Sandbagging the Talent

WWE has a problem with their announcing team.

No, it isn't the constant shilling of the WWE app--though that is an issue all and of itself.  I think to a certain degree even they realize the unnecessary inundation of the app and have turned it into a joke.

It isn't even the awkwardness of a three man announce team, though that, too, has its moments.

The problem is their constant sandbagging of the talent.  What do I mean by that?  Put simply, it's that the announcers seem far more concerned about putting themselves over at the expense of the talent who are the actual product.

Recently, during the "Battle of Cleveland" match, all three announcers took swipes at the talent and the city.  Even Lawler only gave half-hearted defense of either one.  In essence, all three were playing the role of the heel announcer, which is idiotic.  You need at least one announcer to play the role of the fan--not even necessarily a "face" announcer, but looking at it from their perspective.  None of the three played that role during that match and this wasn't the only instance of this being the case.

When the women wrestle, the same is true--all three announcers are dismissive of the action in the ring.  If the three guys who are PAID to be there don't care about what's happening in the ring, why should I or any other fan?  The sad part of that is that I think there are actually more talented female performers available to the WWE right now than there had previously.

 I don't know whether this is under direction from Vince, HHH, Stephanie or they are left to their own devices, but it doesn't sell merchandise.  Lawler, Cole and JBL don't have t-shirts to sell.  Actually, strike that from the record--they do have t-shirts to sell, EVERYONE ELSE'S.  That and PPVs.  The wrestler in the ring is the product, they are who need to get over, not the announcers.

While Jim Ross was mocked on many occasions for his commentating style, his strength was two fold.  First and foremost, he made you believe what was happening in the ring had the impact of a world war.  You thought the future of the planet stood in the balance for staged matches, no small feat.  Secondly, he put the emphasis where it belongs--on the wrestlers in the ring, a talent the three in the booth right now are devoid of.

I know other people aren't a fan of the man, but I believe Don West had the same talent as Jim Ross.  Honestly, I felt more invested in TNA's product when he was at the announce table.  The voices behind the product matter.  Hopefully WWE can have them refocus where the emphasis should be.  I don't think any of the three are bad at their jobs (though I preferred Cole as a heel announcer) but they need to be directed in a better way.

That's my thought anyway.