10 Times WWE Failed To Replace Wrestlers

9. Jim Ross (with Michael Cole)

WWE Failed Replacement
WWE Network

Jim Ross has swallowed his fair share of sh*t since arriving at AEW's first pay-per-view as the lead voice of the company, but criticism for these specific mistakes must never be confused with thinking that the alternative then, now and forever would be any better.

Michael Cole is routinely complimented by existing and ex-colleagues for his ability to "control traffic" on WWE broadcasts. That is to say - he can manage the million tasks he's got beyond actually just calling a match, and he's also very helpful in getting others up to the ludicrous standards expected by Vince McMahon.

He is good at his job, we are told. His job, we are sternly reminded, is to flog all of WWE's sh*t and tell their "stories" rather than that of a wrestling announcer. Jim Ross was always more one than the other and - errors aside - proves it to this day most Wednesday Nights.

 
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Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett