Commentator Mount Rushmore

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we each present our Commentator Mount Rushmore.

Chad Gelfand’s Commentator Mount Rushmore

Jim Ross

J.R. is the voice of wrestling if you’re of a certain age. There are so many legendary Jim Ross calls that any wrestling fan can recite from memory. One that’s oddly stuck with me: “Learn to fall? Learn to fall my ass. How do you learn to fall off a 20 foot ladder?” WWE used to always play that call on the “Don’t try this at home” commercials.

Mike Tenay

From about 2006-2009, I probably favored TNA over WWE, and always thought Mike Tenay was a great commentator. He was knowledgeable and genuinely enthused about the matches he was calling.

Taz

Taz is the voice of SmackDown and always will be. “Welp, here comes the pain!” was the perfect call for Brock Lesnar. Also, the way Taz broke down why certain moves were being done and the technique involved separated him from the pack.

Don West

Perhaps a controversial addition, but I loved Don West’s enthusiasm and energy for anything that happened in a TNA ring. His style meshed perfectly with the fast-paced action of the X-Division; he made every big move sound more spectacular.

Steven Jackson’s Commentator Mount Rushmore

Mike Tenay

The Professor of Professional Wrestling and lead announcer of TNA, Mike Tenay’s commentary lit up the airwaves during the late 1990s and 2000s. Knowledgeable, professional and enthusiastic, Tenay has called some of the best matches of all time, as well as helped to call my favorite PPV: When Worlds Collide!

Nigel McGuinness

When former Ring of Honor Pure and World Champion Nigel McGuinness’ in-ring career was cut short due to injuries, it was a sad day for pro wrestling. However, when Nigel returned to Ring of Honor in mid-2011 to sit alongside Kevin Kelly on commentary, a new star was born! All Ring of Honor fans know how talented Nigel is on the mic, but hearing his insight added a whole new dimension to the action. Nigel’s emotion (especially during Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin from Showdown in the Sun Night 2 in 2012) plays a vital role, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Bill Mercer

The voice of World Class Championship Wrestling, Bill Mercer’s background as a traditional sportscaster helped make his commentary more special. Incredibly influential, Mercer called some of the most important matches in Texas wrestling history. I urge fans and upcoming talents to listen and learn from Mercer.

Jim Ross

When you think of pro wrestling commentators, you think of Jim Ross. Good, ol’ J.R. has called more big match moments and contests than anyone in the history of the industry. Literally the voice of professional wrestling, his commentary elevates every match and his natural ability to call the action is a thing of beauty.

John Corrigan’s Commentator Mount Rushmore

Jim Ross

Despite being fired and put on the backburner numerous times, good, ol’ J.R. overcame all health and political obstacles to become the greatest commentator in the history of pro wrestling – his southern drawl synonymous with Monday Night Raw. He and Lawler laid the soundtrack for the Attitude Era, a magical partnership that has yet to be duplicated. Ross ushered in a level of legitimate sport to the entertainment spectacle, perfectly capturing the motives and emotions of complicated characters and translating them to the viewing audience.

Gordon Solie

If you didn’t grow up during the Attitude Era, Gordon Solie is still revered as the GOAT. His iconic voice, fueled by smoking and vodka, commanded attention. Calling the action like a sport rather than goofy theater with his signature “suplay” and “So long from the Sunshine State,” Solie brought class and respect to pro wrestling.

Gorilla Monsoon

Listening to Gorilla Monsoon feels like sitting on your grandpa’s lap as he recounts his war stories. Supporting the heroes of the Rock N Wrestling Connection, yet never shy when it came to criticism, Monsoon ran a tight ship. His banter with both Jesse Ventura and Bobby Heenan is a highlight of WWE’s golden era.

Jesse Ventura

Nobody does color commentary better than The Body. Hilarious, argumentative and unwavering, Jesse Ventura always added to the action. He could even tell a story within a story, questioning the referee’s officiating, his broadcast partner’s bias or one of the participant’s psychology. His credibility was so secure that if he deemed someone worthy of compliment, you knew that wrestler was the real deal.

Juan Bautista’s Commentator Mount Rushmore

Tony Schiavone

Tony is timeless – he hasn’t missed a beat. Whether you were a fan of his in WCW or enjoying his work in AEW, he’s great.

Joey Styles

In this current age of multiple talking heads, it is a lost art of calling PPVs by yourself or even being the voice of a company. Joey Styles held his own as the voice of ECW.

Jim Ross

The greatest commentator of all time.

Gorilla Monsoon

When you listen to an old WWF broadcast, you look forward to hearing Gorilla Monsoon. No matter who he worked with, his charm was irresistible.

Jack Goodwillie’s Commentator Mount Rushmore

Jim Ross

The greatest of all time with apologies to each of the other names on this list, but it’s not that close. J.R.’s announcing almost transcends pro wrestling. I know this because just a couple weeks ago, a buddy of mine, who does not watch wrestling, tagged me in ESPN recognizing J.R.’s call on the Mankind-Undertaker Hell in a Cell, and asked me if this was his most iconic call ever. I replied by saying, he’s got dozens, with one of my favorites being the time JR cursed Triple H to hell for betraying Steve Austin. Ross made (and still makes) trivial moments seem big and makes big moments seem magnanimous, and “gets” this profession in a way few people do. And the people love him for it. That’s what makes him good, ol’ J.R., along with the cowboy hat, which I dare say was a genius decision.

Gordon Solie

Wrestling commentary during the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s was very strong, and you can’t really go wrong with naming any of the main guys from that era. I prefer Lance Russell to Gordon Solie, but I’m giving Solie this spot because of how influential he was. Even modern announcers give Solie props for his product knowledge and distinguished voice. His name inspired Solie.org, a treasure trove of classic wrestling interviews, articles and information and when Turner briefly outsourced its wrestling content to the WWF pre-Monday Night War, there’s a reason people called the network and demanded they get their “Gordon Solie-wrestling back.”

Gorilla Monsoon

I toiled between Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan for this spot, but Monsoon’s longevity in the booth gives him an edge, whereas Heenan arguably did his best work as a manager. Monsoon is one of the first former wrestlers to not only transition into commentary, but become even more notable and recognizable because of it. He also had an ability to feature in a play-by-play or color commentary capacity. Plus, the stories about him are legendary and his voice is as distinguishable as any, and that’s a commonality everybody on this list has. Each brought a sense of originality to their job, and there was perhaps no more of an original commentator than Gorilla.

Vince McMahon

It’s important to remember the great Vince McMahon got his start in wrestling as an announcer, and even as he transitioned into an ownership role with the WWF, he still kept his thumb on the announcers and stayed on as a regular in the booth up until the end of 1997. In his best days, he was a marketing genius, and it came through in his announcing, too, branding popular wrestlers and oozing enthusiasm at every turn, even when it seemed over the top. Nowadays, he’s seen as an out-of-touch micromanager, but don’t let that distract you from just how influential his work and style is on modern announcing, for better or worse.