Mauro Ranallo On Leaving WWE Smackdown Live Earlier This Year, His Current Success, Calling Mayweather vs McGregor and More

June 23, 2017

Former WWE Smackdown Live announcer Mauro Ranallo, who will make his WWE NXT debut at tonight’s tapings from Full Sail University, recently spoke with The Associated Press, and below are some interview highlights:

Leaving SmackDown earlier this year due to the reported issues with JBL:

“I was willing to walk away from my dream job, let’s leave it at that. In order for me to do that, I had to be true to my convictions and what makes you a human being.”

His current success, returning to work for WWE, calling Bellator MMA and the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight later this year:

“I’ve never been more successful than I am right now. Dealing with my own health issues and where I come from, I’m not supposed to be here. Now I’m calling one of the biggest MMA events of the years, calling the biggest prizefight of the year … and the fact that I’ll soon be getting back into professional wrestling, I wouldn’t trade places with anybody.”

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.