![WWE Hall of Famer JBL [Image Credit: wwe.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/a52bc-17356642539871-1920.jpg)
![WWE Hall of Famer JBL [Image Credit: wwe.com]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.625'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) wrestled for WWE for 14 years before becoming a commentator. The former WWE Champion recently gave his thoughts on why Michael Cole is the greatest wrestling announcer of all time.
Cole joined WWE in 1997 as a commentator and interviewer. The former news correspondent was named WWE's Vice President of Announcing in 2020. He also had a short run as a wrestler in 2011 and 2012 during his days as a heel announcer.
On Something to Wrestle, JBL said his former commentary partner is even better than legendary announcers Gordon Solie and Jim Ross:
"Michael to me is the GOAT [greatest of all time], and there's not a debate. Michael is the greatest of all time, period, and that's no offense at all to our good friend JR and Gordon Solie, who I did not know. JR was legendary. We're talking about great or greater. We're not talking about great and one that's not good. I put Michael Cole and Gordon Solie and Jim Ross as the top three play-by-play guys of all time. I give Michael the nod." [20:35 – 21:01]
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JBL added that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan is the greatest color commentator ever, followed by Jerry Lawler.
JBL on WWE fans' dislike of Michael Cole
In recent years, Michael Cole has become a favorite with WWE fans. However, particularly during JBL's time as a commentator, the veteran announcer used to receive negative reactions from audiences.
JBL believes fans only disliked Cole because he played a villainous character in the early 2010s:
"For one, I worked with Michael more. I know Michael better. I think Michael is a genius and I don't use that term lightly. I think Michael has helped build that company by what he's done. A lot of people conflate Michael Cole's heel run and following JR with Michael Cole, and so there was a lot of animosity toward Cole during that time because of the heel run because he did such a good job with it." [21:02 – 21:24]
According to Layfield, Cole once threatened to walk out during a heated backstage exchange with Vince McMahon after a WWE show.
Do you think Michael Cole is the greatest commentator ever? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
Please credit Something to Wrestle and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.
