Top 10 Commentators Of The 2010s
Who was the best wrestling broadcaster of the past decade?
With multiple companies presenting television shows each week, we’re finally getting to hear different voices commentate pro wrestling. We’ve come a long way from heel Michael Cole mocking Jim Ross and Daniel Bryan in every segment. We’ve also trudged past heel Josh Matthews’ lesser-known imitation of Cole during the Global Force Wrestling era of Impact.
There’s a progressive movement in the industry – we have women commentators and even a masked one. Veterans have come back and new voices have emerged. We’ll never find another Gorilla and Bobby, but there sure are some great contenders.
10. Tony Schiavone
The greatest comeback in the history of our sport! The voice of WCW returned to the broadcast booth in 2017 after over 15 years away from pro wrestling. And he hasn’t missed a beat. Tony Schiavone serves as a play-by-play/color commentator hybrid in MLW, lending his credibility and knowledge to the growing product.
9. Jim Cornette
We’ve been blessed to have the Louisville Lip on commentary for a few special occasions over the past four years. He called the action in What Culture Pro Wrestling (reuniting with good, ol’ J.R.), MLW and at the NWA 70th Anniversary and resurrected Crockett Cup. His genuine disdain for performers like Jimmy Havoc and Sami Callihan only enhanced their characters on MLW Fusion. Conversely, his support of Mance Warner helped the Southern Psychopath get over with an international audience. Whether you’re offended by his opinions, in agreement with his old-school views or simply entertained by his brash personality, you can’t deny Jim Cornette’s influence over the past decade.
8. Tom Phillips
Perhaps it’s a Philly bias, but Tom Phillips is one of the best play-by-play commentators in WWE history. It’s hard to believe he came through the same system as Grisham, Matthews, Cole and all the other interchangeable talking heads. Phillips calls the action like it’s a legit competition while maintaining the WWE narrative and uttering whatever buzzwords are needed, all without sounding robotic.
7. Kevin Kelly
It’s fascinating that the punchline to The Rock’s jokes has become one of the most respected broadcasters in the business. Kevin Kelly was Ring of Honor’s lead commentator for over half the decade before handling English commentary for New Japan Pro Wrestling. As NJPW’s popularity has grown in the United States, Kelly has been a familiar voice educating new viewers on the product.
6. Corey Graves
When one door closes, another door opens, as Corey Graves can attest. After multiple concussions derailed his in-ring career, the Savior of Misbehavior devoted himself to learning how to broadcast, and quickly climbed up the company ladder to being part of the Raw announce team in the summer of 2016. Since then, Graves has become a modern-day Bobby Heenan and Jesse Ventura, not always siding with the villains, but more often than not championing their devious tactics. He also pulls double duty, calling the action on SmackDown and roasting Byron Saxton.
5. Ian Riccaboni
He is so good that Bill Apter awarded him and Colt Cabana with the 2018 Broadcast Team of the Year Award. What else can be said? Ian Riccaboni took the reins from Kevin Kelly as ROH’s lead commentator in 2017, blending his immense knowledge of the sport with ‘90s pop culture references and social media shout outs, fostering a deep connection with fans when the company needs them now more than ever.
4. Nigel McGuinness
The Englishman has a similar story as Corey Graves, in which injuries and disease cut his promising career short. Ever resilient, Nigel McGuinness did manage to join WWE in another capacity: color commentary. His enthusiasm, expertise and thick accent separate him from the rest of WWE’s broadcasters, making him a true asset in NXT, 205 Live and NXT UK.
3. Matt Striker
Never appreciated in WWE, Matt Striker went on to become the play-by-play commentator for all four seasons of Lucha Underground. Introducing lucha libre to many new viewers, Striker’s educational background was in full effect, adeptly explaining the traditions, characters and moves. He also had a spell in MLW: his chemistry with Tony Schiavone – a fellow play-by-play guy –shouldn’t be surprising considering Striker’s deep knowledge of the history of, well, everything. He can tell multiple stories in an ice cold, thrown together match between two guys you’ve never heard of, instantly drawing you into the action.
2. Don Callis
The line about Tony Schiavone’s comeback was in jest, but you could actually argue that Don Callis has had the greatest comeback in wrasslin’ history. Completely off the radar for well over a decade, the former Cyrus launched a podcast with Lance Storm that evolved into the English color commentary position in New Japan. And then somehow, Callis and Scott D’Amore became vice presidents of Impact Wrestling in 2017. Putting the best color guy in the biz on your own show was a no brainer, and Callis has done a tremendous job elevating talent and busting Disco Inferno’s balls.
1. Mauro Ranallo
Mamma Mia!
Mauro Ranallo is a polarizing figure; some people think he’s constantly screaming and forcing unrelated pop culture references and others are grateful to have a passionate human being on a WWE broadcast rather than just another robot. Unless you follow MMA or boxing on Showtime, you probably never heard of the Bipolar Rock ‘N’ Roller until he joined SmackDown in 2016. Instantly a breath of fresh air, Ranallo actually called the names of the moves. Of course, that didn’t gel with Vince McMahon’s model of “storytelling,” and more broadcast partners were added to drown out the metaphors.
After a mental breakdown in the spring of 2017, Ranallo and WWE agreed to mutually part ways, but he later re-signed in June to become the lead commentator for NXT. It’s been a plum position – he’s away from Vinnie Mac and allowed to be himself, blaring through your TV as he hypes up the future stars of the industry.
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