Ranallo talks about how the job came about, always wanting to be a wrestling announcer, what to expect when he starts on Smackdown, and more. You can read a few excerpts below:
Mauro Ranallo on learning of his WWE hire:
Yeah, this has been an expedited process to say the least. About a month and a half ago, maybe even less — it’s been a whirlwind — I was contacted by Michael Cole. In addition to being the voice of the WWE, he also oversees all of the on-air talent. He emailed me to gauge my interest in working for the company, which I found to be flattering and very surprising at this stage of my career (at age 45). Needless to say, I said I was very interested because anyone who knows me and has followed my career knows how much sports entertainment — WWE — has been a big part of my life as a fan. Even in my combat sports commentary, the myriad of references I’ve made to my first love are very evident. After I contacted Michael Cole and talked to him in person and understood exactly what they were offering and what they wanted me to do with the company, it really took off from there.
I received a call from Triple H and, obviously, Vince McMahon had to give his blessing. After I sent them a demo reel of some of my New Japan Pro Wrestling stuff and included a video, I was fortunate enough to do the voiceover for the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting where Warren Buffett “fought” Floyd Mayweather. It was directed by John Landis, who is an acclaimed Hollywood director. They wanted me to be Mauro Ranallo, the Showtime Championship Boxing announcer, and I called it like I would any other combat sports event, and I think that really piqued Vince McMahon’s and Kevin Dunn’s interest in terms of “This guy can sell what needs to be sold and put over everything as a legitimate enterprise.”
So after they saw the demo reel, things really moved forward quickly. This past week, I signed my deal and, as we all know, it was announced (Sunday) by Sports Illustrated and Yahoo! Sports and today the floodgates have opened. I’m simply stunned. If I could be at a loss for words, I would be, but that’s not my job.
Did he have doubts about ever getting to work with WWE?
I was very comfortable in thinking that it would never happen, but that I have so many friends in the company like Renee Young, who I’m so proud of her success. We worked together in Toronto at the Score Television Network on the “Right After Wrestling” program, which was all about WWE. And so many others like Natalya and Tyson Kidd. My dealings with the Hart family when I called Stampede Wrestling at the beginning of the 21st century. I lived vicariously through so many of them, but I can honestly say I didn’t think this opportunity would ever come.
Honestly, I respect everyone currently involved, including Rich Brennan and Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips, the young voices that are coming up. I thought, “Good, we need fresh blood, we need new voices,” so I was content. Obviously, in the back of my mind, come WrestleMania time, come all these major story lines or big-time matches, yeah, I still had that feeling in my stomach like, ‘Man, what I would give to call that.’ And it was satiated, to a large degree, by being able to call New Japan Pro Wrestling. I really have to thank AXS TV, Adam Swift and the crew because I also think that played a very significant part in me being on the WWE’s radar. While I didn’t think it would ever happen, I’m so gracious that it has and, honestly, I think it comes at the best time for me both personally and professionally.
Will he use his own name on WWE television?
Fair question, and I think it begins with the fact that I will be known as Mauro Ranallo on “SmackDown.” I understand why they want to change people’s names and want to give them their own identity, but the fact that they respect my breadth of work and respect what I’ve done over the last 30 years as a broadcaster already puts me in a proper mindset. I’m going to call WWE like I call everything. Yes, I’m going to be passionate. Yes, I’m going to be excited, but at the same time I’m hoping to get better as a storyteller and I’m hoping to complement the people I work with who have been doing this a lot longer than I have.
At this time, I don’t know exactly what the broadcast team will be comprised of. For me, I feel good no matter who it is and that goes for everyone from Jerry “The King” Lawler to Booker T to Byron Saxton to JBL. And I really hope this turns into another incredible opportunity for me just to be myself and get better. I need to get better. Like any other job, I’m never going to quit trying to get better because the moment you think you’ve made it, that’s when you’re done. I really believe that people who know me will recognize me and my sound and people who don’t, I hope they appreciate the fact that at the end of the day, I am a fan first and foremost. I respect the product. I respect what these incredible performers do day in and day out. All I am is the narrator. I’m a fairly small piece of this very intricate jigsaw puzzle.
