Michael Cole: Pre-Character
 

What did you think about Cole pre-current character? Where he pretty much played the straight face and actually lead the commentary?

Personally, I don't think he was the best in the business, but I feel he got a lot of shit before the character that he didn't deserve. He was a fine commentator and did his job well enough. His best days were definitely with Tazz, and I think after that he started to slip, but still wasn't the worst guy for the job IMO.

So how do you feel about Michael Cole: The Announcer, and not the current Miz-blowing, email reading douchebag?

He was okay, nothing special or bad about him.

To me he was always better when he had someone to make fun of him (Tazz, JBL). Always liked when he would be doing his thing and his partner would just start berating him and telling him to shove it.

When he was paired with King, he really started to slip. Partly because they agreed too much (always preferred tension at the table for some reason).

Also partly because when he, or anyone, asks King a question or sets him up to throw out some wrestler insight, he completely misses it. But that is for another discussion.

Hated him since 1997,still hate him today. IMO Tenay is the best play by play guy right now. Mainly because he still says the names of the moves.

That's a huge mistake they made when they decided to make both announcers face/straight. It CAN work, but no where near as well as when, as you said, there's tension at the table.

For sure. Nothing wrong with having a straight face guy in the booth (hell, Cole did it well for a decade). But having two, with one who seems to never listen to what his partner says, is no good.

I still feel like Tenay is best suited as the third man. The guy who rattles off the move names and random facts. He just doesn't do it for me as the main guy.

He was always solid on Smackdown and his partnership with JBL is probably my favourite team of all time. Then he really went downhill when he moved to Raw. He's needed this new character to save him I think, because he was really heading down the shitter.

He's no J.R. or Joey Styles i know. But I will put him over Cole and Shee-a-vone any day.

The character was a good way to rejuvenate him, no doubt. I just think he needs to find a way to play the role without it getting in the way of the commentary.

Scott Hudson would be a marvelous addition to the TNA commentary team.

I always liked him on commentary. He has never been able to get quite as "excited" and "hyped up" as Jim Ross... but at the same time no other commentator they have right now can get as "excited"/"hyped up" as Cole.

I wouldn't disagree with that choice at all.

I will always remember him as the voice of Smackdown in the early years, whether it be Jerry Lawler or Tazz.... The guy isn't a Jim Ross or a Gorilla Monsoon when calling the action, but he pretty good at what he does.....

I think he was a great face. remember back in the 90s when he used to be the person behind the backstage area giving out interviews :)..

Going off topic for a second, When did Cole start becoming a heel?

Cole sucks now, just as he sucked then. He is a slow cancer.

he needs to bring back that sweet goatee he used to have

I remember watching him on Saturdays where he recapped events, what was that? WWF Metal?

Probably Superstars or Livewire.

Livewire, yeah pretty sure that's it. It was on early Saturdays.

Michael Cole presenting from the production truck on Sunday mornings, recapping the week's events lol. Back when he was a skinny shit with weird hair.