Would you like to see Jim Ross back on commentary?

[Coco]

There's a rule in show business. "Give the audience what they want." The audience has been very vocal in their declaration that they want Jim Ross.

This isn't just show business. This is the professional wrestling business. Part of that business is engaging the audience with characters they don't like. Michael Cole is one of those characters and has become one of the best in the WWE. He creates more emotional investment in the product at the moment than Jim Ross could by returning full time and half-heartedly going through the motions while botching more calls than he did before his last health scare.

Was it nice to hear JR back for one night to put Daniel Bryan over? Sure. But you aren't going to get the mileage, long term, out of Ross that you will out of Cole at this stage in the game. Thanks for being so easily worked though. Nice to see that the average smark isn't as above it all and in the know as he likes to believe.

 

[Karaoke Superstar]

Of course, the guy is perhaps the greatest announcer of all time. I've always been a fan of good 'ol JR, every time he is behind that booth he brings excitement and passion. He could even make a lame match or storyline somewhat interesting just by calling it. Although I am fine with the way things are, and when he does make an appearance every now and then it will be a big mark out moment.

 

[darbare]

well, we could all say how we want him to come back and all we want, but I read somewhere he said himself he wasnt physically able to be on the road full time again...its his choice and we should just respect it and honor his past work, plain and simple

 

[Caitiff]

Jim Ross can't perform at the level required by the WWE, period. I love how each time a thread like this pops up, people forget about the Bell's Palsy. He can't travel with the company to do the weekly shows, not even the Smackdown tapings, and he's admitted as much on his own blog.

Bell's Palsy is an affliction of the facial muscles. Exactly what does that have to do with a man's ability to hop onto a plane?

You are certainly entitled to your opinions on Cole's work, and they are just as valid as the next man's, but on that note I'd like to share that I find Cole to be more of a success now than most any other time in his career (at least of his career that I've ever seen).

It's not just my opinion. Jim Ross is the winner of the Wrestling Observer "Best Announcer" award 13 seperate times, including last year. Worst announcer? Michael Cole.
Wrestling Observer Awards

JR cannot continue on in the now, simple as that. As a character he has no more room to grow.

Until I hear Jim Ross say that he can't perform, I won't accept that answer.

But, there lies the logical fallacy of your argument. Play by Play announcers, traditionally, are NOT characters. Their job is to tell people what's happening in the ring. And, while I'm on the subject of character development, exactly how much has Ric Flair changed in the last 20 years? How much has Sting changed in the last 13? Triple H in the last 10?

I see that line, and I'm reminded of how Jim Herd wanted to remake Ric Flair as a Roman gladiator named Sparticus. Kevin Sullivan heard this, and responded with "While you're at it, do you want to change Mickey Mantle's number?" True classics never die, and they never need to change.

Coco the Monkey

This isn't just show business. This is the professional wrestling business. Part of that business is engaging the audience with characters they don't like. Michael Cole is one of those characters and has become one of the best in the WWE. He creates more emotional investment in the product at the moment than Jim Ross could by returning full time and half-heartedly going through the motions while botching more calls than he did before his last health scare.

X-Pac heat is never good. X-Pac heat for your announcer is among the worst things that you can have. I, for one, broke my yearly habit of buying Wrestlemania on DVD, solely because I hate Michael Cole's sanctimonious attitude. It wouldn't bother me as much as it does if Cole were a color commentator. But, he's the play-by-play announcer. And, if a play-by-play announcer isn't actually calling what's going the fuck on in the ring, he's not doing his job. It really is as simple as that. Jim Ross doing half-assed play-by-play is more interesting than Michael Cole, since at least Jim Ross calls the damn matches.

And, being the "Longest running weekly episodic show" of who the fuck cares says that Vince McMahon sees himself as being in show business. So, frankly, the first point, which you based your entire argument on, is completely wrong.

Was it nice to hear JR back for one night to put Daniel Bryan over? Sure. But you aren't going to get the mileage, long term, out of Ross that you will out of Cole at this stage in the game. Thanks for being so easily worked though. Nice to see that the average smark isn't as above it all and in the know as he likes to believe.

"Milage out of Cole?" Michael Cole has, single-handedly, made me stop watching WWE programming. Twenty Five years a wrestling fan, and the only mass market show I can watch, by default, is TNA. Fuck Michael Cole. He's not an announcer. Even a decade in WWE, and the guy knows jack shit about wrestling. Hell, his character isn't even him. He's reading a script, and doing so very poorly. His milage is going backwards. And, it's pathetic.

Thank you, Comcast, for finally putting HDNet on Philly cable.

 

[DirtyJosé]

Bell's Palsy is an affliction of the facial muscles. Exactly what does that have to do with a man's ability to hop onto a plane?

You mean besides the strokes?

It's not just my opinion. Jim Ross is the winner of the Wrestling Observer "Best Announcer" award 13 seperate times, including last year. Worst announcer? Michael Cole.
Wrestling Observer Awards

Good for them. Still doesn't change my opinion on the matter, which is as valid as anyone else's. Wrestling Observer does not speak for me, they speak for themselves. So again, you are certainly free to share your opinion, but don't expect it to be taken as fact.

Until I hear Jim Ross say that he can't perform, I won't accept that answer.

Do you not ever read his blog at all? He's said many many many times that he's not cut out for the travel schedule any longer.

But, there lies the logical fallacy of your argument. Play by Play announcers, traditionally, are NOT characters. Their job is to tell people what's happening in the ring. And, while I'm on the subject of character development, exactly how much has Ric Flair changed in the last 20 years? How much has Sting changed in the last 13? Triple H in the last 10?

First of all, it's common knowledge that the "Play by play" announcer concept is dead in the WWE. Evaluating Cole in that regard is like saying Terry Bradshaw is a shitty hockey player.

Secondly, if you don't think JR was a character, you are in for quite a shock. The entirety of what you've seen of JR on screen (in the WWE) is a McMahon creation. The hat, the accent, everything. It's a gimmick as much as the men in the ring.

Thirdly, Ric Flair and Sting haven't changed much since the end of WCW, but then again they really didn't work all of that time either. This is probably why neither are anywhere the level they used to be. As for Triple H, he's actually had some play the last 10 years. At this point, however, he's about done (at least he seems to know it). Maybe you like seeing the same old war horses being dragged out to do the same old shit, but I find that boring. I'd rather have newer awkward people in and around the ring than the same shit I've seen since I was 8.

I see that line, and I'm reminded of how Jim Herd wanted to remake Ric Flair as a Roman gladiator named Sparticus. Kevin Sullivan heard this, and responded with "While you're at it, do you want to change Mickey Mantle's number?" True classics never die, and they never need to change.

Yeah, because Kevin Sullivan totally saved WCW. Keep driving the same old horses into the ground, see where that gets you. Ric Flair doesn't seem to get that message, and currently he's competing with Al Davis for the "Sickliest, closest to death without being dead looking mother fucker on the planet" Award. And drawing tons of money and ratings for TNA...

 

[The Crock]

No. Jim Ross is far past his prime, he can't do it anymore. He stepped away from the table, which some people in today's world of professional wrestling just can't do. JR has health issues and those need to be taken care of, not commentary. Anyway, why would the WWE want to make him a commentator again? They have a solid group of guys doing a great job. For all the crap that Michael Cole gets, he does a great job... And believe it or not he's the voice of the WWE and he will be for some time to come.

 

[The Wrestler`s Wrestler]

Now im stuck, Because heel Michael Cole was starting to grow on me, And what does Vince do..... Bring back Good o'l Jr for one old school raw episode. Still kinda baffed why he couldn't of let Jr come back for mania this year or to at least call Shawn n Taker, Lord knows Jr's voice could of helped to create some "Mania moments" this year. Other then kofi and the stilts spot can you remember any??

The moment I heard Jr open his mouth I remember how much I MISSED him calling a WRESTLING match with WRESTLERS, Not a CONTEST between two SUPERSTARS as Cole would say. Me enjoying Michole Cole must be akin to someone who is under stockholm syndrome But jokes aside I know it might be impossible to bring Jr back full time, But I dont think it would be a bad idea to bring him back to calll "The big matches" Like for instance at survivor series they are rumours that Cena is going to turn full on heel. That moment NEEDS the voice of Jr to add to it. Im sorry I REALLY am but Michael Cole COULD NOT do that moment justice, Think back to when Austin turned at mania 17. Or when he turned on the whole wwf and joined the alliance. It was the voice of JR that made it hit home when you was watching it.

I'll stick up for Cole with the whole "Kissing Miz's ass" thing. I seem to remember a certain Jerry THE KING Lawler doing the EXACT same THING to a one Triple H, And look where he is now. One day The Miz might have half of that, And one of the reasons WILL BE Michael Cole "Putting him over" on tv every week.

 

[Genius_Deadman]

for those people who hate on Cole, why? because he's a heel? that's what we missed right?

i'd love to see JR back, but not with Lawler. i'd love to see him team up with Cole in a face/heel type scenario. that's what we miss from announcing, we miss the antagonist in the mix. it gets boring just everyone praising the faces and dissing the heels. we need 2 flavors and Cole has been doing a good job at ticking people off as a heel. let's be real, when we were young, we didn't love Heenan's commentary. we went for the faces like Hogan, Warrior, etc. now that we're older, we appreciate what Heenan did and loved him being gold on the headset. King is done, JR needs to come back and call matches with Cole. Cole needs a true face commentator by him. everyone gets upset that Cole is "worshiping" the Miz, but didn't Heenan do that with Flair? the REAL WORLD'S CHAMPION! come on now. Cole's ok, JR needs to come back, King needs to go.

 

[DirtyJosé]

X-Pac heat is never good. X-Pac heat for your announcer is among the worst things that you can have. I, for one, broke my yearly habit of buying Wrestlemania on DVD, solely because I hate Michael Cole's sanctimonious attitude.

I think the term X-Pac heat is dead, because far too many people use it. Just because you get your panties in such a twist over an announcer does not mean that every other sensible person out there feels the same way. Good to see you exercising your right to vote with your dollar, but that is so far beyond being even a drop in the bucket.

It wouldn't bother me as much as it does if Cole were a color commentator. But, he's the play-by-play announcer. And, if a play-by-play announcer isn't actually calling what's going the fuck on in the ring, he's not doing his job. It really is as simple as that. Jim Ross doing half-assed play-by-play is more interesting than Michael Cole, since at least Jim Ross calls the damn matches.

And who said that WWE had to play by your archaic rules, amigo? I don't see them introduce him as the PBP man at every RAW opening. Again, I thought it was clear that the position had been abandoned in favor of running a dual color team? Terry Bradshaw is a shitty hockey player, dude!

And, being the "Longest running weekly episodic show" of who the fuck cares says that Vince McMahon sees himself as being in show business. So, frankly, the first point, which you based your entire argument on, is completely wrong.

No it's not. If you want to be super uber technical about it like a debate wonk, Vince sees it as the "entertainment business", so really, by your standards, your first point was completely wrong.

Beyond that, just because you don't find it entertaining does not mean many others do. Looking at nominations for the end of the year awards on these forums, I see many mentions of Cole vs Bryan as feud of the year. Clearly, many of us are being entertained.

"Milage out of Cole?" Michael Cole has, single-handedly, made me stop watching WWE programming. Twenty Five years a wrestling fan, and the only mass market show I can watch, by default, is TNA. Fuck Michael Cole. He's not an announcer. Even a decade in WWE, and the guy knows jack shit about wrestling. Hell, his character isn't even him. He's reading a script,

Just as JR did. Or did you think that Mankind/JR segment was all shoot?

and doing so very poorly.

Funny because the only good part of seeing JR on RAW recently was him hitting Cole with the hat. You see, not only was it funny because JR totally did jack shit and Cole had to carry the segment, but it was also funny because JR walloping Cole with the hat wouldn't have had much effect if Cole wasn't already an effective heel character.

His milage is going backwards. And, it's pathetic.

You say you've watched for 25 years, but you say that this is the worst he's ever been? Yikes!

 

[hhhfan14]

I'm going to start out saying, that watching that one match gave me a flashback of the good ole' days, when JR and King owned Raw. I absolutly loved it, and do miss JR. They already have Cole doing Smackdown, so it would be very easy for them to move him, but i don't know with Jr's Bell's palsy, if he would be willing to do it. Also i was curious, did anyone else find it disrespectful, that even though trying to push the heel character, that it was just plain disrespectful for Vince to set JR out there, and then have Cole sit there and insult him. But to answer your question, there is none better than good ole Jr, and i would love it, even if they couldn't bring him back full time, to at least put him on PPVs or at least the Major 4 PPVs. It would be awsome.

 

[RD_21]

I think the term X-Pac heat is dead, because far too many people use it.

Then should we say Mike Adamle heat and Mike Adamle bad. Michael Cole is beyond bad and annoying. Sure we could say he is playing his role and fine we hate him but not when it makes me want to stop watching the show. How can the biggest nerd who never got laid on the planet call out Daniel Bryan for being one. I know it's the character of Cole and all but I just hate him.

I would really want JR back because he enhanced the show he didn't detract from it and made me want to stop watching it.

 

[boybrushedred]

watching that match was one of the most entertaining matches i watched in recent time. i dont really hate cole or lawler, but jr made watching that match awesome

 

[airvar]

I loved it, but why did they keep having to SHOW The commentary team?

We can hear them- that's good enough.. I actually thought Cole and J.R. going back and forth was great, but you have to stop physically showing them on television. It should be about the match, and I feel J.R. did a great job of emphasizing that (like he always has).. I don't mind Cole playing the Heel, but he almost took it overboard in my opinon and ended up detracting from what was an AMAZING Swagger vs Bryan Match..

People should be talking about Bryans big win, and Dibasie's Shocking attack on him, not Michael cole and J.R.

 

[Chess]

Well I wouldn't mind hearing him again but I am glad I don't have to see his stroke riddled face anymore.

Let's be honest though, WWE is so bad at the moment that even JR couldn't make it decent despite his excellence on the mic. I think he should stay away until they can put on some decent wrestling matches for him to call. JR is great but for now he should stick to making Ketchup.

At the moment there an no decent commentators in either WWE or TNA.

 

[Hundred Dollar Man]

Ask yourself this can JR go 50 weeks a year plus PPV's? If the answer is no then don't think about bringing him back. He's had health issues and fill in commentary would hurt the flow of the show. Cole is fitting nicely, and his heel persona if used consistently throughout the show (be a heel mark all the time) would pay off in the long run. However,

I think that using JR on the big PPV's only (Royal Rumble, WM, Survivor Series, Summer Slam etc) would make them feel special and more like an event and less an extension of the weekly shows.

 

[drobs85]

Jim Ross can't perform at the level required by the WWE, period. I love how each time a thread like this pops up, people forget about the Bell's Palsy. He can't travel with the company to do the weekly shows, not even the Smackdown tapings, and he's admitted as much on his own blog.

You are certainly entitled to your opinions on Cole's work, and they are just as valid as the next man's, but on that note I'd like to share that I find Cole to be more of a success now than most any other time in his career (at least of his career that I've ever seen). He is such a weasel and a cad, and it's been a long long time since a heel announcer was as effective.



Good thing we aren't living in the last 20 years; we're living in the now. JR cannot continue on in the now, simple as that. As a character he has no more room to grow. As a performer, he is no longer capable of working at the level required by the company. That's being honest with you. Yes, JR was the voice of wrestling for most of my childhood, and I will always think of him first when thinking of announcers, but it's time to let it go and to quit being so selfish.

You want to talk about passion, didn't Lawler lose that same trait? Why is he still there? I guess Matt Striker and Grisham can perform at the level required by WWE? Ross is better than both of them. And if he goes back to either brand, he'll be a valuable asset to the announce team.

 

[smalltownfan]

Absolutely!! I loved how he essentially ignored Cole on RAW and then slugged him with his hat a couple of times when he left. WWE made a big blunder in not having JR come back. I realize that health-wise, the new role JR has in WWE will be beneficial, but he is the best ringside commentator ever except for Gordon Solie and to not have him return is a travesty. They need to put JR and King back together then put Cole and Striker together on Smackdown and move Todd Grisham backstage to do interviews.

 

[scott hammer cena]

Perhaps it already has been posted but i read on here yesterday about all of the WWE wants Jim Ross back, but the decision lies with Mr.M.

He needs to come back, he makes it seem real and it needs freshning up with the old school of JR

The question is, down to the pops he got, will they come forward with the GM announcement and whether it is Michael Cole or not so if he is the GM, JR can be back as commentator

 

[DanielJames]

see i was ok with JR being gone until he came back last night and i realized i missed him calling match ups...and it was a dream match up...then i remembered he never said he wanted to be done with announcing.....so yea i would like to see him back

 

[Anaxamander]

Then should we say Mike Adamle heat and Mike Adamle bad. Michael Cole is beyond bad and annoying. Sure we could say he is playing his role and fine we hate him but not when it makes me want to stop watching the show. How can the biggest nerd who never got laid on the planet call out Daniel Bryan for being one. I know it's the character of Cole and all but I just hate him.

I would really want JR back because he enhanced the show he didn't detract from it and made me want to stop watching it.

The irony of Cole calling Bryan a nerd is completely lost on some of you guys.

I really do miss J. R., and the old King as well. I remember when King was a degenerate and J. R. talked about what heart Shawn Michaels had. I liked that era, but now is a different time. My main complaint is actually King. He's a much better heel than face.

 

[RD_21]

The irony of Cole calling Bryan a nerd is completely lost on some of you guys.

I really do miss J. R., and the old King as well. I remember when King was a degenerate and J. R. talked about what heart Shawn Michaels had. I liked that era, but now is a different time. My main complaint is actually King. He's a much better heel than face.

The irony isn't lost on me I even said that I knew it was the character and he was playing it. I know he is a nerd calling another nerd out. But I still hate him and would take JR back in an heartbeat.

I know Cole is suppose to get under our skin but to me he is not HHH good he is Adamle bad. I just want to turn my tv off.

 

[Kidd]

I honestly have no problems with Cole's commentary. He's just not as good as JR.

As I said in another thread, I understand that Cole was pushing his heel character,but I hated how he was talking over JR during the whole match. It wasn't "Good Heat" as some would say. It was annoying.

Now if JR's health doesn't allow him to be a full time announcer, I understand. But bringing him back for the main PPVs would be excellent.

Let JR call the matches at Summer Slam, The Royal Rumble, and of course, Wrestlemainia.

As someone here said, It would give them a "bigger" feel and they are the biggest events.

 

[DirtyJosé]

You want to talk about passion, didn't Lawler lose that same trait? Why is he still there?

Ugh, I don't know. I'm not a fan of King's performance or his role these days.

I guess Matt Striker and Grisham can perform at the level required by WWE? Ross is better than both of them. And if he goes back to either brand, he'll be a valuable asset to the announce team.

Well, Striker does decent on Smackdown, Grisham is garbage, but both can make the travel schedule, which JR can't, so yes, I'd say they can perform at the lever required. You are simply ignoring the fact that he can't travel any more, or you're being silly and you don't even realize it.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

I went with "No" because that time period is over. Sorry folks, but the Attitude Era died years ago. The company needed to change its look and sound with the PG era. They did they by the building of that fancy HD set and promoting Cole to Raw, their flagship. I think they need to get rid of King as well. King doesn't add much to the show and a lot of that can be contributed to how perverted he was before the PG thing. I think Cole has become a great color guy, but they need to find a new play-by-play guy for him.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

To be honest I don't even know why you had to make a poll of this to reveal the clearly obvious. It is soooo obvious that chris jericho even had to note that basically michael cole was a nothing next to J.R. There is absolutely no reason that one of the longest standard guys in WWE, should move over for cole. The only time I have thought cole was any good is basically right now where he does annoying (as he always did), in a heel role remarkably well. Despite this it was clear who vince feels is the better announcer because he had cole basically berate J.R. through the entire match ruining it for me trying to enforce the image that J.R. was boring, obvious word sent down from the man upstairs, VKM.

But it isn't fooling anybody, anyone who has watched wrestling at all knows J.R. is the man in all of sports commentating. I think his HOF video said it best, "he has his voice plastered upon so many great WWE moments", and his voice enhances those moments. Michael cole's voice destroys those moments. Look it's this simple, J.R. has never dipped in quality so why should he move on now?!, he isn't scott hall who can't work his was down the entrance ramp, he is as good now at 10 years ago. It would be like suggesting HHH should retire tommorrow...NO, he can still be a good heel, good face and go in the ring, and if you can still go, then you shouldn't go, if yu get me..

One of the best things about having J.R. commentate is that he is so passionate and enjoys his work as much as any guy out there doing anything. If you read his tweet the other night it really said it all about his love for what he does and you can tell he misses it. And for vince to try to make out like J.R. is boring, yeah why not just say HBK couldn't work a match while your at it, or that bobby heenan isn't funny, or stone cold isn't intense, all equally eroneous claims.

Yes J.R. should stay until they finda guy capable of filling his amazing shoes, we can't hope for another, we can only pray for someone half as good.