7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE UK Championship Tournament (Night 1)
Ups...
7. A Fresh Announce Team
Have you ever wondered what Michael Cole would sound like without Kevin Dunn and Vince McMahon barking through his earpiece all night? Here you go.
Cole's appointment to the UK Tournament seemed like a strange move, particularly given Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan's success in the Cruiserweight Classic, but last night proved it a just decision. It's far too easy to forget how good Michael Cole can be when the reins are off, and he was in rare form in Blackpool.
Raw's Michael Cole is a script-reading company man who spends more time plugging sponsors and reciting catchphrases than selling the action, but the UK Tournament's Cole is quite the opposite. Cole was a classic play-by-play man, calling each match move-by-move and putting the characters over in a way he hasn't done in years. More importantly, he'd done his research: Cole knew something about every single man in the tournament, and he came off knowledgeable, informed, and enthusiastic.
Nigel McGuinness was every bit as good. The former Ring of Honor man hasn't always excelled as a commentator, but his colour analysis helped take the show's presentation to the next level. He's clearly delighted to finally be working for WWE after failing a physical test to sign as a wrestler in 2009, and he'll be a welcome addition if the company deliver on the rumoured weekly UK show.