10 Times Modern WWE Stars FINALLY Felt Like Big Deals

2. Michael Cole

We give Michael Cole a lot of sh*t.

We give him sh*t for mindlessly regurgitating BIG DOG BOSS TIME marketing drivel, the absolutely f*cking ceaseless repetition of which is migraine-inducing. We give him sh*t for not being Good 'Ol JR. We give him sh*t for ignoring the action in front of him to recount sh*t we just watched 15 minutes ago. We give him sh*t for symbolising WWE's shift away from play-by-play to "storytelling", which manifests as a punishing procession of clichés.

We give him sh*t for doing his job, essentially - but, on the September 10, 2012 Monday Night RAW, Cole was the consummate professional. The guy, who is apparently so bad at this, did an already very difficult job under the most challenging and distressing of circumstances.

His partner Jerry Lawler had suffered an on-air heart attack. As we were grimly reminded this week, in WWE, the show must always go on. Minutes after Lawler slumped over, a drained Cole called the action mutedly. His colleague and friend was laying dead in front of him, for all he knew. For a few minutes, he clinically was. And he still carried the broadcast, increasing in spirit, protecting younger viewers and Lawler's family alike, using his instincts as a professional to obscure the distressing story and call for medical attention.

Hey listen, f*ckheads: the real Cole is probably a great commentator underneath it all - he just has to recite scripted promos for three hours straight.