TWJT
Superstar
Joined on: Aug 7, 2021 19:07:25 GMT -5
Posts: 539
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Post by TWJT on Dec 12, 2021 4:29:15 GMT -5
In the 19 years or so I’ve been a member of pro wrestling message boards, I’d have to say Michael Cole has continuously received more flack than deserved. Not from everyone, but from too many.
I’ve personally always liked him. I think my favorite run of his was the ‘03-‘08 era stuff with Tazz, but even his years on RAW were really good. I think we could’ve gone without his heel run, but it happened and can’t be erased. JR just put out a really good podcast praising him for his hard work and dedication, and I think he is truly the voice of Smackdown, considering he did the earliest episodes of the show all the way back in ‘99 (one early one was even with Cornette if I’m not mistaken, either the pilot in the spring or episode one in August), and is still around today. His stuff with McAfee now is also really good.
So anyway, I ask…has the Internet come around to Michael Cole?
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Post by ¡Twist Of Cinnamon! on Dec 12, 2021 4:41:18 GMT -5
Coles been awesome for years. His work with Taz was obviously his best but him and Pat come in just behind.
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Post by Evil Abed on Dec 12, 2021 5:13:05 GMT -5
He was at his best with Tazz during the golden days of Smackdown. You can tell having Pat McAfee on SD has def reinvigorated him a bit. I think some of his flack has to do with WWE again being tryhards to promote him as "The Voice of WWE". Most people still watching full time grew up with JR and of course Cole was going to be villafied for it.
I think his time to hang it up or run backstage duties full time is coming though. Him and JR both you can tell have a hard time calling matches the last few years, blown calls, misnamed moves, etc... Its not something to get totally bent out of shape about but watching that fantastic Mania match between Sasha and Bianca to end with a blown kickout call was killer in the moment.
Overall though you gotta give the guy credit, I don't know anyone who's had a long of a continuous run as he's had at commentary, having to put up with headset shouting for 25+ years, and surviving the revolving door of announcers these days.
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JP
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
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Post by JP on Dec 12, 2021 5:32:01 GMT -5
I preferred him and Tazz over JR & King as a kid, and honestly, I think I still do.
Cole is great when he's just a commentator. I hated, and I mean HATED that stupid ass heel run in 2011/2012.
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Post by McBlake on Dec 12, 2021 9:01:30 GMT -5
He and McAfee are unironically my favourite main roster commentary team since the Attitude Era. They bring the best out of each other.
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Post by Scott! on Dec 12, 2021 9:28:44 GMT -5
I much preferred listening to him and Tazz calling matches in the RA era rather than King and JR. I love JR, but I hated Jerry Lawler when I was younger. The chemistry he and Tazz had made watching Smackdown even better as it was called so well, and the thing is they weren't constantly involved in storylines, they were strictly commentators.
His heel run in 2011/12 sucked. It flat out sucked. I guess it's one of those "we tried", but it didn't work and I think it put a lot of people off of him which is a shame.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on Dec 12, 2021 9:43:32 GMT -5
The hate Cole has received over the years is totally undeserved and I have always found his work unappreciated.
His work in the 00's with Tazz and JBL was awesome and way better than Jr & Tazz and his current stuff with Pat is great too.
It's also nice that a voice from our childhood is still calling matches.
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Post by k5 on Dec 12, 2021 11:08:56 GMT -5
he’s really terrible and always has been. anyone that finds him good, I simply do not trust the opinion of one bit.
he’s that bad.
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Post by CM Tusk on Dec 12, 2021 11:44:28 GMT -5
The heel run was annoying, which I guess was the point. Outside that, the guy has always been good. People let nostalgia for JR automatically make them hate the guy. Him and Tazz were far better than Ross and Lawler.
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Post by McBlake on Dec 12, 2021 12:01:45 GMT -5
Surprised no one's mentioned the Mae Young Classic. Arguably his career highlight as a commentator.
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berealnicknaro
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Dec 16, 2018 10:48:10 GMT -5
Posts: 258
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Post by berealnicknaro on Dec 12, 2021 12:09:54 GMT -5
I don’t understand what people are considering “good”? His actual voice is fine. His storytelling ability is okay. As a guy who is supposed to be play by play and know what moves are called, he’s terrible. That’s what I hate about him the most. He’s never cared to learn anything beyond a DDT or suplex in twenty years.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Dec 12, 2021 12:51:50 GMT -5
I wasn't a fan of his in late 1998 early 1999 when he was doing Raw because Jim Ross was off. And I didn't care for his heel run in 2011. But besides those two parts of his career, I liked Michael Cole.
His commentary right now on Smackdown is the best he's ever done. Him and Pat make a great team. Better than Cole and Graves were on there.
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Post by J'Dinkalage Morgoone on Dec 12, 2021 13:06:22 GMT -5
cant stand him, never liked him
he says the cringiest crap
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Post by Nivro™ on Dec 12, 2021 13:30:48 GMT -5
If it wasn't for Mike Adamle & that Arden guy, Cole would go down as the worst play by play man in WWE for the last 30 years.
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Post by Triple S: POOR on Dec 12, 2021 15:35:57 GMT -5
Surprised no one's mentioned the Mae Young Classic. Arguably his career highlight as a commentator. Disagree. I’d say that was the UK Tournament. |
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Post by McBlake on Dec 12, 2021 15:37:05 GMT -5
Surprised no one's mentioned the Mae Young Classic. Arguably his career highlight as a commentator. Disagree. I’d say that was the UK Tournament. Yeah good shout, his commentary got me invested in that when I barely knew much of the competitiprs. Basically any time he's not had Vince screaming down his ear. |
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Post by TKO Propagandist on Dec 13, 2021 15:27:16 GMT -5
I was a Cole fan initially from 1999-2008 but I feel once he moved to RAW Vince truly began to have his way with him over the headset. His partnerships with Tazz & JBL (2006-2007) will always be some of the best. I also enjoy Graves Cole & Cole Pat McAfee team. Cole & Lawler though... No no no no no no no no no no. JBL helped those 2 somewhat but still bad since it was 3 babyfaces.
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Ohtimate Wahriah
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Jul 1, 2008 12:35:07 GMT -5
Posts: 2,527
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Post by Ohtimate Wahriah on Dec 13, 2021 18:39:52 GMT -5
He can juggle what Vince wants like no other, but as a commentator, he’s never been my cup of tea
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Post by FLUX '97 on Dec 13, 2021 18:52:12 GMT -5
Cole's work in the UK Championship Tournament and the Mae Young Classic really made me a fan of his.
He's been miles better in the last five years than Jim Ross has been, easily.
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Post by Next Man’s Knowing Rock on Dec 13, 2021 19:53:01 GMT -5
I’ve enjoyed most of his career. The highlight for me was the 2010/11 heel phase, supporting Miz and trashing season three of NXT. I was a big fan of him and JBL on SmackDown in 2006/07, but I don’t know if it’d hold up today. Him and McAfee is my favourite commentary team in a long time, possibly ever, but that might be recency bias. He’s been on commentary on one show or another for almost 25 years now, I don’t think anybody else has had even close to that kind of tenure.
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Hogan VS Flair
