WWE hires current Showtime boxing/NJPW pbp announcer Mauro Ranallo to call pbp for Smackdown

[trick]

From The Warriors need more nationally televised games

The announcer position in the WWE—as Michael Cole and Paul Heymanelaborated on during recent interviews with SI.com—is a vital role in selling the sports entertainment product to the masses. It can also be a stepping stone to landing a gig with a significant mainstream sports broadcaster For example, former WWE announcers Jonathan Coachman and Todd Grisham are now ESPN announcers. On Monday the WWE will announce that Showtime boxing announcer Mauro Ranallo will become the new voice of WWE SmackDown when the show moves to the USA Network on Jan. 7 (at 8 p.m. ET.) Ranallo called the international feed for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight and has called boxing, kickboxing and MMA for national outlets. He has also called New Japan Pro-Wrestling for AXS TV. USA Network will air SmackDown every Thursday night beginning Jan. 7. USA also airs Monday Night Raw live 52 weeks a year.

In an interview with SI.com on Friday, Ranallo said Cole, who handles broadcast talent development for the WWE in addition to on-air work, emailed him about a month ago to inquire about his interest in working with the company. Ranallo then sent the WWE some of his broadcast work, including a promotional vehicle he did for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders where Ranallo called a mock fight between billionaire Warren Buffett and Floyd Mayweather. (This was no low-end production: The video was directed by Animal House director John Landis.) The WWE brass, including chairman Vince McMahon, was impressed. “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 said he will still call boxing for Showtime and do GLORY kickboxing as part of his WWE deal. But he will be a fulltime member of the WWE’s traveling circus. In addition to weekly appearances on SmackDown, he’ll be backstage atMonday Night Raw, pay-per-view events and Wrestlemania next April in Dallas. Ranallo said he did not know who his analyst partners will be on SmackDown but he expected to have some. Jerry Lawler and Booker T are the current analysts for the show. Prior to joining Showtime, Ranallo was the voice of the Pride Fighting Championships, and also hosted Canada’s first TV show dedicated to MMA. In Toronto, he teamed with Renee Young, currently a WWE broadcaster, on a pro wrestling show (“Right After Wrestling”) that aired on the former Score Television network.

Asked if he would be willing to take a bump (an in-ring fall) as part of a WWE storyline, Ranallo laughed and said he’d do his part. “I’m 45 but I’m definitely open-minded about that,” he said.

 

[Ribbs]

They snatched up everybody from Aftermath. First Renee then Arda (Kyle Edwards), now Mauro.

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

I hope this is real. Mauro was that dude when he was calling PRIDE. Sign Bas Rutten, put him & Mauro on RAW and send those 3 clowns to the bushes

 

[3Rivers]

Wonder who is gonna replace him on NJPW on AXS

And will he be nerfed calling action for WWE?

 

[Jmare007]

Awesome hire

I hope Vince isn't micro managing the commentary booth on Smackdown still

 

[The Rainmaker]

Great hiring, but if they don't do anything to improve the content, Ranallo can't do shyt about it.

 

[trick]

Great hiring, but if they don't do anything to improve the content, Ranallo can't do shyt about it.

He used to complain about RAW and SD every week when he was doing the post-show RAW talk show with Renee 4-5 years ago here in Canada. He might go nuts having Vince in his ear every week.

It seemed like every week Renee was like " this might be good" and Mauro would reply " Did we watch the same show?"

 

[The Rainmaker]

He used to complain about RAW and SD every week when he was doing the post-show RAW talk show with Renee 4-5 years ago here in Canada. He might go nuts having Vince in his ear every week.

It seemed like every week Renee was like " this might be good" and Mauro would reply " Did we watch the same show?"

That doesn't sound promising at all. He won't last long

 

[Jmare007]

He used to complain about RAW and SD every week when he was doing the post-show RAW talk show with Renee 4-5 years ago here in Canada. He might go nuts having Vince in his ear every week.

It seemed like every week Renee was like " this might be good" and Mauro would reply " Did we watch the same show?"

Dude will be gone before Wrestlemania

 

[JBone4eva]

Can't wait for the wrestler and match name botches

 

[PTBG]

Mauro & Graves could be nice though. Anybody but Cole, JBL, & Lawler.

 

[prophecypro]

As long as Vince is still in their headset, what difference does it make who they hire?

 

[Stez]

Can't wait for the wrestler and match name botches

His calling of NJPW is up there with prime Jim Ross and Lance Russell. Honestly, the guy is fukking incredible at his job. This could be great news.

 

[MightyHealthy]

His calling of NJPW is up there with prime Jim Ross and Lance Russell. Honestly, the guy is fukking incredible at his job. This could be great news.

At the very least, I'm interested in Smackdown's reboot. This is a huge hire in my book.

 

[Theodoresolderbreh]

Muaro renallo was a huge joke when he did pbp for strikeforce. Dude is hands down the corniest person on earth.