Booker T On Commentary

[SantiPain]

I don't know if I am the only one that does not get to understand Booker. I don't like Cole, but out of the storylines he calls well the match, and so does Josh Mathews, but Booker?? I don't get to understand him, there must be another star todo that job better than him, and leave him as a trainer in Tough Enough.

[The New Guy]

Couldn't agree more
I just feel he doesn't even belong to the announce table. Sure the guy has charisma but it's really hard to understand what he says. He should be in the ring, he still has a couple of years left in him, he could form a tag team with R-truth
Or use him to elevate midcarders :)

[SaberToothTigerz]

yea i have trouble understanding what he says
i dont know if with the years going by he will get any better bcuz that's booker's way of speaking...it doesnt matter to anyone if what u say is bad or good if the stuff u say cant be heard properly then ur pretty much tied up

[SyrusRiddick]

Sorry just you he was fine to me anyone that can shut up cole is always fine with me but give booker some time you can't expect perfect right out the gate

[Wrestling Rant]

I was just about to write a thread for this. I cant understand a lot of what he says when hes announcing. Listening to him he seemed like he didn't even know what he was talking about, shame because I thought Booker had big potential for commentating.

Also on the topic of commentating, Michael Cole is fantastic. I love his heel character. I haven't had this much fun listening to commentary since the Cole/ JBL days. But Cole kinda downplayed his heel persona last night, except from the Miz match, which was kinda disappointing.

--Wrestling Rant

[The Brown One]

Booker isn't that bad at commentary. He seems to know his stuff better than Cole. He'l use slang often, but its not difficult to interpret, and understand.

[HeelTurn]

Give him time, hes still relatively new to this.

[SilverGhost]

I understand him. He is not that bad.

I am surprised that WWE didn't do anything with his "WHAT THE HELL?"

[Tommy Thunder]

I'll be honest, I don't find Booker that hard to understand. I'm enjoying his commentary. He's funny, charismatic and he actually calls the action, and is calling the moves by their actually names (i.e. he calls a 'nice scoop slam', or 'nice bulldog' when other commentators would just say 'nice slam').
I also want to see Booker used in the ring as much as possible, but he's not awful on commentary.

[The Sneakiness]

You think he is bad??? He speaks fine to me, I think Cole tries to talk over the top of him.

You should've heard him when MEM took over Impact one night and he was play by play commentator under the alias of Black Snow. Funny as hell but you couldn't understand him.

[Trips88]

I don't know if I am the only one that does not get to understand Booker. I don't like Cole, but out of the storylines he calls well the match, and so does Josh Mathews, but Booker?? I don't get to understand him, there must be another star todo that job better than him, and leave him as a trainer in Tough Enough.

Well I agree that having book on the mic is kinda strange. I personally wanna see him back in the ring again.
As for Cole, he CAN NOT call a match correctly to save his life. He is the worst thing to hit a WWE announce desk since Coach was on the mic. He can't get the names of the moves right and more often than not has to have Striker bail him out or cover it with some kinda babbling about how great The Miz is. (Nothing against Miz.) Point is Cole sucks at his job and needs to get the hell off the mic before I have to start watching Raw with the mute on.

[SilverGhost]

Its between Booker(for some reason, some of you can't understand him) or Cole(the tool)

Pick your poison! xD

[Iron Ape]

I don't have any problem understanding him, but I still don't think he's any good. And anyone who thinks that he's better at commentary than Cole is living in a fantasy world. People might not like the things that Cole is told to talk about, as well as his heel character, but none of that changes the fact that Cole is a natural at broadcasting. Booker, on the other hand, has a looooooooooooong way to go before he sounds like he belongs behind that table.

[The Brown One]

Its between Booker(for some reason, some of you can't understand him) or Cole(the tool)

Pick your poison! xD

I really don't know why some can't understand what hes saying. He sounds fine on the mic to me.

[Trips88]

I don't have any problem understanding him, but I still don't think he's any good. And anyone who thinks that he's better at commentary than Cole is living in a fantasy world. People might not like the things that Cole is told to talk about, as well as his heel character, but none of that changes the fact that Cole is a natural at broadcasting. Booker, on the other hand, has a looooooooooooong way to go before he sounds like he belongs behind that table.


Cole is a natural? Now by natural do you mean naturally gifted in the art of calling everything a slam and not knowing anyting about the moves AT ALL?

For the record I'm really not one of the many people out there that hates Cole because of his heel role, I'm old school hating Cole. I'm a throw back Cole hater. I've been hating Cole since the Iron Sheik first came out! Yes I know that's not actually possible, but that's just how I committed I am to wanting to kick the dog shit outta that dude.

O and for the record. Heyman was a good heal on table, old school King was a good heal on the table. Vince was alright, The Body was pretty great, the list goes on and on. Cole just plain SUCKS!

[Rick BoA]

It seems like his mic is turned way down, or he needs to talk louder. And Cole is always interrupting him. In time i think he could make a good commentator, but I wish they would have used him as a wrestler for a little bit. Maybe Booker vs Taker at Wrestlemania.

I just wish that the best color commentator of the last 10 years would come back. Im talking about JBL

[Iron Ape]

Cole is a natural? Now by natural do you mean naturally gifted in the art of calling everything a slam and not knowing anyting about the moves AT ALL?
No, but I don't define a natural in broadcasting by whether or not they know the names of specific wrestling moves. It has more to do with their effectiveness in projecting, communicating, and engaging an audience. Then again, I'm pretty familiar with most wrestling terminology, so having someone parrot what it is that I know I'm looking directly right at isn't of as much importance to me as it apparently is to others, so I'm more inclined to forgive such trivialities.

To me, a much bigger issue with Cole is how he puts over other talent. But considering that he's just saying what he's instructed to say, I can't even really hold that against him, either. The person who should be being held responsible for all of the perceived flaws with commentary at the moment is the one putting the words in the voice of the WWE's mouth.

[mosdope]

I don't understand all the complaining, I enjoy the announcing from most everyone. It's not like 1997 JR & Jerry Lawler but it's fine. Booker is still learning and he's doing well so far even though he has had a few "hiccups." Michael Cole is funny to me.

[Rich Cranium]

I can understand Book and his slang just fine, but then again, we are from the same country! The only thing I noticed is that he says "Did you see that" repetitiously after a big move, but it takes time.

[Androo]

No, but I don't define a natural in broadcasting by whether or not they know the names of specific wrestling moves. It has more to do with their effectiveness in projecting, communicating, and engaging an audience. Then again, I'm pretty familiar with most wrestling terminology, so having someone parrot what it is that I know I'm looking directly right at isn't of as much importance to me as it apparently is to others, so I'm more inclined to forgive such trivialities.

To me, a much bigger issue with Cole is how he puts over other talent. But considering that he's just saying what he's instructed to say, I can't even really hold that against him, either. The person who should be being held responsible for all of the perceived flaws with commentary at the moment is the one putting the words in the voice of the WWE's mouth.

^^^BOOM BABY!! this is it, simple as!! end.


But i love booker t, always have, always will, and im finding it really difficult to say....oh....but theres just something missing from his commentary! I dont mind him, i understand him (pretty much), i think hes entertaining, he has me laughin sometimes! But...well... he gets muddled up sometimes, says wacky things, things tht shouldnt be said, but maybe thats just down to nerves (id be nervous, stressful) especially with the big dogs listenin in and in the headsets! also everyone expected him to be something else yeh? but remember wwe would hav told him how they want it done, what to say, keep it not surreal and comedic like his King days, etc, and maybe its him struggling to get that style over, and do it like that, tapered to his own style, voice, context?!

Oh he needs time, weve heard him what 4 times? i hope he improves or manages to become well liked among the fans! hope and faith! Cmon booker, king booookaaah!!!

[Tommy Thunder]

No, but I don't define a natural in broadcasting by whether or not they know the names of specific wrestling moves. It has more to do with their effectiveness in projecting, communicating, and engaging an audience. Then again, I'm pretty familiar with most wrestling terminology, so having someone parrot what it is that I know I'm looking directly right at isn't of as much importance to me as it apparently is to others, so I'm more inclined to forgive such trivialities.

To me, a much bigger issue with Cole is how he puts over other talent. But considering that he's just saying what he's instructed to say, I can't even really hold that against him, either. The person who should be being held responsible for all of the perceived flaws with commentary at the moment is the one putting the words in the voice of the WWE's mouth.

I have to disagree with you. I agree that Cole is doing what he's told, and that he's putting over the heels. I have no problem with his heel character, and I find it enjoyable watching him drool over Miz etc. BUT, at the end of the day, he's a commentator, and a commentator's main job is to call the action. He's simply not doing that. I'm also familiar with wrestling terminology, and moves, but I still expect the commentator to call the action. It's the same in any other sport, or sports entertainment.

[Bodom]

He's entertaining as hell, but when it comes to calling the action, he sucks more than a $5 whore.

His whole schtick would make a lot more sense in the Color Commentator position. He'd be fabulous as the Color guy

[SilverGhost]

How in the hell do you confuse the Koji Clutch with the Anaconda Vice?

Why would you call Cena a "submission specialist"?

WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING "AND I QUOTE"????

[Rich Cranium]

He indeed should be color and have Striker as PXP!

[Trips88]

No, but I don't define a natural in broadcasting by whether or not they know the names of specific wrestling moves. It has more to do with their effectiveness in projecting, communicating, and engaging an audience. Then again, I'm pretty familiar with most wrestling terminology, so having someone parrot what it is that I know I'm looking directly right at isn't of as much importance to me as it apparently is to others, so I'm more inclined to forgive such trivialities.

To me, a much bigger issue with Cole is how he puts over other talent. But considering that he's just saying what he's instructed to say, I can't even really hold that against him, either. The person who should be being held responsible for all of the perceived flaws with commentary at the moment is the one putting the words in the voice of the WWE's mouth.

I'm sorry man but with all due respect I refuse to believe that the people behind the mic tell him to mix up the names of signature moves being performed by thier top talents.....then again they did give Adamley (sp?) a million chances and they still put A-Ry on t.v. so who knows lol

[Bodom]

You're bound to make a mistake when you have Vince McMahon yelling in your ear for 2 hours straight.

[Trips88]

You're bound to make a mistake when you have Vince McMahon yelling in your ear for 2 hours straight.

Idk man. I obviously can't say for sure since I've never been in the hot seat before, but I would think that having the boss in my ear would drive me to not fuck up anything.

P.S. Didn't you just back up my saying that he cannot call matches correctly just a few posts ago? lol

[Viking]

I don't really have a problem understanding booker, my big problem is that he only has one line no matter what: he's gonna do it, he's gonna do it really? really? I think as an announcer it is his job to tell me what he is going to do. even i know he is going to do it. And another thing booker has to work is his smacktalk. everytime he and cole has an argument it always seems that booker is the loser

[Viking]

I don't have a problem understanding booker, but I do believe he has a long way to go. For example his only line in a match he's gonna do it, he's gonna do it!, why? why would booker tell me he is going to do it? I allready know that. shouldn't booker rather tell me what he is going to do? Just seems like the thing an announcer should do.

[Iron Ape]

I'm sorry man but with all due respect I refuse to believe that the people behind the mic tell him to mix up the names of signature moves being performed by thier top talents.....then again they did give Adamley (sp?) a million chances and they still put A-Ry on t.v. so who knows lol
It certainly isn't someone else's fault that Cole doesn't get the name of certain moves right. I just don't think the occasional instances of it happening are quite the critical thing that the IWC like to make it out to be (in their many fits of hyperbole), especially considering that's he's always paired with someone in a position to correct whatever incidental error he may make.

What I was referring to Cole being told what to say was in regards to his burying of certain talent and championing of others.

[Iron Ape]

I have to disagree with you. I agree that Cole is doing what he's told, and that he's putting over the heels. I have no problem with his heel character, and I find it enjoyable watching him drool over Miz etc. BUT, at the end of the day, he's a commentator, and a commentator's main job is to call the action. He's simply not doing that. I'm also familiar with wrestling terminology, and moves, but I still expect the commentator to call the action. It's the same in any other sport, or sports entertainment.
This may have been true of the past, but Vince has quite obviously shifted the priorities and parameters of "the voice of the WWE" in a different action. If calling the action was what Vince was still interested in hearing, then good ol' JR would still be around. But he's not. And while I can understand why some of you may not like it, there's not a whole lot that can be done about it (other than complain, I guess).

[Trips88]

It certainly isn't someone else's fault that Cole doesn't get the name of certain moves right. I just don't think the occasional instances of it happening are quite the critical thing that the IWC like to make it out to be (in their many fits of hyperbole), especially considering that's he's always paired with someone in a position to correct whatever incidental error he may make.

What I was referring to Cole being told what to say was in regards to his burying of certain talent and championing of others.

O ok so your refering to him being told to cheer Miz and boo King? I get that he's told to do that and that's all well and good, even entertaining from time to time, but like I said before. Your not gonna see John Madden refer to a QB draw as a punt return. All I'm saying is that if it's your job to call matches than you should be able to call matches. If it's your job to be a kiss ass and draw heat for a certian wrestler than you should be a manager. Plain and simple.

[Iron Ape]

O ok so your refering to him being told to cheer Miz and boo King? I get that he's told to do that and that's all well and good, even entertaining from time to time, but like I said before. Your not gonna see John Madden refer to a QB draw as a punt return. All I'm saying is that if it's your job to call matches than you should be able to call matches. If it's your job to be a kiss ass and draw heat for a certian wrestler than you should be a manager. Plain and simple.
Unless you have a job in WWE that we're all not privy to, I don't see how it is that you can determine what it is that Cole's job now is. What you think a current WWE commentator is supposed to do, and what Vince wants his current WWE commentators to be doing are, well, quite obviously two very different concepts. Only the person dictating the parameters of the position can actually determine what Michael Cole's job is.

If Vince wants one of his commentators to now do what a managerial role used to accomplish, then that's the way it's going to be. I can totally see where you're coming from, but that's just not the way things are anymore.

[Trips88]

Unless you have a job in WWE that we're all not privy to, I don't see how it is that you can determine what it is that Cole's job now is. What you think a current WWE commentator is supposed to do, and what Vince wants his current WWE commentators to be doing are, well, quite obviously two very different concepts. Only the person dictating the parameters of the position can actually determine what Michael Cole's job is.

If Vince wants one of his commentators to now do what a managerial role used to accomplish, then that's the way it's going to be. I can totally see where you're coming from, but that's just not the way things are anymore.

But don't you still think that if he's listed as a comentator and if he sits at the desk and calls matches that he should at LEAST be able to call the match without saying the wrong thing? O and it goes past just getting the moves wrong. Last night he called it EC 2010. That's just shit you shouldn't mess up on if your "the voice of Raw"

[Iron Ape]

But don't you still think that if he's listed as a comentator and if he sits at the desk and calls matches that he should at LEAST be able to call the match without saying the wrong thing? O and it goes past just getting the moves wrong. Last night he called it EC 2010. That's just shit you shouldn't mess up on if your "the voice of Raw"
I think you, as well as most of the IWC, are being more than a bit hyperbolic. Does Cole get some things wrong? Most definitely. But everyone's commentating Lord and Savior, good ol' JR, wasn't immune to mistakes, either. Did Jim Ross make less mistakes than Michael Cole? Probably. Did the Hall of Famer know more about the technical aspects of the actual in-ring action? Absolutely. But the degree to which Cole's faults are being zeroed in on is more than a bit ridiculous. The guy isn't being given the forgiveness that other people in that same position have been afforded over the years, and it's always over the silliest, most non-essential things. God forbid he makes a mistake or two a show, as that sends all of the self-anointed keyboard artists off to the interwebs to paint a picture of him not getting a single thing right during the course of a telecast. I seriously can't help but chuckle over some of the melodramatic reactions that he garners.

"But...but...that's called a fisherman's suplex! How could he not know about the fisherman's part?!? And last week he stated the wrong year! He's totally the first person to ever flub a date on television! This guy is killing wrestling!"

[mosdope]

I think you, as well as most of the IWC, are being more than a bit hyperbolic. Does Cole get some things wrong? Most definitely. But everyone's commentating Lord and Savior, good ol' JR, wasn't immune to mistakes, either. Did Jim Ross make less mistakes than Michael Cole? Probably. Did the Hall of Famer know more about the technical aspects of the actual in-ring action? Absolutely. But the degree to which Cole's faults are being zeroed in on is more than a bit ridiculous. The guy isn't being given the forgiveness that other people in that same position have been afforded over the years, and it's always over the silliest, most non-essential things. God forbid he makes a mistake or two a show, as that sends all of the self-anointed keyboard artists off to the interwebs to paint a picture of him not getting a single thing right during the course of a telecast. I seriously can't help but chuckle over some of the melodramatic reactions that he garners.

"But...but...that's called a fisherman's suplex! How could he not know about the fisherman's part?!? And last week he stated the wrong year! He's totally the first person to ever flub a date on television! This guy is killing wrestling!"


I completely agree. As a guy who has been watching wrestling for 17 years, I honestly don't find the issue of Michael Cole making a mistake to be big. He's easily the best announcer they have.

[Trips88]

I think you, as well as most of the IWC, are being more than a bit hyperbolic. Does Cole get some things wrong? Most definitely. But everyone's commentating Lord and Savior, good ol' JR, wasn't immune to mistakes, either. Did Jim Ross make less mistakes than Michael Cole? Probably. Did the Hall of Famer know more about the technical aspects of the actual in-ring action? Absolutely. But the degree to which Cole's faults are being zeroed in on is more than a bit ridiculous. The guy isn't being given the forgiveness that other people in that same position have been afforded over the years, and it's always over the silliest, most non-essential things. God forbid he makes a mistake or two a show, as that sends all of the self-anointed keyboard artists off to the interwebs to paint a picture of him not getting a single thing right during the course of a telecast. I seriously can't help but chuckle over some of the melodramatic reactions that he garners.

"But...but...that's called a fisherman's suplex! How could he not know about the fisherman's part?!? And last week he stated the wrong year! He's totally the first person to ever flub a date on television! This guy is killing wrestling!"

Look bottom line I just think it's unprofessional. Is Cole really the worst ever? No. Do I think he could be a lot better? Hell yes I do. If I were to be some satist who took shots at him for the smallest things then I would be wrong, but.....BUT....I, along with a lot of other people feel that a guy calling the matches should know the names of the moves. It's not like he made one or two mistakes one time and never made the same mistakes again. He calls moves and signatures and finishers by the wrong name EVERY SINGLE WEEK. So much so that it's gotten the attention of the people who pay attention and actually care that the right information is being given by the person who is stated to be the guy who gives the info! It just makes him and the rest of the product look bad. If he were on color then I probably wouldn't notice because it's not the color's job to call the match so much as converse about the entertainment aspect. Like when King used to say puppies 30 times an episode and only said one or two moves. That was fine because they actually had a play by play guy that could do the play by play! O and for the record your argument that I don't know cuz I'm not in control is shaky at best, because I'm fully capable of using even the tiniest portion of my brain to figure out that the guy on the left makes the jokes and the guy on the right is supposed to call the action. CORRECTLY. To be clear if it is your wish to slip off in to senility, not giving a damn what you hear then that's fine, but there are still a lot of us out there that have a high, yet reasonable standard, that we wish the people who call the matches we watch to adhere to.

[Iron Ape]

Look bottom line I just think it's unprofessional. Is Cole really the worst ever? No. Do I think he could be a lot better? Hell yes I do. If I were to be some satist who took shots at him for the smallest things then I would be wrong, but.....BUT....I, along with a lot of other people feel that a guy calling the matches should know the names of the moves. It's not like he made one or two mistakes one time and never made the same mistakes again. He calls moves and signatures and finishers by the wrong name EVERY SINGLE WEEK. So much so that it's gotten the attention of the people who pay attention and actually care that the right information is being given by the person who is stated to be the guy who gives the info! It just makes him and the rest of the product look bad. If he were on color then I probably wouldn't notice because it's not the color's job to call the match so much as converse about the entertainment aspect. Like when King used to say puppies 30 times an episode and only said one or two moves. That was fine because they actually had a play by play guy that could do the play by play! O and for the record your argument that I don't know cuz I'm not in control is shaky at best, because I'm fully capable of using even the tiniest portion of my brain to figure out that the guy on the left makes the jokes and the guy on the right is supposed to call the action. CORRECTLY. To be clear if it is your wish to slip off in to senility, not giving a damn what you hear then that's fine, but there are still a lot of us out there that have a high, yet reasonable standard, that we wish the people who call the matches we watch to adhere to.
I was completely fine with conversing with you up until this point, but I'm not going to bother engaging you any further if you insist on devolving the discussion with completely unwarranted knocks at my intelligence (which is ironically contained in a poorly written wall of insecure condescension, no less). Insulting people, who have been nothing but polite to you, for simply not expecting a commentary position on a friggin' wrestling program to forever remain what you've come to expect is, frankly, incredibly juvenile. The whole thing is hardly an issue worth resorting to such childish behavior, and I feel kind of bad that actually you felt compelled to go down that route. Regardless, from here on, you'll have to get bent out of shape on the issue with someone else.

[Sinliner]

I was completely fine with conversing with you up until this point, but I'm not going to bother engaging you any further if you insist on devolving the discussion with completely unwarranted knocks at my intelligence (which is ironically contained in a poorly written wall of insecure condescension, no less). Insulting people, who have been nothing but polite to you, for simply not expecting a commentary position on a friggin' wrestling program to forever remain what you've come to expect is, frankly, incredibly juvenile. The whole thing is hardly an issue worth resorting to such childish behavior, and I feel kind of bad that actually you felt compelled to go down that route. Regardless, from here on, you'll have to get bent out of shape on the issue with someone else.

You lose.........

[Sinliner]

Look bottom line I just think it's unprofessional. Is Cole really the worst ever? No. Do I think he could be a lot better? Hell yes I do. If I were to be some satist who took shots at him for the smallest things then I would be wrong, but.....BUT....I, along with a lot of other people feel that a guy calling the matches should know the names of the moves. It's not like he made one or two mistakes one time and never made the same mistakes again. He calls moves and signatures and finishers by the wrong name EVERY SINGLE WEEK. So much so that it's gotten the attention of the people who pay attention and actually care that the right information is being given by the person who is stated to be the guy who gives the info! It just makes him and the rest of the product look bad. If he were on color then I probably wouldn't notice because it's not the color's job to call the match so much as converse about the entertainment aspect. Like when King used to say puppies 30 times an episode and only said one or two moves. That was fine because they actually had a play by play guy that could do the play by play! O and for the record your argument that I don't know cuz I'm not in control is shaky at best, because I'm fully capable of using even the tiniest portion of my brain to figure out that the guy on the left makes the jokes and the guy on the right is supposed to call the action. CORRECTLY. To be clear if it is your wish to slip off in to senility, not giving a damn what you hear then that's fine, but there are still a lot of us out there that have a high, yet reasonable standard, that we wish the people who call the matches we watch to adhere to.

you win.........

[Gameover]

I think booka is awesome. At the start I had difficulties to understand him, but now I can understand.

Btw, he is way better than Cole.

[SantiPain]

I think booka is awesome. At the start I had difficulties to understand him, but now I can understand.

Btw, he is way better than Cole.

But you can not compare it to Cole. Cole is a main commentator, like in Raw, Booker is like the Lawler of smackdown, that is now leaded by Cole and Mathews.

[SgtGohan]

in another note, how the heck are you gonna subtitle a live show. thats nearly impossible.

[SantiPain]

in another note, how the heck are you gonna subtitle a live show. thats nearly impossible.

I just wanted to mean that it's hard to understand him. It was a metaphore.

[dyl666]

in another note, how the heck are you gonna subtitle a live show. thats nearly impossible.



Since when is SmackDown live? :p

On-topic, I've never understood what Booker's saying :D Out of all the positions they could've given him in WWE, I find this a very strange choice. But, I guess they know what they're doing... Hopefully they plan to have him involved in a couple of feuds that could lead to matches like Lawler's doing now, that would be cool.

[ihearvoices]

Is it Me or Booker T on commentary is just Great. Seriously i enjoy him being on smacking calling the matches i find half the Stuff he say funny and the other things he say get me hyped up about the match on. Thoughts?

[Tommy Thunder]

Think there is already a thread on this, but I'll have to let a mod sort that out!!
Booker is ok on commentary. I guess he's new to that gig, but I'd rather WWE use him as a wrestler while he can still go to be honest

[The New Guy]

I hate Booker on commentary!!! I don't understand 90% of what he says. I miss Stryker btw :)

[thedag]

http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/showthread.php?4615-Subtitle-Booker-T-please............

[thedominator92]

i missed striker but booker t is good on commentary. i want to see him with regal