Greatest Wrestling Announcer

Mr. DS · October 04, 2007, 07:43:59 PM

I was going to make this into a poll but there have been so many throughout time I figured why not just ask. I've always been a huge fan of;

I used to love his back and forth dealings with Gorilla Monsoon back in the day. Whos your favorite?

VenominOhio · October 04, 2007, 08:28:15 PM

ring announcer? probably Howard Finkel. color commentary - Bobby Heenan or Jerry Lawler.

Derf · October 04, 2007, 10:10:16 PM

Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon were definitely a winning team. When they then threw Randy Savage and Roddy Piper into the mix, they made some of the most entertaining television of the time. I like J.R. and Lawler, but I prefer Monsoon and Heenan.

HappyGilmore · October 05, 2007, 08:39:36 AM

Play by Play: Jim Ross or Joey Styles. Styles is very underrated in my opinion, and was great in ECW, when he called a whole show by himself.

Color: Jerry Lawler. Hilarious.

Announcer: Howard Finkel.

JaseSF · October 05, 2007, 11:51:47 AM

Ah, you younguns! Whadaaayaknow?! The best play by play man in wrestling history is Gordon Solie. Vince McMahon was actually pretty good at it too back in the day. Jim Ross too before he went soft and sold out to the current crappy product (when he was in the UWF and NWA). The best color commentators in history were Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Also good when mixed with Solie was Roddy Piper.

RapscallionJones · October 05, 2007, 12:02:01 PM

Quote from: HappyGilmore on October 05, 2007, 08:39:36 AM
Joey Styles. Styles is very underrated in my opinion, and was great in ECW, when he called a whole show by himself

Back around 97/98 when ECW was really coming up, I loved Joey Styles. He always seemed just a little out of place and just a little sleazy. The whole low-production values of early ECW suited him perfectly and he was the perfect face for the organization.

Also, not so much an announcer but the man on the mic: Mean Gene Okerlund was the face of the WWF going back as far as I can remember.

Scott · October 05, 2007, 05:31:52 PM

Gordon Solie was the greatest. Gordon Solie doing the play by play after match gets under way.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=bUcEEb64DpE

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=25BIVy7g0X8

HappyGilmore · October 05, 2007, 07:32:26 PM

Quote from: RapscallionJones on October 05, 2007, 12:02:01 PM
Quote from: HappyGilmore on October 05, 2007, 08:39:36 AM
Joey Styles. Styles is very underrated in my opinion, and was great in ECW, when he called a whole show by himself
Back around 97/98 when ECW was really coming up, I loved Joey Styles. He always seemed just a little out of place and just a little sleazy. The whole low-production values of early ECW suited him perfectly and he was the perfect face for the organization.

Also, not so much an announcer but the man on the mic: Mean Gene Okerlund was the face of the WWF going back as far as I can remember.

He was great. Even with Cyrus for a bit. Joel Gertner was funny, but I wouldn't place him on a 'greatest' list, though.

Mr. DS · October 06, 2007, 06:53:32 PM

For play by play Vince McMahon I always thought had a good style. He had the power to install excitement into a match with the "ONE TWO AND...NOOOOO" every time someone went for a cover.

Joey Styles had a lot of energy behind the mic which was great for old school ECW. "OH MY GOD" was a great catch phrase.

Other color greats, Jerry The King is funny but I also like Jesse The Body when he teamed with Gorilla.

As for dislikes, I never cared much for Tony Schiavone. Also Todd Pettingale (or however you spell it) I could not stand. Although Todd more or less was the "humor" guy.

AndyC · October 06, 2007, 09:28:46 PM

Always liked the chemistry between McMahon and Ventura.

As someone else said, Mean Gene wasn't necessarily a ring announcer, but as an interviewer, he was my favourite for sure. Great voice, classy image, sense of humour, and could really look hurt when the heels heaped abuse on him.

Mr. DS · October 07, 2007, 11:23:14 AM

The late Lord Alfred Hayes made Tuesday Night Titans a fun time. I always thought wrestlers/announcers with a posh side made for great entertainment.

HappyGilmore · October 07, 2007, 07:19:49 PM

Quote from: AndyC on October 06, 2007, 09:28:46 PM
Always liked the chemistry between McMahon and Ventura.

As someone else said, Mean Gene wasn't necessarily a ring announcer, but as an interviewer, he was my favourite for sure. Great voice, classy image, sense of humour, and could really look hurt when the heels heaped abuse on him.

Loved his version of "Tutti Frutti" on the Wrestling Album

Xenorama · October 11, 2007, 04:26:14 PM

no question, Gordon Solie is the dean of calling a match. you could close your eyes and know exactly what was going on when he called it. i also like Lance Russell.

Jim Ross was always just adequate to me, even back in the Mid-South days.

David

Scott · October 11, 2007, 05:28:39 PM

So true Xenorama. Gordon Solie really brought you into what was happening.

ToyMan · November 01, 2007, 11:05:31 AM

today, joey styles and dave prazak (roh, iwa midwest) are two of the best.