Cole - Manager

[Mr. C]

Rumor has it that Michael Cole could be leaving the announce booth on RAW after WrestleMania and become a manager.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. Cole will need to get away from Jerry Lawler somehow. Jim Ross is a more than adequate replacement, so yeah, if he’s to become a manager, who would you like to see him manage?

As for wrestlers for him to manage, I’m thinking stable, so muscle is a requirement for a stable these days.

Alex Riley and The Miz, then some muscle with Cole as the manager could work. Brodus Clay as Cole’s bodyguard and their enforcer is logical. Those three plus Cole is a pile of douchebaggery. Make it happen.

[Xero]

I'm not opposed to the idea. I hate Cole in the booth because he disrupts the commentary, something he's supposed to be leading. But I believe the character itself is amazing. It's one of the few I genuinely hate and would (and will) pay to see him get his ass kicked.

That said, I think he'd be better off as the GM. He's already pretty much playing the role now, and it's working. May as well make it official.

As for who he'd manage? I don't know. A manager is supposed to be there to talk for someone and/or get them over. He's definitely talked up Miz very well, but Miz doesn't need anyone, especially Cole, because he's already way over as a heel and can obviously talk.

Alex Riley would actually be a great idea.

[GD]

Josh Matthews and Matt Striker on Raw. Whereas Todd Grisham and Booker-T on Smackdown :shifty:

[screech]

As for wrestlers for him to manage, I’m thinking stable. I’d have Alex Riley, Ted DiBiase, The Miz, & Zack Ryder.

I like this stable idea, except I don't think Miz needs it. Having him loosely aligned with the group could work, though.

[screech]

I hate Cole in the booth because he disrupts the commentary, something he's supposed to be leading.


Definitely agree with this. Seems like he puts what's happening in front of him on the back burner to hype whatever is on his mind. Gets on my nerves.

[screech]

I feel like Curt Hawkins wouldn't be a bad addition to that group (Ted, Riley & Ryder). It would give him prominent spot at least.

[screech]

Maybe he could manage Seth Rollins?

[erickman]

never liked him get the don west vibe from him. let cole manage and let josh be the straght man to a heel ex wrestler like booker.

[Schlomey]

I'm a Cole Miner and would LOVE to see him try his hand at managing...something the wrestling world hasn't had much of this generation.

[Nicky Fives]

I could see him managing..... perhaps even being the spokesperson of a monster heel/ new kid who can't talk..... That would hopefully lead to Lawler & Mathews on commentary for Raw and the 3-man team of Booker, Grisham & Striker on Smackdown....

[Troelar]

Cole would be nice on manager I think.
I guess it could happen as an effect of wrestlemania. Maybe he feels like one of the involved wrestlers needs to be taken down, but he can't do it himself, so he becomes the manager of wrestlers in order to get his revenge, and then it just snowballs from there :)

[St. Jimmy]

if this gets JR back on TV, i don't care.

[Mr. C]

Exactly.

King & JR on RAW and Booker & Matthews on SmackDown :y:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I like the idea of Michael Cole moving away from commentary. He's become a great character, but it really doesn't belong in the booth. Let Cole transfer his heat to guys who can wrestle (and Jack Swagger is a perfect candidate for this), and then let Josh Mathews work RAW permanently. I haven't heard too much of Mathews & King, but Mathews is a damn fine commentator who knows exactly what he needs to do and does it.

The idea of Todd Grisham, Booker T & Matt Striker on SmackDown! is also a great one. I feel The Grish is underrated as an announcer, and Booker T & Matt Striker have completely different approaches that could work nicely together.

I do enjoy Jim Ross, and I would not mind him working WrestleMania this year, with Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler being tied up, but as a full-time replacement for Cole, his health comes into question, and the WWE has to establish a new voice sometime. Now might as well be that time. JR can still come in for special occasions.

As for who Cole could manage -- I personally would like to see him become a widespread manager, who doesn't just handle one guy. Let him go between RAW and SmackDown!, and have a large number of clients. Jack Swagger has already been established as one nicely. But Curt Hawkins, as someone said, could really benefit, too. Zack Ryder can talk, but could use the heat and direction. For some reason, I see Chavo Guerrero and Michael Cole being a good pair, too. I'm not even talking a big push for Cole -- I just think he'd get more heat for Chavo and Cole's agency could use a lower-card heel to take the beatings for them.

[Kane Knight]

He needs to be the mouthpiece for another manager. Without "And I Quote," what does he have going for him?

[Mr. C]

The way they’re booking this is as if they’re trying to bring JR back as an annoucer and plant the seeds for Cole to be a manager.

JR must return at WrestleMania. I hope he does and stays on RAW, leaving SmackDown with Booker T and Josh Matthews.

[The Show Off]

Maybe he could manage Seth Rollins?

That could really work. Seth Rollins (that's Tyler Black former ROH Champion for those that don't know) is an exceptional wrestler and has natural charisma but when he talks he sounds like a lisping muppet. You could have Michael Cole say that he scowered the "Indies" to find the best undiscovered wrestler in the world and make him a star. Then he produces Seth Rollins and gives him a push.

Another idea I thought of when I saw this thread was perhaps have Michael Cole manage John Morrison. You could have The Miz slowly get sick and tired of Michael Cole gushing all over him, and finally spurn him and start ragging on Michael Cole for being a goofy dork. This would turn the Miz face (which is inebitable) and then Michael Cole would manage John Morrison to get revenge against The Miz. This could lead to finally giving John Morrison that shove to the next level. Obviously I don't think this should all happen right away, but I think this would be a nice storyline to go on through the the fall of 2011.

[The Show Off]

The way they’re booking this is as if they’re trying to bring JR back as an annoucer and plant the seeds for Cole to be a manager.

JR must return at WrestleMania. I hope he does and stays on RAW, leaving SmackDown with Booker T and Josh Matthews.

I think instead of just Booker T and Josh Matthews it should be Booker T, Josh Matthews and Matt Striker. They should do this until Josh and Matt are ready to hold an announce team by themselves. I honestly think Matthews and Striker is the future WWE A Announce Team. I can really see the two of them bring the standard of WWE announcing the next decade.

[screech]

I would also love to see Booker/Matthews/Striker on Smackdown.

[screech]

And I agree, Show Off that Matthews and Striker are the future. They already work pretty well together, so I think it's only a matter of time.

[Damian Rey]

Alex Riley, as of right now, is out of a job, storyline wise. If Cole is going to be transferred to the role of manager, Riley should be the guy at the top of the list to be his first client. I love the idea of Cole being on both brands, so managing Riley on Mondays and Swagger Fridays could work.

I think a Mania return for JR would be suiting, but Josh Mattews has come a long way behind the booth, and I think he should be given every opportunity after Mania to be the voice of Raw.

[Mr. C]

Booker T is alright, and given time, he'll be fine. He doesn't just state what's happening, but states how he feels about what's happening. I haven't heard anyone do that properly for a while. Smack Down doesn't need Matt Striker.

[Damian Rey]

Booker T is alright, and given time, he'll be fine. He doesn't just state what's happening, but states how he feels about what's happening. I haven't heard anyone do that properly for a while. Smack Down doesn't need Matt Striker.

I think every broadcast team needs a guy who actually analyzes what's going and gives insight. That's why you find a lot of sports teams hiring ex pros for televised games. They allow the viewer to get an idea of what's going on mentally and physically.

Stryker fits that mold well. Yes, he's a bit annoying sometimes, but he goes out of his way to come off as informed, and does a good job of explaining the how and why.

I'd like to see Grish, Stryker and Booker for a while to see if they blend and can get a good rythm.

[Lock Jaw]

Watching Cole with Swagger tonight, seems to me that Cole could do great as a manager. Especially if he manages multiple talent, including lower card guys.

Kind of an unofficial stable of Cole Miners.

[Volare]

He needs to start up the Cole-poration.

[Volare]

No Vintage chance in Heck! (pg of course)

[XL]

My idea for the Road To WrestleMania had Cole be revealed as the Raw GM and build a Corporation-style stable around The Miz to keep Orton away from the belt.

I'd have gone with guys like Shad Gaspard or Vance Archer for the group "muscle". Both big guys who were decent enough in the ring but lacked direction or character.

[Chavo Classic]

If it worked for the Coach, it'll definitely work for Cole

[whiteyford]

I like this stable idea, except I don't think Miz needs it. Having him loosely aligned with the group could work, though.

Something like the Dangerous Alliance/Heenan Family over both brands, could be the pro Miz side in a lumberjack match etc. but not really linked to the Miz other than through Cole. Id even use the Showoffs idea of scouring the indys but use Awesome Kong instead of Rollins, maybe take a couple of past NXT rookies and some midcarders from superstars to round out the stable.

[Mr. C]

Stryker fits that mold well. Yes, he's a bit annoying sometimes, but he goes out of his way to come off as informed, and does a good job of explaining the how and why.

Striker annoys me all the time.

[St. Jimmy]

Cole's Minors.

[Volare]

Have Cole come out saying he was texting his friend, the Raw GM, he agreed to (Whatever Cole wanted). Cole can gain massive heat for being the little runt getting his way with shit with the heels, and when someone finally gets to him the crowd will be happy. (See Vickie Guerrero)

I think he could do wonders for Brodus Clay, Alex Riley, and any other young talent that isn't strong on the mic. Proclaim them as the future cause Cole is sick of calling matches of the so called "Entertainment" in WWE, and that he wants to change WWE for the future/or whatever makes you happy for an ending.

[Volare]

The basic idea is there, someone like Noid could turn that into gold.

[Damian Rey]

At this point, I see no other logical direction for his character. Heeling it up behind the booth has seemingly run its course, and his match with Lawler has to signify something come Mania. Hopefully it's a stable of wrestlers. Have him get permission from the GM to bring his SD! clients on Raw and vice versa.

Heel Cole would work wonders for a long list of new guys/guys with zero direction.

[Lara Emily]

He should do what he did on Smackdown manage his guy, introduce his guy and commentate on his guy's match only from here on out he should only be at the booth when one of his guys are in the ring.

Or give him a live mic and have him commentate from ringside so everyone can hear.

[Damian Rey]

He should do what he did on Smackdown manage his guy, introduce his guy and commentate on his guy's match only from here on out he should only be at the booth when one of his guys are in the ring.

Or give him a live mic and have him commentate from ringside so everyone can hear.

Didn't TNA try a similar gimmick with Amazing Red and Don West? Either way, I think having Cole being a premeir play-by-play man only when one of his associates or clients is wrestling would be awesome.

[DLVH84]

Why not have Mitchell Cole form his own stable, like Jimmy Hart (The First Family), Bobby Heenan (The Heenan Family), Paul Ellering (The Legion Of Doom), Diamond Dallas Page (The Diamond Exchange), and Paul E. Dangerously (The Dangerous Alliance) done in the past, with The Miz being his main star (a la "Ravishing" Rick Rude during his days in The Heenan Family and The Dangerous Alliance).

[Xero]

We would have been good with one or two examples, but thanks for going that extra 10k, DLVH.

[DLVH84]

I always go the extra mile, Xero.

[XL]

Always gotta educate us casual fans, huh?

[Lock Jaw]

http://www.gifsoup.com/view2/2097477/michael-cole-o.gif

[legendkillerRKO]

I would like to see Brodus Clay get involved in this. After his promo on the last episode of NXT he said "the WWE univers stole his dream". This can tie into Cole talking about how the Universe never accepted him because of Jim Ross. Brodus is a big intimidating dude and I think this pairing would do wonders for him. If he wants to "destroy all the WWE Universe's heroes" what better way then to have Cole planning it all.

[Asmo]

^ I second that. Cole should be the mouthpiece for the wrestler he manages. He should do all the talking, and just let the wrestler go out and destroy people. Circa Heyman-Lesnar at the start of their run.

[Mr. C]

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that there’s talk yet again about making Michael Cole a manager since he has so much heat.

About time! The sooner Cole leaves the table, the sooner the commentary becomes tolerable again.

A guy who could benefit from Cole is Chris Masters. Complete with heel turn and old theme. Would be awesome.

[Mr. C]

http://www.wwe.com/inside/chris-masters-released

Chris Masters gone... the one guy I wanted to see pushed. I'm crushed. There aren't many who I've seen improve as much as he did, he was the best he's ever been as of late. Shame to see him go. I was still hoping he'd get a push.

[Impeccable]

Just watched Superstars. Was extremely impressed with Brodus Clay.

How easy would it be to push him as a legit threat to someone with Michael Cole as his mouthpiece.

[Shisen Kopf]

Brodus Clay is a far better fat tub of lard than Husky Harris. But he still looks like a goober.

[Aguakate]

I personally think Cole needs some time off tv...give his new little character some "off time", cool off, and then come back.

[Shisen Kopf]

Cole needs to be smackdown only. I wouldn't take him off the telly totally but it's overkill having him of both shows. If they do make him a manager, I would make him Cena's manager after he turns heel because that would be so much heat but the WWE ain't gonna make Cena a naughty boy anytime soon.

[Aguakate]

Cole needs to be smackdown only. I wouldn't take him off the telly totally but it's overkill having him of both shows. If they do make him a manager, I would make him Cena's manager after he turns heel because that would be so much heat but the WWE ain't gonna make Cena a naughty boy anytime soon.

It's just, he's been all over the place lately.

Does play by play on both RAW and Smackdown, started doing heel commentary, had a feud with Daniel Bryan, feuded with Jerry Lawler, WRESTLED Jerry Lawler, read the Anonymous RAW GM emails, feuded with all the WWE Divas and interrupted their matches, paired up with Jack Swagger (briefly), was (and still is) Miz's #1 fan...then, for about a week, he did regular commentary, and now is back to his usual obnoxious play by play...

...dude needs to go off tv for a while, cool off, and when it's time to return, he should come back with a plan, WWE should know what he will do and from what position, instead of having him all over the place.

[Shisen Kopf]

You know, you're starting to convince me that Cole needs to go away for a while. At the very least take him of Raw.

[Ruien]

Really Shisen? I thought you wanted Cole on Superstars too.

[Innovator]

Cole needs to fuck off commentary. I want to be able to enjoy a Dragon match.

[Battlekat]

About time! The sooner Cole leaves the table, the sooner the commentary becomes tolerable again.

A guy who could benefit from Cole is Chris Masters. Complete with heel turn and old theme. Would be awesome.

Couldn't agree more, really sick of him disrupting commentary. Would love to see him as a mouthpiece for Brodus Clay. Also wouldn't mind seeing him do it for Andy from Tough Enough once he gets called up.

[screech]

Watching the most recent Smackdown makes me want Cole off commentary. He was so disruptive. I get he's a heel & shits on the faces, but he totally steps on the action to do it.

I know I've said that before, but it still bugs me. Giving him direction/character was good, but it still seems like he's putting himself before/above the product.

[Aguakate]

Watching the most recent Smackdown makes me want Cole off commentary. He was so disruptive. I get he's a heel & shits on the faces, but he totally steps on the action to do it.

I know I've said that before, but it still bugs me. Giving him direction/character was good, but it still seems like he's putting himself before/above the product.

Yes.

Last night he seemed to have toned it down a little bit, which is good. JR was a lot more talkative, as opposed to last week.

[Mr. C]

Edit: appears like Mason Ryan returned at a house show in a match with Zack Ryder yesterday.

You know what? Cole could put over a rookie if placed as his manager. Ryan shouldn't talk. Let Cole do the talking, just have Ryan wreck people in the ring. Make it happen.

That would leave Booker & Matthews on commentary for SmackDown and King & JR on commentary for RAW, with every PPV being called by Booker, King, & JR. :y:

[XL]

So, Cole: The Manager, looks like it's gonna be one of those internet rumours that people take as fact despite no evidence to prove it. (see: WCW themed Hall of Fame, Sting signing with WWE).

*shrugs*