SmackDown commentator Mauro Ranallo participated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything recently, answering several questions from fans. With his connections to MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling, Ranallo is among the most versatile performers in broadcasting.
You can see some of the highlights below, and the full AMA here at this link.
What is your favorite thing about commentating Wrestling?
“I get to show all the aspects of my personality. I love the entertainment business, I love sports, I think it allows me to show off more of my character and have fun knowing it’s entertainment as much as athletics. For me it’s the fun and the hype, when it’s done right there’s nothing like it because it takes you on a rollercoaster ride.”
How it feels being compared to JR?
“Along with Gordon Soley who’s the dean of professional wrestling announcers, JR is one of the best to ever do announcing. He’s a friend, I respect what he’s done in his career but the comparisons don’t bother me because I find it flattering.”
Who is more threatening, Cro Cop or Vince McMahon?
“Oh man…with all due respect to Cro Cop, Vince McMahon is an intimidating individual because of the amount of respect he commands because of what he’s done for entertainment, turning the business into a billion dollar success story. He rarely sleeps, he’s a workaholic, he’s passionate, he loves what he does. Every week I’m inspired by what he puts into his business. From the moment I arrive at the arena, it’s go time. It brings out the best in you because it comes from the top. But in terms of intimidating, Vince McMahon takes the cake for sure.”
You’re well known for your creative alliterations. What, in your view, is the best one you ever came up with?
“Fistic fireworks I enjoy, it’s become a staple of my vocabulary. The triumvirate of terror to describe the Wyatt family in WWE is another one.”
Boxing, MMA, pro wrestling: which has the friendliest athletes and which has the least? Which has the slimiest promoters?
“You look at the stories and backgrounds and a lot of them come from nothing, but I think in terms of friendliness I’ve yet to meet someone that’s been unfriendly. There’s always different personalities but I have respect for anyone in boxing/MMA/wrestling to put their lives on the lines for fans. The word that really stings me is “fake,” there may be predetermined outcomes but there’s nothing fake about it.”
