Rich Bocchini, better known as Rich Brennan in WWE NXT, recently spoke with Jay Reddick of the Orlando Sentinel. During the interview, the former NXT ring announcer talked about various topics including how the late great WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes helped him as an announcer and why some fans prefer independent wrestling over WWE. Here are the highlights:
Independent wrestling:
“I think it has to do with how nerd culture has melded with popular culture. A lot of indie wrestling is the hipster crowd that’s maybe into ‘Star Wars,’ comics and craft beer. I’m a little older, but I consider myself one of them. Every decent-sized city now has one craft brewery, if not four and people want to support the local brand, it feels like they can make it their own. That’s what indie wrestling is, it’s craft wrestling. It caters to the fan that doesn’t want the bigness of WWE and the indies are small enough that they can really listen to what people want on a more personal level.”
Dusty Rhodes helping him in NXT:
“I loved to pick Dusty’s brain on big-picture stuff. He gave me confidence. There were a lot of kids learning promos who were scared to death, but if he saw you worked hard and had passion, he would get behind you. He trusted both me and Corey Graves to do more and more and that was huge.”
Former NXT announcer Rich Brennan says he’s on a sabbatical from wrestling following his release from WWE in April.
Brennan spoke to Brian Fritz of The Sporting News about his release from the company, and says he’s still a wrestling fan at heart despite taking a break from viewing. Brennan revealed that he hasn’t watched much wrestling at all since his release, but that he still enjoys the art form “when it’s done well.”
He says he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of still working in the wrestling business and he has one potential company in his sights.
“If Ring of Honor called me tomorrow and said, “Do you want to come call a show?” Done. I’m there,” Brennan said. “I like Ring of Honor.”
Brennan also says getting to call SmackDown was a highlight of his career, although he felt more at home working on NXT. You can read his full interview here.
Following his release from WWE last month, broadcaster Rich Brennan issued a statement to Uproxx.com regarding his departure and what’s next for him. Brennan expressed his gratitude to WWE and noted that working with Dusty Rhodes was one of the highlights of his run there.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished during my run with WWE. I know I grew as a wrestling announcer, and definitely got better as an all-around play-by-announcer and TV presenter,” he said.
“I can hold my head up high knowing I worked hard, treated everyone with respect, and generally went about my business quietly behind the scenes.”
He noted that he’s excited for whatever the next chapter of his career brings, whether it’s calling hockey games or working for another wrestling company.
Rich Brennan is no longer with WWE. The former NXT and SmackDown announcer was let go this week after the company decided to not renew his contract, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet. He has since removed all references to WWE from his Twitter bio and issued this brief statement:
Brennan had been with WWE since 2014. Prior to that, he worked with Booker T’s Reality Of Wrestling promotion out of Houston and did some announcing for the Central Hockey League. Here is his final WWE interview from this week:
– In the following video from last night’s Hell In A Cell event, Rich Brennan fails to get comments from the new WWE United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, and his advocate, Zeb Colter. While Del Rio and Colter did not appear in the video below, Brennan does tease an appearance by both on tonight’s edition of WWE RAW.
– In addition to the celebrities at Hell In A Cell that we reported about last night, Dennis “Mr. Belding” Haskins and The Soska Twins were also at the show. Below is a photo.
NXT announcer Rich Brennan has been promoted to the lead announcer position for WWE SmackDown. Now that WWE Tough Enough is over, it looks like Booker T, who was on hiatus due to the show, will be headed to Thursday nights in two weeks while Byron Saxton will permanently replace him on RAW.
WWE RAW on Monday nights will be called by Michael Cole, JBL and Saxton while SmackDown will feature Brennan, Jerry Lawler and Booker T.
Booker T and Rich Brennan recently had the following exchange on social media.
Congrats to @RichBrennanWWE, enjoy the ride! #SmackDown
– NXT stars Tyler Breeze and Baron Corbin will be on the road with WWE’s main roster this weekend’s live events from
– NXT’s Rich Brennan has been promoted and is now the lead announcer of SmackDown.
– On last night’s SmackDown, Seth Rollins reacted to Sting’s surprise return on RAW and their upcoming title match at WWE Night of Champions. Rollins vows to crush Sting’s “old bones to dust.”
– There is talk that a former WWE Diva Search contestant will be hosting the new season of the show when it returns on the WWE Network. The only former contestants of the show that are still affiliated with WWE in some form or fashion are Layla, Rosa Mendes, Maryse, Michelle McCool and Eve Torres.
– With Michael Cole off of television selling the attack by Brock Lesnar at last week’s RAW, the commentary on SmackDown this week was handled by Byron Saxton, Jerry Lawler and Tom Phillips. Main Event commentary was done by Rich Brennan and JBL.
– WWE executive John Laurinaitis praised the efforts of Summer Rae and Emma on Twitter on Tuesday, putting over the match the two had in Dallas last night, which was taped for this week’s edition of WWE Main Event. Laurinaitis wrote the following:
I really enjoyed the competition ton Main Event between Emma vs Summer. #PeoplePower@WWE @EmmaWWE @RealSummerWWE if you get a chance, watch
– WWE is scheduled to release a new Ultimate Warrior DVD and Blu-ray on April 14, 2015. The project is called “Ultimate Warrior: Always Believe” and is expected to feature a new documentary.
– In the following video, NXT Diva Bayley talks with NXT announcer Rich Brennan about her recovery from a knee injury and drawing inspiration from Triple H. She also sends a message to “Team BAE’s” Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.
– As previously noted, Daniel Bryan was listed as questionable for next week’s edition of WWE RAW, which takes place in St. Louis, Missouri. It was also announced that he would not be appearing at the non-televised WWE live events in Toronto, Rockford and Peoria. It was later announced on WWE Main Event that Bryan would in fact be appearing in St. Louis for RAW next Monday night.
– The new WWE NXT announcer Rich Brennan (real name Rich Bocchini) was originally the announcer for Booker T’s “Reality Of Wrestling” promotion out of Houston, Texas. His background included announcing for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, as well as the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. He was also once the Communications Manager for Comcast Sports Houston.