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What’s the story?
WWE veteran and former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Taz was recently a guest on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast during which he discussed what it takes to be a good commentator in pro wrestling and the mantra on being a successful commentator in pro wrestling.
In case you didn’t know…
Taz made his WWE in-ring debut in the year 2000 and “The Human Suplex Machine” was a color commentator for WWE’s Smackdown brand for much of the 2000s.
Following his departure from WWE, he joined Impact Wrestling (TNA) and joined the commentary team once again, as he remained the promotion’s color commentator till 2015.
The heart of the matter
While speaking with Jericho, Taz stated that the most important part of being a commentator is to humble yourself and leave your ego out of the way, because a commentator’s job is to put over the in-ring competitors and not himself or herself.
"The first thing, if you are a color commentator, not play-by-play, so if you are a former pro wrestler, and I learned this from Vince McMahon; you have to take your ego and what you did because it is not about you, it is a humbling job. I put over more guys as a commentator than as a worker, but you have to take your ego, and put it behind the curtain as Vince McMahon told me.
Taz noted that the key to becoming a successful commentator is to put aside one’s agenda and ego aside and keep it in the Gorilla position and not bring it to the commentary desk.
The former ECW World Champion also believes that it is somewhat important for a color commentator to have some wrestling experience.
Taz claimed that he has the utmost respect for Raw and Smackdown Live commentator Corey Graves, but eventually decided to call out Byron Saxton, who is a former wrestler but doesn't have any significant experience.
“I am someone that believes that as a former world champion and as a color commentator. That is not a knock on any current color commentator, but I believe in the guys that have been to the dance, drawn some money and know what it takes to have a title. It is a big deal to have that responsibility, as you know, and it is a big deal."
What’s next?
As for Taz, he is currently retired from Pro Wrestling, but you can stay up to date with the former WWE Hardcore Champion on his podcast of The Taz Show.
Author’s Take
Taz is someone who has a lot of knowledge regarding pro wrestling commentary and I absolutely agree with the facts that he stated in his interview with Y2J.
