10 Common Misconceptions About Modern Day WWE

10. Michael Cole Sucks

WWE’s announcers are a constant source of criticism these days, and for good reason. Maruo Ranallo is well-liked as SmackDown’s play-by-play guy, but the blue brand’s commentary is blighted by JBL’s boorishness, David Otunga’s mundaneness, and a bloated four-man booth. Raw’s commentary, meanwhile, regularly devolves to no more than a series of shills and soundbites, and adding Percy Watson to the fold has done nothing to aid NXT TV.

These announcers often do more to detract from the product than sell it, and that’s an issue. As the company’s most tenured commentator and the voice of their flagship show, Michael Cole often takes the bulk of this criticism, but almost none of it is his fault.

Cole’s Raw performances have become emblematic of the announcers’ problems as a whole, but performances on recent Network specials like the UK Title Tournament and Beast In The East prove that he’s still a first-class announcer. Sharp, engaged, and well-informed, Cole was in top form, and Raw would be a far more enjoyable show if he was allowed to work this style every week.

The difference is in the production. Cole has an incredibly difficult job, and has Kevin Dunn and Vince McMahon directing his commentator through his earpiece on Raw and pay-per-views. When free of these shackles, Cole is a fantastic commentator, and one nowhere near deserving of the criticism he gets. Fans’ complaints on WWE’s announcers are often justified, but they’re aimed at the wrong people.