The former SmackDown commentator talks about the fan response to his return to WWE, being a part of NXT, and calling the biggest money match in boxing history.
Mauro Ranallo is back in WWE and he'll be calling the future, as he slides into the lead play-by-play announcer role at NXT.
During a new interview posted on WWE's YouTube channel, Ranallo talked about how excited he is to be at Full Sail, how overwhelmed he is with the fan support, and what it feels like to be part of the biggest money match in boxing history.
The interview was conducted just after Ranallo's first night calling the action at last Friday's NXT tapings, and he joked that if he was sweating, he could only imagine what the performers were going through after that show.
"It's so great to be back under the WWE umbrella and really, it means a lot for me to be here at NXT, because not only do I get to call exciting action, but I get to see the next generation of superstars, so I could not ask for a better opportunity and I want to thank the WWE and all of the fans for letting me come back. This has been incredible, to say the least."
Ranallo was then asked how it feels to get such a great fan response to his return to WWE.
"Humbling, to say the least. I've always, I know, been a polarizing individual with my calls; I'm not everyone's cup of tea, but I've gotta say that the entire WWE Universe, not just NXT but I've heard from fans all over the world that are very happy that I'm back. And I can't tell you how much it means to me, because when I first signed with WWE, I let the world know that it was a dream job of mine, over thirty years in the making, and you know what, one door closes but another huge door opens and like I say, I want to thank everyone. I can't tell you how touched I am with all of the love and I hope it continues. (laughs)"
Kayla Braxton then asked him how it felt to know he'll be doing commentary for the huge Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather fight on August 26, and Ranallo joked that he might have accidentally made a deal with the devil somewhere along the line for him to be so fortunate.
"I'm kinda wondering if somewhere I must have made a deal with someone that I've gotta be careful of, because honestly, life couldn't get much better. Not only back (in wrestling) with NXT, but also back in MMA with Bellator, and yeah, one of the biggest stars in MMA, Conor McGregor, will be stepping into the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement. I've called a lot of Floyd Mayweather fights for Showtime Championship Boxing, and I didn't get to enjoy my WrestleMania moment this year, but this promises to be the WrestleMania of combat sports–it's the biggest money fight in history. And while many people think it'll be a mismatch because it's under boxing rules, and Conor McGregor has never fought under the Marquess of Queensbury rules, I don't know if many people are going to miss this match. Again, I love a spectacle, I love the hype, and I can't wait to be part of the circus. (laughs) They're sending in the clown anyway, right?"
You can see the entire interview in the video at the top of the page, and you can see Mauro calling his first episode of NXT tonight on the WWE Network. It promises to be a doozy, as Asuka takes on Nikki Cross in a no-holds-barred Last Woman Standing match with the NXT Women's Championship on the line.
