Fans of Smackdown announcer Mauro Ranallo will want to pay close attention to the Kick Off show for Wrestlemania this year. Mauro confirmed today on twitter that he will be calling the action, which will be aired on the USA Network as well as the WWE Network this year. The tweet is below:
WWE SmackDown announcer Mauro Ranallo just landed a new gig as the co-host of AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” series. He’ll be replacing broadcaster Kenny Rice starting March 25th.
“I’m blessed to be doing WWE on a weekly basis, and I’ve got Showtime Championship Boxing and Glory Kickboxing, so all that was missing from my combat sports palate was a regular gig covering mixed martial arts,” Ranallo told SI.com. “I’m ready to put another piece of food on this plate that some people say might already be full, but I’m at my best when I’m working.”
“This was an opportunity to get back into the sport with one of my favorite broadcast partners, and really one of my best friends in the world, with Bas Rutten,” says Ranallo. “It’s not going to be an easy task replacing Kenny Rice, but the chance to do a show with the reputation and quality of ‘Inside MMA’ makes sense for all of us.”
“For me, being a part of the halcyon days of Pride Fighting Championships and then watching the explosion of the UFC following the Ultimate Fighter, I’ve been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time,” says Ranallo. “So to be teamed up again with a guy like Bas, and with the quality and talented staff at ‘Inside MMA,’ I really think this is just like coming home again.”
Prior to joining WWE, Ranallo was the lead announcer for NJPW on AXS. He was replaced by a man who previously held his current role as SmackDown’s play-by-play man, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross.
As we reported last night, Michael Cole filled in for Maruo Ranallo at this week’s SmackDown taping. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported today that Ranallo was in fact backstage at the show, and was sick with the flu.
He appeared sick enough that WWE reportedly made the decision to send Ranallo home right away. Cole is usually backstage at SmackDown anyways, so WWE had him work as play-by-play announcer, with Jerry Lawler at Bryon Saxton on color commentary.
Ranallo started as the lead announcer for SmackDown in January, when the show moved to the USA Network. He’s expected to be back at next week’s taping.
The new voice of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network, Mauro Ranallo, recently spoke with Damon Martin of FOXSports.com about his new announcing job in WWE. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On bringing his unique style of calling fights to the world of WWE:
“I’ve had to learn some of the subtleties and the nuances of the sport, but I’m not going to change my style. That’s what they wanted and I do work in boxing, kickboxing and MMA and I think one of my abilities is that I’m very emotionally invested in these sports. What these superstars and divas and fighters put their bodies through to not only achieve but to entertain. From an announcer’s standpoint, I want to be able to convey their stories and add layers to their characters.
“We all know the difference between sports entertainment and the combat sports that I call, but at the end of the day, they are all spawned from the same source and there’s a lot of mutual respect between the two bodies. From Ronda Rousey and Floyd Mayweather’s involvement in WrestleMania and of course Brock Lesnar, who has been able to conquer both WWE and UFC. So they wanted me to be Mauro Ranallo, championship boxing commentator with a WWE tweak and working with Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton, I’m in a perfect place.”
On reaction to last Thursday and working with Jerry Lawler:
“I think everyone saw last night what we want to do and everyone was pretty happy with the result. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler might be the most talented man I’ve ever worked with. He comes in, he’s cool as a cucumber and then all of a sudden as soon as the camera comes on, it was a dream. It was an absolute dream come true to spar and share the same airspace with a guy I’ve respected for a long, long time.”
On the undeniable excitement in his voice:
“I do get excited because I am excited. I would not rather be doing anything else and I know what my job is. It’s not about me. I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and not everyone is going to approve of me being in WWE, but I guarantee every Thursday on Smackdown you’re going to get the most prepared and the most passionate broadcast that I’m capable of giving you.”
WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross updated his official blog at JRsBarBQ.com with his thoughts on WWE’s approach to booking the top matches for WrestleMania 32, Mauro Ranallo’s WWE announcing debut and his own potential return to broadcasting. Below are some of the highlights.
On WWE’s booking heading into WrestleMania 32:
“Bottom Line is that WWE has the time to construct the top 3-4 main event level bouts for WM32 if they book a card that they are comfortable with and include some surprises and new faces in the mix. Fans want bold and new and I hope that WWE takes a calculated risk on some new hands and do what they can to provide the fans with what they seemingly want. Every one is a ‘booker’ these days, including me, so at times WWE, as well as other wrestling companies, are damned if they do and damned if they don’t when it comes to creative.”
On Luke Harper being someone WWE could book against The Undertaker at WM32:
“Who wrestles Taker at WM32 is a question that I’m getting a lot. First of all, I have no idea. Secondly, someone can be made ready between now and April 3 for Taker especially if the opportunity exists to put the Deadman in jeopardy. Perhaps, and this is merely one of many ideas that one can come up with, Luke Harper, with the Wyatt Family, would give the Undertaker a quality match and no matter the outcome Harper would be better because of the booking. I could see the Wyatt Family, lead by Harper , turning on Bray Wyatt, who could then get the ‘rub’ from Taker to become a long overdue, in my opinion, character baby face.”
On Mauro Ranallo’s WWE announcing debut on this week’s SmackDown:
“Enjoyed Mauro Ranallo on his first Smackdown broadcast this week and thought Jerry Lawler’s edgier presentation was a positive step for the sound of the show, too. It’s fun reading all he Twitter feedback regarding Mauro’s work and fans comparing his style to mine as if I were deceased. Mauro’s work deserves to stand on its own. He’s that good.”
On “Good Ole’ JR” possibly returning to the announcing booth:
“For the record, I’m not deceased and neither is my broadcasting career for those keeping score at home. I merely say, ‘Stay tuned.'”
– The new voice of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network, Mauro Ranallo, spoke with WWE.com for a “SmackDown Fallout” post-show interview. In the brief backstage interview, which you can view above via WWE’s official YouTube channel, Ranallo talks about it being a dream 30 years in the making to call a show for WWE.
– Speaking of announcers, the new NXT announce team of Tom Phillips and Corey Graves made their official debut at the NXT television tapings at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on Thursday night.
– Vince McMahon posted the following on Twitter on Friday morning to congratulate The Rock on winning the Favorite Cable TV Actor Award at this year’s People’s Choice Awards.
WWE will be taping this week’s edition of SmackDown on Tuesday night in Laredo, Texas for the first episode of the show to air in its’ new home on the USA Network.
WWE previously announced that John Cena would be appearing on the show and that Mauro Ranallo would take over as the new voice of SmackDown on the show, and following Monday’s WWE RAW, the following title matches are now confirmed for the show as well:
* Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
* Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Divas Championship)
– WWE posted the above video on Thursday evening featuring various WWE Superstars and Divas giving their New Year’s resolutions for 2016.
– It looks like Jerry “The King” Lawler will be remaining on the announce team when respected sports and pro wrestling announcer Mauro Ranallo joins the WWE broadcast booth in just under a week. Lawler and Ranallo posted the following on Twitter about the announce team for SmackDown on the USA Network.
– WrestlingDVDNetwork.com is reporting that the following Table Matches will be included in WWE’s new “Straight Outta Dudleyville: The Legacy of The Dudley Boyz” DVD and Blu-ray, which is scheduled to be released in April:
* The Dudleyz vs. The Hardyz, Tables Match, Royal Rumble 2000
* The Dudleyz vs. The Rock and The Undertaker, Tables Match, 9/14/2000 SmackDown
* The Dudleyz vs. Test & Albert vs. Edge & Christian, Tables Elimination Match, Rebellion 2000
* The Dudleyz vs. The Hardyz vs. Edge & Christian, TLC, WrestleMania X-Seven
* The Dudleyz vs. Rob Conway & La Resistance, Handicap Tables Match, Unforgiven 2003
“I get the sense they want to make it kind of a hybrid between Raw, the flagship show with all the storylines and great performances from our Superstars in the ring, and what’s happening in NXT. That’s really been a phenomenon, and I’m a huge proponent of that style of storytelling.
I think if SmackDown can become a hybrid of the two, we’ll have a winning formula regardless of who’s on the microphone. But since it’s going to be me, I love that it’s playing to my strengths. I think they want to set us all up to succeed.”
The whole interview is well worth reading, so check it out. It’s also worth noting that NXT head writer Ryan Ward became SmackDown’s head writer last year.
The new lead voice of WWE SmackDown, Mauro Ranallo, spoke with The Sporting News shortly after the announcement was made that he had signed with WWE. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On how he got the WWE announcing job:
“Yeah, this has been an expedited process to say the least. About a month and a half ago, maybe even less, it’s been a whirlwind, I was contacted by Michael Cole. In addition to being the voice of the WWE, he also oversees all of the on-air talent. He emailed me to gauge my interest in working for the company which I found to be flattering and very surprising that at this stage of my career. Needless to say, I said I was very interested because anyone who knows me and has followed my career knows how much sports entertainment — WWE — has been a big part of my life as a fan. Even in my combat sports commentary, the myriad of references I’ve made to my first love are very evident. After I contacted Michael Cole and talked to him in person and understood exactly what they were offering and what they wanted me to do with the company, it really took off from there.”
On if we will see his same persona in WWE:
“Fair question and I think it begins with the fact that I will be known as Mauro Ranallo on SmackDown. I understand why they want to change people’s names and want to give them their own identity but the fact that they respect my breath of work and respect what I’ve done over the last 30 years as a broadcaster already puts me in a proper mindset. I’m going to call WWE like I call everything. Yes, I’m going to be passionate. Yes, I’m going to be excited but at the same time I’m hoping to get better as a storyteller and I’m hoping to complement the people I work with who have been doing this a lot longer than I have. “
As reported on Sunday night, WWE has hired well known MMA, boxing and pro wrestling announcer Mauro Ranallo as the new lead announcer for WWE SmackDown.
On Monday, WWE issued the following press release to make the announcement official.
MAURO RANALLO JOINS WWE® AS THE NEW VOICE OF SMACKDOWN®
STAMFORD, Conn., December 14, 2015 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that veteran announcer Mauro Ranallo will be the new voice of SmackDown beginning Thursday, January 7 when the show moves to its new home on USA Network at 8 pm ET. Ranallo brings nearly 30 years of broadcasting experience, and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Championship Boxing on Showtime and former lead announcer for the Strikeforce MMA promotion.
Earlier this year, Ranallo called the international feed for the historic Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. Ranallo is the only sports broadcaster to call every major combat sport on national television, including boxing, kickboxing and MMA, as well as helping to launch New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV.
“Joining WWE has always been a lifelong dream of mine,” said Ranallo. “I am thrilled to add my voice to the SmackDown broadcasts as the show moves to its new home on USA Network.”
With more than 800 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind Monday Night Raw®. Over the past 15 years, SmackDown has been broadcast from 170 different venues, in 148 cities, in seven different countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Iraq, Japan, Italy and Mexico. Now the exclusive cable home to WWE’s flagship programs, USA Network will air SmackDown every Thursday night beginning January 7. USA also airs Monday Night Raw live 52 weeks a year.
Prior to joining Showtime, Ranallo was the voice of the Pride Fighting Championships, and spent six years in Toronto where he hosted Canada’s first TV show dedicated to MMA while also hosting a daily combat sports radio show.
Ranallo lives in Los Angeles where he is a social advocate for mental health, an avid hiker and voice artist for commercials, books and film.
As reported on Sunday night, WWE has hired well-known MMA, boxing and pro wrestling announcer Mauro Ranallo to become the new lead announcer for WWE SmackDown when the show moves to the USA Network in January.
Since the announcement has been made public, Ranallo spoke to Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole about his new gig.
“People have called me a pro wrestling announcer and I think at times they weren’t intending to be complimentary in calling me that,” Ranallo said. “But I’d always thank them for that because at the end of the day, I am a pro wrestling announcer in terms of my passion and enthusiasm and telling stories. I love to paint word pictures with the incredible warriors who step into the ring or the cage with boxing, kick boxing and even the New Japan [wrestling show] with Josh Barnett I did. … Everyone knows my quirky sense of humor, my shtick, and I can be a ham as a performer. WWE said they want me to be who I am with a little tweaking.”
While it isn’t the norm, WWE is reportedly allowing Ranallo to continue his role as the Showtime boxing and GLORY Kickboxing announcer. There is no word on who will be replacing Ranallo as the NJPW announcer on AXS TV.
Sports Illustrated’s “The Noise Report” broke tonight that Mauro Ranallo, the voice of Showtime boxing, Glory Kickboxing, and formerly NJPW on AXS TV, has been hired to be the lead SmackDown announcer when the show moves to USA Network on January 7th. He will continue to do his existing non-wrestling gigs, but he’ll be on the road for Raw, SmackDown, and pay-per-views. Ranallo sold SI that Michael Cole emailed him last month, he sent Cole his reel, Vince McMahon liked it, and they were off to the races.
“This was an opportunity I did not think I would get at this point of my career and I jumped on it,” Ranallo told SI. “I have been a lifelong fan of the product. Michael said that when Vince saw the Warren Buffet video [a John Landis-directed spoof of Buffet fighting Floyd Mayweather for a business conference], it seemed to cinch it. They believed I could sell the entertainment part.”