Slammy Award winning duo to reunite at SD

[Juan]

WWE developmental talent Byron Saxton (real name Bryan Kelly) will debut as the newest member of World Wrestling Entertainment's announce team on tonight's edition of ECW on SyFy. Saxton, who is a former newscaster, has been doing commentary and managing wrestlers for the company's developmental promotion, Florida Championship Wrestling.

For the time being, Saxton and Josh Mathews will handle ECW broadcasts while Todd Grisham and Matt Striker will handle Friday Night SmackDown. The company had no choice but to make changes as a result of Jim Ross taking time off to deal with his most recent Bells Palsy attack.

[Theo Dious]

God fucking dammit I want my JBL.

[Godfather4Life]

i second that Tedious

[Mr. Nerfect]

This is awesome. Byron Saxton is apparently pretty good at what he does. Hopefully he plays a more sleazy, heel commentator. The WWE lacks one of them. Matt Striker getting a (temporary) promotion to SmackDown! is more than deserved, and I look forward to seeing what he brings to the blue brand.

Perhaps when JR returns, he could work with Josh Mathews, and really help to groom Mathews as a well-rounded announcer. The Grish and Striker handling SD! permanently would be fine with me.

[Dave Youell]

I think we all know that JR might be done announcing now, surely?

[Afterlife]

My heart tap dances every time I'm reminded that JBL isn't a commentator.

[Afterlife]

Also, new guy did o.k.

[Mr. Nerfect]

If JR does return (and he seems sure that he will), I hope they do move him to ECW. JR could get the new guys over, the ECW Title over, and I think his work with Josh Mathews would be good. Josh himself is a trained wrestler, and he can do both the play-by-play and colour stuff, which is how JR is trying to evolve himself. I could see their "hybrid announcer" styles meshing really well.

[DAMN iNATOR]

I think we all know that JR might be done announcing now, surely?

Not by a long shot, bub.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I just watched ECW, and I thought Byron Saxton was really quite good. He seems sure of himself, and he's got a good knowledge. He knew the right points to press, and there was only one point where I would say he "slipped up." That was when he was talking about Christian, and he called him "the charismatic Captain Charisma." Sounds a bit redundant to use the adjective there. When that is your biggest flaw, you're doing alright.

I guess the WWE has moved past face/heel commentary dynamics, and Saxton played it pretty much right down the middle, and was fine, but I'd like to see him bring a bit more "character" to it. It's the characters that are ultimately remembered as being great commentators down the line.