What’s the story?
Animosity in professional wrestling is not at all uncommon. However, It may be a little less common when it comes to the relationship between the commentary team.
Unfortunately, it seems like some things that JBL has said to Mauro Ranallo may be the cause for his current absence from the company, as reported by the most recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
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In case you didn’t know...
Mauro Ranallo has been the play-by-play announcer for SmackDown LIVE since January 2016, when he took over those duties as the show premiered on the USA Network. JBL became Mauro’s co-commentator after the WWE Draft of 2016.
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Since JBL moved to the SmackDown announce team, he has been notorious for getting on Mauro’s case in regards to his pop culture references and activity on Twitter.
Mauro Ranallo has missed the last three weeks of SmackDown LIVE and 205 LIVE. It was revealed in a previous edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason for Mauro’s absence is because he is currently battling a bout of depression.
The heart of the matter
According to the latest edition of the Newsletter, Mauro’s current bout with depression may be due – in part – to JBL constantly berating Ranallo. The situation between the two commentators escalated shortly after Mauro tweeted about winning the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Announcer of the Year Award.
Rumours suggest that Mauro’s tweet about the award bothered JBL, who brought that particular situation up on an episode of “Bring it to the Table.” Dave Meltzer also believes that JBL said something about it to Mauro privately.
Also read: Mauro Ranallo hints at missing WrestleMania
Fans thought the comment from “Bring it to the Table,” was just JBL keeping up with his character’s tendencies. However, that was apparently not the case, and that segment may have contributed to Mauro’s current bout of depression.
Meltzer also indicated that this puts WWE in a sticky situation when Mauro returns to WWE, as JBL treating Mauro the same way could lead to another bout of depression. Bas Rutten – who is a good friend and podcast co-host with Mauro – has mentioned JBL on social media.
It is believed that JBL’s comments about Mauro have hit a very sensitive nerve in this situation.
What’s next?
A return date is not set for Mauro Ranallo as of this moment.
Author’s Take
WWE needs to get a handle on the culture of their performers mistreating one another. Not everybody deals with the same mental health issues that Mauro is going through at the moment, but it’s just common courtesy to treat others as you would like to be treated.
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