Play by Play

Years ago when WWE had the light heavy weight title there was a match between Scotty Too Hotty and Dean Malenko at Backlash. The match itself was a typical Malenko match were he works the leg with many different versions of the overused leg bar and the crowd didn't really get into it. But the finish to the match was a counter from Malenko. Scotty had him set up for a superplex but Malenko countered into an amazing stiff top rope DDT. I still remember that move today. That sort of innovation of a simple wrestling hold into a finish which makes the crowd gasp is what makes wrestling so unpredictable and breath taking. What was also great is that JR would make sure he wrung out every bit of drama out of that move, which these days would be missed by Michael cole (who is terrible.....really, really bad....like, just the worst...well not as bad as king but still sh**)

in a match between John Cena and Daniel Bryan, Bryan delivered a superplex but instead of going to the mat with Cena he had hooked on to the middle rope. the innovation of that one move was completely ignored by the commentary team. Cesaro also recently performed a fall away slam with a bridge to Cena for a 2 count, again ignored! these moves are what make these 2 characters so unique and it damages their credibility against bigger opponents if their move set is not getting the credit it deserves.

So what I want to know is there any innovated moves or reversals you have seen which has been or big moments in the match that the commentary team have missed completely?

Damn i miss J.R.

p.s

first time poster, would just like to say i love the work the guys do on the podcast.

I have a love/hate relationship with Cole. When he brings his "A game" he is damn good. He builds things up, he comes involved, he hypes everything perfectly.

But there is an obsession now with the commentary team to just tell other stories throughout matches. This isnt a new thing to do, of course, but JR was one who could balance the play with the color, the story in front of him with the story of the drama itself.

Cole's major problem is he has King beside him, who is god awful, and JBL is very hit n miss (but I hold the opinion he is stuck with words in his ear telling him to behave a way he probably would rather not).

The day King goes we might see some improvement.

And thanks for the last line   

Cole can hype up certain main events well, but he is half the problem that some mid card matches don't get over to the audience at home. Sometimes you hear the crowd pop for a move or a reversal which isn't picked up by commentary. Perhaps if Cole was calling all of Benoit or Angles matches they wouldn't have got as over as they did due to their submission style. My big problem is we are currently seeing some great new wrestling moves which are not getting the replays they deserve. Cesaro comes up with new moves for each match, he is a throw back to the old style of wrestling, its a big part of his character and i don't think he'll get fully over until this is recognised by commentary.

Thanks Dude, its a great wee show! Some good characters on the msg board it would seem too!

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:

And thanks for the last line   

He was talking about the Eric young episode specifically.

Gave the Eric Young one a miss if I'm honest...the Lex luger interview was great though! You guys should try and get Jim Cornette on the show!!

I think it's all to do with WWE's style of not speaking during big moments, which is of course ridiculous, I think it sometimes translates to matches where they won't react the way they should to big moves.

William regal does try on NXT but I don know if it comes across too well. Maybe we'll see a bit more in the future. With the network starting hopefully the commentary team will recognise rival histories. When King and Cole avoiding talking about Brock Lesner when Mark Henry and Show went through the ring was embarrassing. King interrupting Barret just about sums up his contribution the last 10 years, I wish Ziggler dropped those elbows from the top rope, that would have got Ziggles over if you ask me! Even when they talk over certain crowd chants but talk about the ones which suit them really grates as well. Watching them in Chicago is going to be hilarious.

annoys me more when they call a move wrong.

How Cole and King have been at the table for so long is any ones guess. The fans complain about wrestlers being bland and not talking a risk or chance on the mic to make a name for themselves. The same should apply to the commentary. Same mistakes every week. I think wrestlers like Ziggler, Miz, Fandango really suffer due to this.

I get super annoyed when they refer to a 'suplex' as a 'throw'.
Or when two mid carders are actually having a good match and all they can talk about is what has just happened or what is happening later. Enjoy what's in front of you so the audience can enjoy it too!!

Paul _E wrote:

first time poster, would just like to say i love the work the guys do on the podcast.

Football Podcast is better   

Im getting worried for JBL. He was the guy that kept talking about the action, and bigging up the talent like a good commentator should. But he's starting to go down the same road as the others.

The commentary has been a joke ever since they turned Michael Cole heel. He's never recovered. You're play by play commentator should never, EVER be a heel, and it made for terrible viewing.

Bring back Joey Styles.

Liking Byron Saxton and A Ry at the moment - hopefully get a chance on the biggest shows soon!

The suplex deal is a strange one. the likes of Taz,Benoit, angle and Lesner always had at least 3 or 4 suplexes in one match. they were considered the best in the business at performing a German or overhead but they did look stiff as hell, especially Benoit, he must have injured a few wrestlers with his chain germans. I think Jack Swaggers character should have the suplex machine side to him to show a bit more intensity but maybe there were just one to many concussions when these guys were let loose to throw people on their heads to let someone elses character be built round a risky move set but then again it is wrestling and all moves have an element of danger in them, and that's maybe why we don't see them so much these days. You're right though, Bryan rolled up Cesaro in the chamber into a German but that was descrided as a throw. these 2 guys probably put a lot of thought into that counter but again Cole missed an opportunity to make Bryan look dangerous.

They've also been told to avoid using the actual names for moves. Again, something that is ridiculous.

I think making sure each move is called by the commentary especially new ones would make it seem more legitimate and big certain matches more of a big match feel.

VDT wrote:

Paul _E wrote:

first time poster, would just like to say i love the work the guys do on the podcast.

Football Podcast is better   

Ive been on both...so Id say the boxing one must be better than each

Personally, I always liked Matt Striker.

I gave up on commentary a long time ago. I end up zoning out from it. I only pay attention when one of the wrestlers join in with them.