Matte
"Family Man" 
Posts 4481
Registered 12-16-2008 Member Is Offline Mood: #HEEL
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 07:05 AM |
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Todd Grisham leaving WWE for ESPN
Announced on NXT and tweeted by JR. Good for him, bad for us. Josh Mathews may be our only hope for the future, unless Stanford gets a shot in the
booth. Otherwise, we're left with JR, Lawler, Cole, and Booker. I doubt Striker gets another shot after marking out at the Rumble.
"I'm a professional. I know exactly what I'm doing." - Jeff Hardy
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nilesanderson
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1641
Registered 5-2-2003 Location Halifax, Nova Scotia Member Is Offline Mood: Superior
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 10:47 AM |
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What did striker do at the rumble?
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Thom
The Great One 
Posts 3661
Registered 1-14-2003 Location Amazingville Member Is Offline Mood: Awesome
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 02:42 PM |
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I would seriously mark hard for a Stanford-Matthews announce team.
"I'm actually not wearing pants, and that's how I watch NXT every single week." - CM Punk
http://www.myspace.com/bassmantar
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joerizal
Showstopper 
Posts 711
Registered 2-7-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: carnivorey
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 02:48 PM |
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Well, Grisham's departure isn't anything that'll shake up the WWE, but I feel Grisham was a wasted opportunity. I recall reading
about how he auditioned for his commentator role. He got hired because he was the only one that came prepared with wrestler stats, their football
history, etc.
He was young, creative with his lines and quips, and he knew his wrestling. For whatever reason, they couldn't stick with him for an extended
period. I don't know. Is this a branding issue? Because Grisham doesn't stand out, stature- and presentation-wise? Because he looked a
little like Joey Styles, and Vince dislikes Styles? What a waste.
Meanwhile, we have Michael F'N Cole on both primetime shows.
quote:
Otherwise, we're left with JR, Lawler, Cole, and Booker.
JR, he can commentate 'til he damn well pleases. No one can call the big matches like him. Take Cole out of the Raw announce team, please.
JR's visibly pulling back to make way for Cole and his obnoxious off-putting commentary.
As for Lawler, I don't know who said it before but I think he nailed it when he said, "I've never seen anybody who spoke so much yet
offered so little".
As for Booker, alls i gots to say is, "WHUT THE HAIL?!"
quote:
What did striker do at the rumble?
I think Matte was referring to the incident where Matt Striker went overboard with his commentary antics during the actual RR. When Booker T came out
as a surprise entry, Striker actually said, "I'm marking out, bro!", but I didn't know management took that against him. Why, too IWC-y?
my av is a burger.
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JMD
Fella
Posts 448
Registered 6-25-2006 Member Is OnlineMood:
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 03:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Matte
Josh Mathews may be our only hope for the future, unless Stanford gets a shot in the booth. Otherwise, we're left with JR, Lawler, Cole, and
Booker.
I have hopes that Regal will eventually move over to one of the big shows as a commentator, but beyond that you're right - it looks pretty
bad.
Still, Raw with JR and Lawler and Smackdown with Cole/Matthews/Regal would be at least tolerable.
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C.MontgomeryPunk
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1700
Registered 1-6-2010 Member Is OnlineMood: ButtViper-y
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 03:40 PM |
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I read on other sites "Announcer leaving WWE" and I'm literally "Please be Cole, Please be Cole" in my mind as I click to open the link.
I don't know why the announcers can't just call matches straight, like football or baseball announcers. Hell if I had my way,
they'd be kept in the dark about the booking decisions and would just have to call matches as they were watching them.
Unfortunately we're likely stuck with Michael Cole for the next 20 years.
I remember Eddie Guerrero.
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joerizal
Showstopper
Posts 711
Registered 2-7-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: carnivorey
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 03:54 PM |
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Here's a question.
You know how people say, "when you don't what's on TV, turn it off or switch the channel"? How about if I still enjoy the product most
of the time, but can't stand the commentary, specifically Michael Cole's commentary?
And I can't put it on mute all the time. Particularly for the big matches, I really can't appreciate the overall product/vibe without the
audio (crowd reaction, JR-style big-match commentary, bodies hitting the canvas/table/floor, chairshots, etc). What does one do then?
my av is a burger.
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happy_buddha
Fella 
Posts 324
Registered 7-18-2005 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 04:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by C.MontgomeryPunk
I read on other sites "Announcer leaving WWE" and I'm literally "Please be Cole, Please be Cole" in my mind as I click to open the link.
I don't know why the announcers can't just call matches straight, like football or baseball announcers. Hell if I had my way,
they'd be kept in the dark about the booking decisions and would just have to call matches as they were watching them.
Unfortunately we're likely stuck with Michael Cole for the next 20 years.
You can't be out of the loop because sometimes, shit is over booked and you have to be the one to sell the story. Plus, knowing the finish means
you can help build to it by pointing out ther psychology that leads to it.
Trust me, it's better this way.
And Cole sucks.
What do Sherri Martel and George Clooney have in common?
They both got screwed by Stacy Keibler.
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Thom
The Great One
Posts 3661
Registered 1-14-2003 Location Amazingville Member Is Offline Mood: Awesome
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 04:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by happy_buddha
Plus, knowing the finish means you can help build to it by pointing out ther psychology that leads to it.
That's what the color commentator is for.
"I'm actually not wearing pants, and that's how I watch NXT every single week." - CM Punk
http://www.myspace.com/bassmantar
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JB KING
 
Posts 794
Registered 12-4-2009 Location Oxnard, CA Member Is Offline Mood: Jamming
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 05:29 PM |
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Damn shame, I always saw Todd as the future play by play strait man ala JR or Gorilla Monsoon. Back from when he did Sunday Night Heat all the way up
to ECW and Smackdown. In case some people need a refresher Todd and Striker were Slammy winners and for 2 years considered the most solid commentary
team in the WWE. Todd would be play by play and Striker played his role as do most color commentators, personal insight from experience as well as his
own personal flair or spin on things. In this case, Striker would lean toward the "fan" side of things like Joe Rogen would, and by that I mean
trying to call moves and strategy professionally, then lose it and mark the fuck out whenever something big happened.
When I found out Todd and Matt were going to be the team to be on Smackdown I thought it was great move. Todd already had some good experience working
Raw shows part time and getting comfortable on camera. Striker was becoming a "Heenan esqe" commentator with jokes as well as intellect on camera in
ECW and eventually NXT. But for some reason, creative found Todd too mundane for the big stage and replaced him with a freshly heel turned Michael
Cole. Todd was replaced leaving Matt Striker to counter whine and complain with Cole instead of calling matches and having a good time. Eventually,
Matt would become so fed up with Cole and by this point Jerry Lawler(who has serious beef with him. Apperently Lawler hates the idea of being
eventually replaced by him) that Striker's fun rants would go either too long, or too far.
Which comes to Matt's demotion. A lot of people feel his Royal Rumble performance is what cost him his job but I feel it ttok a turn for worse
before that. Before the Rumble you may recall Wade Barrett vs Randy Orton for the title with Cena as the ref. If Orton won (which he did) then Cena
would be fired. So what happened?
Striker: 1,2...3! CENA IS FREEEEEEEEEEEE!
Cole: Cena is fired...
Striker: Yeah well I uh but....yea
Yup, Matt Striker blew the biggest call of the night, and maybe his career. Over time Matt's mannerism were becomeing Cole-like and by the time
the Rumble came around, well you know the rest. The guy he marked out for stole his job. Now he's jobbing to Darren Young. So now we are
basically stuck with two 3 man teams. One in which old friends cant call a match because one guy is screaming the entire time leaving them to bicker
or bury each other. And one with a inexperienced commentator with a horrible catchphrase and pacing, Josh Matthews who is being belittled by Cole
(which is weird considering they made NXT pretty damn hilarious). Hopefully, the product will stop suffering from an occupation Matt and Todd excelled
well at in what all commentators should do, put the wrestlers and the match over. Not bitch and moan demolarizing the crediblity of the employees and
work place.
Good Luck Todd. You deserved better.
/rant
//thread
Two time Winner for 2010 Breakthrough Poster of the Year Award. You read that right.
XBL Gamertag: JB KING
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gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2 
Posts 6075
Registered 12-17-2002 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood: Opus Eponymous
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 05:56 PM |
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I'm just looking forward to a Sportscenter hosted by him and Coach.
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
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cardscott5
Fella
Posts 422
Registered 6-28-2007 Location wherever god takes me Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 06:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Thom
quote:
Originally posted by happy_buddha
Plus, knowing the finish means you can help build to it by pointing out ther psychology that leads to it.
That's what the color commentator is for.
"Here comes Hulk Hogan!"
"He's the third man!"
Announcers should know the finish.
Visit my site: www.BearcatsBlog.com. Pretend to care.
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mooseheadjack
Posts 9717
Registered 5-13-2002 Location Making a list..... Member Is Offline Mood: naughty? nice?
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 11:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by joerizal
JR, he can commentate 'til he damn well pleases. No one can call the big matches like him.
There was a time when this was true, but not anymore. JR can't keep up with the action in the ring anymore, he gets wrestlers names wrong, he
gets the moves wrong, and there are times when he just seems lost. JR used to be the best in the business hands down, but those days are gone. I
don't understand why they brought him back, Cole has his faults for sure, but when he wants, he can call the action in the ring. King can too,
even though he seems more interested in playing Cole's role these days. Just retire JR once and for all and be done with it
- The History of the OOWF: Archives at: www.oowfwrestling.com
- And Moose, seriously, shut the fuck up. - DSop
- Fuck you Moose. The worst part about it is that you are right. I fucking hate when you're right. - Metallikid
- 2008 World Series Champions Philadelphia Phillies
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TommyD420
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1655
Registered 12-30-2005 Location Worcester, MA Member Is Offline Mood: Smurfy
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| posted on 8-24-2011 at 11:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by C.MontgomeryPunk
I read on other sites "Announcer leaving WWE" and I'm literally "Please be JR, Please be JR" in my mind as I click to open the
link.
I guess we're both disappointed.
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BC
Man of a Thousand Holds
Posts 1682
Registered 3-30-2002 Location on the Silver Covered Road Member Is Offline Mood: Offensive
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| posted on 8-25-2011 at 01:09 AM |
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Grisham has been moonlighting with Fox Soccer Channel for a while, doing the preshows for MLS matches. This is probably why ESPN is interested in
him. ESPN is head hunting from all of Fox Sports recently and signed Max Brettos from FSC a couple of months ago.
Dan Wheldon (June 22, 1978-October 16, 2011)
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TheGuest
Creepy Little Bastard
Posts 97
Registered 7-10-2009 Member Is Offline Mood: Guest-y
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| posted on 8-25-2011 at 12:41 PM |
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I did find this pretty unsettling. I think Grisham was just fine, even when he was a co-play-by-play with JR, but it seemed like Vince had it in for
him since the beginning. There was a video a couple years ago on WWE.com with Vince and Grisham speaking together, and Vince decided to take the
opportunity to criticize his speaking demeanor in front of the camera. Work or not, it was a pretty useful burial for a guy who replaced Mike
Adamle on ECW. I was annoyed when they replaced him with Matthews, who just seemed so much more inferior, but Matthews showed he could hold his
own when he was solo a couple times at the announce table a few months back.
quote:
Originally posted by mooseheadjack
There was a time when this was true, but not anymore. JR can't keep up with the action in the ring anymore, he gets wrestlers names wrong, he
gets the moves wrong, and there are times when he just seems lost.
There are, of course, times when he's stumbled as of late, but once he gets in his niche, there's no one that can hold a candle to him.
Stumbles or not, he's still SO much better than the increasingly intolerable Cole. The "wrestler names and moves" he got wrong, were the
majority a product of the Hardy's nonsense, and that was when he was calling SmackDown. Sure, he got Matt and Jeff confused, which sounds more
embarrassing because he's the one that signed them to the WWF. The other problem was the Hardy's insistence on making up a ridiculous
amount of finishing/signature moves and giving names to EACH of them.
But here's the thing, HHH said JR was brought back because that's what the fans wanted. There are certain things that fans hold on a
pedestal. JR as the play-by-play is one of them. And like I said, it's much better than what we have now with the screaming and ranting Cole,
who comes off as so much more abrasive because he's been a douchebag in real life. King, who quotes quips and PG-rated insults from 1950. And
Booker. "This is one heck of a match right here!" "That boy looks like he's in trouble right there!" "He better get his head back in the
game right now!" I think if Booker could just stop adding the "right (word)" and other variations of that, he'd be a lot better.
[Edited on 8-25-2011 by TheGuest]
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denverpunk
Showstopper 
Posts 969
Registered 6-27-2007 Location Mile-Hi Member Is Offline Mood: Stoked
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| posted on 8-25-2011 at 03:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TheGuest
I did find this pretty unsettling. I think Grisham was just fine, even when he was a co-play-by-play with JR, but it seemed like Vince had it in for
him since the beginning. There was a video a couple years ago on WWE.com with Vince and Grisham speaking together, and Vince decided to take the
opportunity to criticize his speaking demeanor in front of the camera. Work or not, it was a pretty useful burial for a guy who replaced Mike
Adamle on ECW. I was annoyed when they replaced him with Matthews, who just seemed so much more inferior, but Matthews showed he could hold his
own when he was solo a couple times at the announce table a few months back.
[Edited on 8-25-2011 by TheGuest]
Yeah, that's pretty uncool, but then it's probably best that Grisham left and got away from that snakepit. What more could he have done
there? WWE wasn't going to take Cole's spot away, and the only thing they had there for him was the worthless backstage role that Funaki
(and now Striker) had.
And honestly, Grisham got off pretty easy. He never had to deal with the ritual humiliation that Coach and JR always had to endure, and he basically
got to leave on his own terms. Good for him.
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mooseheadjack
Posts 9717
Registered 5-13-2002 Location Making a list..... Member Is Offline Mood: naughty? nice?
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| posted on 8-25-2011 at 11:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TheGuest
But here's the thing, HHH said JR was brought back because that's what the fans wanted. There are certain things that fans hold on a
pedestal. JR as the play-by-play is one of them. And like I said, it's much better than what we have now with the screaming and ranting Cole,
who comes off as so much more abrasive because he's been a douchebag in real life. King, who quotes quips and PG-rated insults from 1950. And
Booker. "This is one heck of a match right here!" "That boy looks like he's in trouble right there!" "He better get his head back in the
game right now!" I think if Booker could just stop adding the "right (word)" and other variations of that, he'd be a lot better.
I applaud the WWE for listening to the fans (if that is true at all) but I think this might have been one of those cases where it was best to continue
ignoring the fans. JR really doesn't add a thing to the announce team. In fact, and I know this is not popular at all, even with his screaming
and being a general douche, Cole is the best announcer the WWE has right now. Lawler is just terrible, I don't know if he is even capable of
actually calling a match anymore, all he seems concerned about is making lame jokes and belittling Cole. As I have said before, I don't think
JR adds a thing, and what little I have heard of Booker has just been terrible. I am not saying Cole is great, I am just saying it appears that he is
the best they currently have
- The History of the OOWF: Archives at: www.oowfwrestling.com
- And Moose, seriously, shut the fuck up. - DSop
- Fuck you Moose. The worst part about it is that you are right. I fucking hate when you're right. - Metallikid
- 2008 World Series Champions Philadelphia Phillies
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Flash
Man of a Thousand Holds
Posts 1016
Registered 4-22-2005 Location Brantford, Ontario Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-25-2011 at 11:52 PM |
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I think we've all seen Cole actually be competent, and even in some cases good at his job, but by and large he's just too out there in
terms of pulling away from the matches, getting caught up in putting himself over or playing "gotcha" with other announcers flubs.
The problem I have is that I don't know if Cole is just overly embracing Vince's style and directions in his ear phones, or if this is
what Cole thinks is what a good play by play man should be doing. I'm hoping with the return of JR and the WWE trying to make the product a bit
more user friendly we'll see a bit more focus returned to the announcers just putting over the product instead of everything else... time will
tell.
I don't hate Booker, but he does come across as very lost, and to an extent I wonder if that's again a Vince thing (as I'm sure he
no doubt hears Vince telling Cole to rip apart his comments in his own headset), and he maybe is either unequipped to fight back and be relevant, or
he just kinda caves because its Vince (?). I also think he's still suffering from being a recently retired guy who's still trying to find
his relevance and place in the product where he adds to it instead of trying to make himself look good.
I think Grisham could have been a solid hand at the announce desk and am sad to see him leave, but the good news is that I think we have some very
good "prospects" waiting in the wings like Scott Sanford, and William Regal, the bad news is that so long as Vince is running things they may move
on to other things (Sanford expecially as I believe he does some local news?) while they get sick of waiting for their spot.
I stopped watching wrestling for a couple of years and I remember how much I used to hate Lawler as he constantly went on about Puppies and so forth,
but when I came back I found he had gotten better and more focused... During his feud with Cole it was almost like he made an effort to be the serious
and focused guy because Cole was the self promoter... that has not been the case in the last few weeks as I see him sliding back into being a
distraction.
I like JR being back, and I could live with a more focused Cole (limited to one show), but I think the announce team could use a bit of a shake up, so
I'd maybe look to parting ways with Lawler... Maybe Cole on play by play, JR to add the history and maybe a bit of breakdown/insight, and Regal
to add some colour commentary.
... actually weird thought, but I wonder how it would go over for them to take an actual sports like approach to commentary with maybe some post match
breakdowns... it would help educate new fans, and maybe add a bit of post match psychology that could help with future feuds...?
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theflammablemanimal
The Man
Posts 5000
Registered 9-2-2008 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-26-2011 at 12:10 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by C.MontgomeryPunk
I read on other sites "Announcer leaving WWE" and I'm literally "Please be Cole, Please be Cole" in my mind as I click to open the link.
I don't know why the announcers can't just call matches straight, like football or baseball announcers. Hell if I had my way,
they'd be kept in the dark about the booking decisions and would just have to call matches as they were watching them.
Unfortunately we're likely stuck with Michael Cole for the next 20 years.
Don't you listen to Cole? If you call the match, you're just telling people what they're seeing. It's like they're
announcing for the radio, JR, the radio!
I don't think JR has made as many botches as he used to, and so what if he does? Even Booker, a wrestler, constantly miscalls moves. I think he
even called a spinebuster a powerbombs or something, and Matthews consistently calls Zeke's bodyslams "powerslams." We're lucky JR even
bothers trying to say what's happening.
The first undisputed OO draft champion of the world
Get the pistons pumping and let the pigeons loose on my yambag
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The doughboy
Fella
Posts 398
Registered 2-19-2004 Location Mtl Canada Member Is OnlineMood: Born Ready
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| posted on 8-29-2011 at 02:49 PM |
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Maybe he will reunite with former wwe announcer and Stooge wanna Jonathan "The Coach"
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Biff_Manly
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1048
Registered 6-16-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: Ridiculous
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| posted on 8-29-2011 at 07:29 PM |
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You can always learn Spanish and listen to the SAP. I'm pretty sure it's standard on most TV's and you can answer the age old
question, do the Spanish speaking guys call it the Spanish Announce Table or just the Announce Table?
"Walter: I can solve everything by making this gramophone have sex with time."
--SCSA's Fringe on Ice Holiday Spectacular.
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