentator section on Raw in 2010-11 when he was nursing an injury and he was allowed to do commentary while he was recuperating. That idea was brilliant since his presence notched up the quality of what we were hearing through our television screens. He was hilarious and eloquent. He made everything unravelling in front of him entertaining and brought forth a beloved inanimate character in his diet soda that Cena quite recklessly spilled over. As soon as he recovered from his injury, he began his now legendary feud with Cena and we only saw Punk at the announcers table on rare occasions after that. However, while it still lasted, it was a thing to behold.
Rusev
Rusev is a great character. Or at least, he is great at playing his character. He and Lana are regal in the true sense of the word. His Twitter is rapt with such hilarious comments and thoughts. You should read it exactly in his accent to really know how brilliant this guy can be. Listening to him do commentary in English will be something to behold. His comic side has been wasted in feuds like the one between him and Ziggler but right now the character is reveling in being pushed. His feud with Roman Reigns is much anticipated and while he’s at it, he should bring his wisdom and hilarious quips about America and dear life on the commentary booth.
The Miz
What can’t The Miz do? Arguably, one of the best hype guys the WWE has ever had and someone who can play a great supporting role. Miz is much capable of making a feud, a match or a moment seem monumentally important. He made the AJ Styles Vs Jericho feud must watch. Right now, he is the Intercontinental Champion and while he hasn’t had a lot of great feuds to work, he’s single-handedly made the title must see again. He’s been on commentary on many occasions and stuck to his character in a glorious way. His penchant for speaking has gotten him a long way so far. Commentary will be an easy step to take for the “A-lister”.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
