#5 Mauro Ranallo has been sorely missed
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With RAW and Smackdown’s ratings leaving a lot to be desired at the moment, it was a bit of a surprise just how enjoyable this week’s episode of NXT was. It’s like the company are doing a much better job of promoting their network-only show compared with the ones that keep their TV deals intact. This week, fans were tuning into NXT in anticipation of a Last Women’s Standing Match, and the return of Mauro Ranallo.
Ranallo is better suited to NXT than Smackdown, and that really showed this week. While he is still called upon to promote other WWE Network shows during his broadcasting, being an NXT announcer allows him to concentrate on effective play-by-play commentary.
Throughout the Hideo Itami match-up, and especially during the main event, Ranallo called the action tremendously well. While not quite at the levels of a JR, Mauro is similar in that he manages to suspend your disbelief for a moment and allows you to enjoy the action for what it is. Too much of WWE’s commentary on the main roster feels as scripted and boring as many of the promos cut by the superstars. They also spend way too much time bickering among themselves and fail to actually call the action in the ring.
Mauro also has a decent team around him on NXT. While Percy Watson is nothing special, at least he doesn’t try to step on anyone’s shoes like Booker T or JBL. And Nigel McGuiness comes across as somebody who takes the business seriously and is interested in doing his job and trying to get the superstars over with the fans.
It’s a joy to have Mauro back, and it will give us all the more reason to tune into NXT every week.
