In the article we make no comment about the commentators' effectiveness, we merely describe what happened.
Mick McManus was useless. Spoke with a straitjacket in his mouth, afraid of giving away secrets, appallingly frightened of making it sound legit. Just a junket for Mick, I'm afraid. Left no lasting legacy at all.
I agree that Roger Couderac didn't play it serious, that was French style, and it worked. He was as essential to the success of French tv wrestling in the sixties, and was much loved as Kent ever was in the UK. We must allow for different cultures through results. Don't forget, while Kent sat quaffing his Park Lanes ringside, and ring-fenced, Roger Couderac sat elbow to elbow with the fans and conveyed the atmosphere as it was.
I believe Judo Al Hayes was an instrumental conduit in bringing commentators to great prominence in the USA. He paved the way and didn't import that from the UK, so well done Alfie. By the time I was living in New York, from 1989, the commentators had it off to a tee. I recall four of them with great affection:
- Jesse Ventura, so eloquent, a voice that seemed to gargle oil as it spoke, and who bounced entertainingly off ...
- Vince McMahon, who had good beefs with the Macho man and others.
- Mean Gene O ... (don't know how to spell it) who was the perfect interviewing foil,
- Gorilla Monsoon, hilariously addressed with respect as "Mr Gorilla", a one time in-ring heel who, paradoxically, played a very straight bat and just couldn't understand why the baddies were fouling. A là Walton, he hypnotized us into what we should think and believe.
I witnessed some very tame bouts in the USA, but the above four made the commentary rise above the ring action, or lack of it.
Then a certain Tony Schiavone arrived, and I was off.....
Gene Okerlund (for the spelling). He was a former Disc Jockey and Radio Host, so he perfected that voice, which was deep and rich, before joining the world of pro-wrestling.
Lance Russell (in Memphis) was another ex Radio and TV sports announcer, who transitioned into Wrestling commentary.
And if we are mentioned Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who was great, then we can't forget Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who was hilarious, and was part of a great 3-man partnership at ringside, with Gorilla Monsoon and Judo Al Hayes.
With Hayes using a cut-glass accent to describe the action, and Heenan (same as Jesse Ventura) never quite seeing the cheating that was going on, and cheering on the villains.
Romeo, you did ask.
Now your own comments, please?
Very harsh, Peter.
In the article we make no comment about the commentators' effectiveness, we merely describe what happened.
Mick McManus was useless. Spoke with a straitjacket in his mouth, afraid of giving away secrets, appallingly frightened of making it sound legit. Just a junket for Mick, I'm afraid. Left no lasting legacy at all.
I agree that Roger Couderac didn't play it serious, that was French style, and it worked. He was as essential to the success of French tv wrestling in the sixties, and was much loved as Kent ever was in the UK. We must allow for different cultures through results. Don't forget, while Kent sat quaffing his Park Lanes ringside, and ring-fenced, Roger Couderac sat elbow to elbow with the fans and conveyed the atmosphere as it was.
I believe Judo Al Hayes was an instrumental conduit in bringing commentators to great prominence in the USA. He paved the way and didn't import that from the UK, so well done Alfie. By the time I was living in New York, from 1989, the commentators had it off to a tee. I recall four of them with great affection:
- Jesse Ventura, so eloquent, a voice that seemed to gargle oil as it spoke, and who bounced entertainingly off ...
- Vince McMahon, who had good beefs with the Macho man and others.
- Mean Gene O ... (don't know how to spell it) who was the perfect interviewing foil,
- Gorilla Monsoon, hilariously addressed with respect as "Mr Gorilla", a one time in-ring heel who, paradoxically, played a very straight bat and just couldn't understand why the baddies were fouling. A là Walton, he hypnotized us into what we should think and believe.
I witnessed some very tame bouts in the USA, but the above four made the commentary rise above the ring action, or lack of it.
Then a certain Tony Schiavone arrived, and I was off.....
Any of our commentators were certainly better than many American and French counterparts
Hi name is also on ze list.
Peter Cockburn often stood in during the early years
No, but just copy it into a browser
He's on the list. None have escaped us!
Tony Mancelli ?
They're all here:
https://www.wrestlingheritage.com/wrestlingcommentatorsa-z