**MERGED** The Michael Cole Thread

[Yrrab]

[YOUTUBE]IpKJq-9YwaE[/YOUTUBE]

Watch this match, but don't watch it for the wrestling, or the crowd reaction, or the spots (even though there are none).

Listen to that commentating.

I'm 100% guilty as charged in the sense that during this time, I thought Cole's commentating was garbage. Trash. Awful. But man, the angle he's been apart of makes me yearn for these days. I'm so damned sick of hearing his voice now, even when he's just regularly calling a match. Even though I wasn't a fan of his commentating, I never wanted him to become a heel or anything like that. I just wanted him plain off of the headset. But now, as incredible as Cole's character is, I almost miss the old him. He was straight to the point, and he made wrestling sound like wrestling.

I personally don't think there's any chance he'll be able to go back to being a commentator. But what do you think?

Do you think if/when he does return to announcing regularly, we'll be able to buy into it?

Who would be his broadcast partner? Would you want Matthews alongside him?

 

[Azane]

I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled Cole out of Super heel world, and toned him down to an Attitude Lawler heel. This transition was pretty gentle from NXT then switched hard when Daniel Bryan started competing weekly on Raw, To reverse this function wouldn't take anymore than him being a neutral commentator over the next 6 months.
Wrestling memories are short. Michael Cole being his wimp persona for a while would give us amnesia, especially if the anonymous GM angle dies out soon.
Michael Cole's WM match is obviously going to be the payoff for the last 10 months or so that he's been playing this character, the direction taken following the match is going to set the tone for the rest of Cole's career.

If Cole wins the match at WM, he'll probably maintain his heel persona, and honestly, I think the next few weeks will be the peek of his heel run, it will be all downhill after WM.

If Lawler wins the match, they could off-screen Cole for a few weeks, have him re-appear on Smackdown, and completely ignore the fact that he ever commentated for Raw (Wrestling seems to have a way of having everyone like eachother by never being in the same space as one another). Cole's only major trigger on Smackdown was Vickie, and shes playing with Raw now.

 

[BASSER911414]

IMO when the time comes to turn cole back to face wat the creative team will do is put cole in a situation where hes getting his ass kicked and a guy whos balls hes been sucking for months in this case miz but lord knows when therel be someone else just stands and looks and cole feels betrayed and hence strts the transition back to facedom

 

[supaman5279]

I just read the post saying that Cole's role might change after Wrestlemania into possibly a manager type role. I will agree with you and Michael Cole's commentary is so terrible to where I can't even enjoy most matches because his garbage is so distracting from the match and just plain annoying. It would be interesting to see him as a manager. Maybe flip the script and give him the ultimate "internet darling" wrestler to manage. If he continues commentary I could see him kind of bury the hatchet and call a truce after The King gives him an amazing ass whoopin at Mania, or sending Lawler to the shelf after over-applying the ankle lock. If not Lawler then I guess Josh Matthews could fill the role. He is a Tough Enough runner-up so it makes him a little relevant after Wrestlemania. McMahon wanted a younger look so it would make sense. If I had to choose I would put Lawler and Matthews together. Matthews kind of has that freshness when Striker first started but unlike Matthews, Striker kind of had too much to say. I wouldn't mind Josh Matthews taking over. He's kinda goofy and I think him and The King could mesh really well together.

 

[rodimusaus]

I hope they turn him into a pg era or new generation Vince from the attitude era character...but take time to do it... i really think he has it in him and it could elevate some wrestlers.. i used to enjoy the vince and austin storylines..

 

[MaxSteel]

I believe after WM27, they could easily tune down his heel persona, no matter if he wins or loose. But than, the fact remains - it'd be a complete waste!

WWE hasn't had that large of a heel non-wrestler personas since, arguably, the last time Vince ran wild on RAW (was it in a feud against Shawn Michaels and God? lol).
Yes, this means he's even more hated than Viki was while being the Smackdown GM, and those who remember that period should understand how high I value Cole today as a heel.
If they don't turn him into a commentator any time soon, he can probably have some on-air time on RAW to stay relevant, maby continuing the feud with Lawler a bit after WM27, so he can take a spot of the RAW GM once they finally scrap that concept. He could also take the place of SD! GM, but I remember Teddy Long coming to Smackdown from ECW like it was yesterday - and I have a feeling that's how it's going to stay for a long, lng time.

 

[AxAs]

I really hope they don't let Cole's heel run end, it's been amazingly entertaining - such as his box on this weeks RAW lmao. I think a manager type deal for say The Miz could be one option but another option i was thinking could be similar to when Paul Heyman came out and introduced the WWE to "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar. They could pair Michael Cole with Mason Ryan, as due to his accent and inexperience he needs a mouth piece. I think they could be a good partnership seeing as Nexus is pretty much done with now..

 

[The Hardcore Kid]

He could fairly easily become a heel color commentator, something that's been missing for years. Cole as a heel color guy and Josh Matthews as PXP actually wouldn't be a bad announce team.


I'd still rather JR though.

 

[jellmoo]

I'm fine with a heel Michael Cole. That isn't really the issue. The issue for me is that I can't stand the play by play announcer being heel. It seriously detracts from the matches. If Cole is a heel and working as colour, it's more tolerable, even if I still hate the sound of his voice. I would greatly prefer him as a manager or hell, even the RAW GM if it would get him away from the announce desk.

I am constantly floored though as to how a company with the greatest play by play guy in the history of WWE on their payroll is still using Michael Cole. It's just mind boggling that they keep Cole on both shows, but don't use J.R.

Hell, you know what would be am amazing announce team? J.R. and C.M. Punk. Now *that* would be an awesome dynamic. The best play by play guy in the biz, along with a great heel colour commentary guy.

 

[The_Reptile_]

Sorry fols, but JR's bell's palsy is probably gonna keep him from commentating regularly. A few one off appearances, sure, but he's pretty much done.

So, with that said, WWE needs to make Cole the Raw GM, if not now, then soon or after 'Mania. He practically is anyway, and WWE's attempt to turn him into the next Mr. McMahon isn't going to work unless they give him some position of authority. Move Josh Mathews up to RAW, since he's the best of the active commentators WWE has at the moment. He actually has a good dynamic with the others.

 

[EasyE]

I also think he should become a manager. I'd love to see him be like Heenan in that he has a stable of guys he actually "manages." Not since Heyman was a manager has there been a guy who believably could be managing guys' careers, but Cole has that cred since he's been in WWE for like 15 years. Plus he's a great mouthpiece, and wouldn't need any agenda like other managers, other than his guys winning titles. I miss old school managers and Cole is the perfect guy right now to bring back that role.

 

[JGlass]

Cole has gone past the point of no return. He's been such an unbelievable dick over the past year that I don't think the audience will be able to forgive him without him doing something really dramatic, and I'm drawing a blank on what that could be right now, apart from saving Jerry Lawler from a Skull Crushing Finale, and I'm pretty sure we're not going to see that.

Additionally, he's a great heel. If they send Vickie back to Smackdown and leave Cole on RAW, each program will have one personality that can attract massive amounts of heat no matter what they do. Imagine how easy it will be to get heels over with these two heat magnets to aid them?

Not only do I think turning Cole back into a face, or even a neutral commentator is an extremely difficult undertaking, I think it's not even worth trying.

 

[Nate DaMac]

I don't really think he can go back to announcing just yet. After Mania, I'm kind of hoping that he ends up being revealed as the Raw GM. It would still give him mic time which would definitely be a good thing and he could still play his heel role to perfection.

I don't think the fans will allow him to turn face. He is genuinely hated by so many that no one will let the WWE dictate whether they cheer for him or not.

 

[Yesiamaduck]

Honestly if Cole wasn't on commentary right now he'd be one of my favourite characters in the WWE, I sort of hope they put him in an authority role soon and let him blossom as a heel for a bit.

 

[studly_113]

I think he would be a way better manager then a heel or even a commentator. Hes got the mouth for it. As for someone to take his spot Id love for it to be Matthews.

 

[Trivia247]

the problem though is despite what kind of assisted performance will see out of Cole by Wrestlemania.... Cole is useless. there is something to having a dramatic face turn from a hated heel when he has the capability to change something, or save someone. Cole isn't capable. It would be disgusting too find him being the Raw general manager.

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

I was thinking about this the other day and a thought occurred to me. What if Michael Cole was the modern version of Bobby Heenan. Now what I mean by that is a heel commentator who also manages his own heel faction/group of wrestlers. That would seem to follow up the Cole character quite well. I personally can't say that I'd like to see Cole turn into a face again, ignoring the last year. That just wouldn't sit well with me. To me he's beyond the point of redemption, and even having Jerry Lawler kicking his ass all over the Georgia Dome isn't going to give Cole's character a satisfactory conclusion for me.

 

[Scuba 06]

If Michael Cole does not end up being the secret GM than this whole thing has been a joke. Michael Cole has to be either elevated to the next level or this stupidity needs to end. I will tell you I believe, regardless of whether Cole is being himself or playing a heel, he sucks at both. Does he garner heat ? Sure but to me he is unwatchable. His announcing sucks and his heel character is even worse. If you are impressed by him, go watch Lawler in the late 1990's or Bobby Heenan and see REAL heel announcers. Cole is a fake-ass who cant act for sh*t. If WWE want to make him a big deal, he needs to be the GM. He cant be the character he is and sit next to Lawler. One of them has to go. Lawler and Heenan might have been a-holes but they didnt get into personal physical interactions with their broadcast colleagues. They were smart and witty and knew how to build up heels without destroying the good guys, the way Cole buries the whole divas division. I dont care what they do with him but thats the only way it is going to work. I would just fire him, he is just a puppet, who brings no depth to the show. He sucks.

 

[jamel21]

What if two of the most annoying people in the WWE were a couple? Think about the heat Michael Cole and Vickie Guerrero get by themselves and just picture if they were together as a couple. I mean people would probally literally throw trash in the ring cuz they are so hated by wwe universe u kno


What do you guys think?

 

[CelticCorey]

Michael Cole is awesome. As an announcer he can be irritating but man he plays his character so well and you can tell he LOVES being in his current spot right now. I NEVER THOUGHT skinny, wimpy Michael Cole, in all the years he has been there, could pull something like this off; but damnit he has been one of the most entertaining things WWE has had.

Vickie on the other hand....she deserves it. She legitimately gets under my skin to the point that I hate her character and if I was there I'd boo her ass out of the building as well. I mean her schreeching, her excuse me, ugh, it's just so ANNOYING!!! And I think it would be an insult to Michael Cole if he was paired with Vickie.

 

[Iversen]

What if two of the most annoying people in the WWE were a couple? Think about the heat Michael Cole and Vickie Guerrero get by themselves and just picture if they were together as a couple. I mean people would probally literally throw trash in the ring cuz they are so hated by wwe universe u kno


What do you guys think?

There's no doubt they'd get booed out the building but why do it?

Cole and Vickie being a couple achieves nothing. Both of them are used to get heat for others, Vickie for Ziggler and Cole for Miz. Getting heat for each other doesn't really achieve much. I imagine Cole after 'Mania will manage someone. Hopefully Swagger and actually give him a reason to be around the main event.

 

[Lucha-Libre is wrestling]

Vickie & Cole been allies since NXT season 3. They should be no more then allies, Cole is just a heel announcer and a decent one, Vickie is great as a heel wrestlers manager or a heel GM, she is the best heel manager I ever seen and I been watching wrestling since 1978 and I never seen a heel manager draw so much heat , not Blassie, Captain Lou, The Brain, or Jimmy Hart. I would love for the WWE to make Vickie a manager of a heel stable just like the managers I mention, she has the talent on the MIC to be a HOF manager. Cole is doing a good job as a heel but at the best he will be a tweener after Mania or Summer Slam lets not forget he is just a announcer that is not even a former wrestler his character will die out.

 

[Brother Love]

Vickie on the other hand....she deserves it. She legitimately gets under my skin to the point that I hate her character and if I was there I'd boo her ass out of the building as well. I mean her schreeching, her excuse me, ugh, it's just so ANNOYING!!! And I think it would be an insult to Michael Cole if he was paired with Vickie.

I've can't agree more about Vickie Guerrero. I stopped watching Smackdown for a while because of her, and when I did watch, if fast fowarded every time I saw her. While Cole may be annoying, teaming him with Vickie would make them the most hated people in wrestling history. I think I would would stop watching WWE all together if that happened.

EXCUSE ME!

 

[KoC417]

I can just hear it now: "May I have your attention please"...And I quote... ''EXCUSE ME!!!" AND I QUOTE.... EXCUSE ME!!!!..and I quote... EXCUSE ME!!!

Oh dear lord that would be fantastic! Imagine, turning Cole a manager. And teaming Miz and Ziggler up with managers Vickie and Cole.....Can you say most hated 4some in wrestling? God the heat those 4 would generate would be unbelievable! I'm talking they'd have to raise the volume of the microphone just so they could be heard over the boos!
It would be great to get stars tremendous heat but to be honest it would only hold true for a short time. Cole can't maintain his heel persona for years. After a while it would potentially turn into one of those situations where no matter what you do people start to cheer. Cole is our "moment man". Right now he's great but after a while it'll get stale and routine. Give him Jimmy's megaphone....that would be awesome. Having him come out screaming "AND I QUOTE!!!"

Vickie and Cole together= Great for heat generation but bad in general. Because if/when they split almost always one turns face. Like when a tag team splits up..one goes heel and one GENERALLY, not always goes face. So then who would u turn face? Cole? Vickie? and risk losing whatever heel momentum they have established? Tough call...

 

[JGlass]

It would be even more annoying than Michael Cole and Vickie alone, but I don't think they should pull the trigger on this pairing. In addition to being perhaps TOO annoying, they would be ruining a perfectly good chance to get young heel talent over. Let Michael Cole be the manager for one young heel on RAW, and let Vickie take one on Smackdown.

Keeping these two separate would be much more beneficial for the WWE than keeping them together.