Double Announce Teams To Return With WWE Brand Split?
A return to the old pay-per-view commentary format seems likely.
With the forthcoming brand split posing all sorts of questions, it would seem that not even the announce team is safe.
In the original split the distinctness of the two brands was pushed even as far as the commentary desk, and it seems that is set to return. WWE is reportedly going to go ahead with two announce teams at pay-per-views, with the SmackDown guys calling the SmackDown matches and the RAW bouts left to the RAW guys. Obviously.
For those of us that watch WWE PPVs on a monthly basis, this is a step in the right direction. Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton have been putting in such a poor performance for so long that on a number of occasions watching the show on mute has been the best option. Breaking up the monotony on the special events is long overdue.
It is also another important factor in emphasising the competitive nature between the two brands, something that was done particularly well the first time round. With RAW called by Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler going against Michael Cole and Tazz's SmackDown, two truly distinct shows were formed. The fact that this is to return can only be good news.