I Put My Finger on Why WCW Seemed So Intolerable At Times

[zappafrank 0]

While watching the latest epsiode of the MNW, I realized what it is about Nitro that just grates on me.

 

I think it's the pseudo-intellectual slant that the announcers try to put on things, as well as overdoing it with regards to "reality." Zybysko (I don't feel like checking the spelling) trying to pontificate about the psyche, etc., simply comes across as someone who is trying to use big words and sound profound (and yes, I am saying this after using "pontificate").

 

Re: "reality": I love Heenan as a commentator, and although he didn't do it so much in this ep, he tends to overdo the "everyone is talking about this match or this ppv or this situation" hyperbole (damn, I keep using big words even though I am talking about how it's annoying...sorry 'bout that). Also, Tenay is pretty bad at playing up "And you have believe that a victory here will put him in contention for that World's (insert title here)".

 

The extremes to which the announcers put over the product are legendary (esp. Schiavone), but c'mon, you never saw JR or Vince sitting there talking about how great WWF was, even when it did start to take over in the ratings. If you're good and the product is good, things should (but not always, of course) get over on the merits of quality alone.

 

In all, it just feels like they were trying too hard. It's sort of like a humble person going on and on about he is so humble. If the product is so great, do I really need to be told how great it is if I've already attached myself to it?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Heenan in all honesty should of retired when the NWO was formed.

 

Interesting observation. I see TNA doing the same thing, way too many times.

[Mecca 0]

Nothing tops Larry Zybyzsko who knew what kinda wrestler he was and what he couldn't do.........sitting there acting as if the cruiser guys weren't any good because they had more talent than him. His total disdain for those guys shined through every time he called one of their matches as he'd routinely say things like yea it looks nice but it doesn't really hurt....

 

He'd just go out of his way to bury every one of those guys...

[luke-o 0]

Interesting observation. I see TNA doing the same thing, way too many times.

 

I was thinking the same thing after reading that. For the first few months of Impact when it debuted on Spike, Tenay and West constantly said things like "and thats what makes TNA so special" or "this is why TNA is the future of this buisness". Not only that, but they had the wrestlers do it in their promos.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

Why does Tenay always say "World's Title" instead of "World Title"

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

I like how Tony always welcomes us to hour #2, the hour that set the standard for pro wrestling television (SKeith's running joke on this in MNW rants is pretty funny).

[Guest •]

Come on, "it's like a game of human chess" was like #26 on the list of things wrong with WCW.

[Boner Kawanger 0]

Interesting observation. I see TNA doing the same thing, way too many times.

 

I was thinking the same thing after reading that. For the first few months of Impact when it debuted on Spike, Tenay and West constantly said things like "and thats what makes TNA so special" or "this is why TNA is the future of this buisness". Not only that, but they had the wrestlers do it in their promos.

Not to mention the fact that West and Tenay will jump in on commentary during a wrestler's promo to repeat that as soon as said wrestler has said it and paused for the crowd to pop. Or they'll just repeat what a wrestler just said for no reason.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

You know why I found WCW so intolerable at times: the wretched booking.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

It is kind of sad how Heenan's commentary kind of started to fall off after the nWo was formed. I don't know if health issues or a lack of passion for his job had anything to do with it, but you could tell he was really struggling on how to call matches after that point. Like, he was supposed to be a heel commentator, but couldn't cheer for the nWo because they "weren't WCW."

[Black Lushus 0]

we've discussed this in the 24/7 thread...WCW had way too much filler talent they were putting on their A show. Guys like Hugh Morris, for example, should not be getting squash matches on Nitro. There shouldn't be ANY squash matches on Nitro. They finally started getting this right as the 90s came to a close, but sadly, they were so fucked at that point, it didn't matter.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

It is kind of sad how Heenan's commentary kind of started to fall off after the nWo was formed. I don't know if health issues or a lack of passion for his job had anything to do with it, but you could tell he was really struggling on how to call matches after that point. Like, he was supposed to be a heel commentator, but couldn't cheer for the nWo because they "weren't WCW."

Lack of passion, Heenan says as much in his autobiography.

[Jingus 0]

Oh yeah, incompetnet/apathetic announcers are the fucking worst. I get more upset about this than most people cuz I spent five years doing play-by-play in the indies. Come on, guys, announcing isn't THAT hard. You just gotta remember to get over your checklist of things:

 

1. Tell the audience WHY a babyface is good and a heel is bad

2. Remind people when/where the live events are

3. Call the moves so people know what they are

4. Help tell the story of the psychology of the match; remind us of prior history between these wrestlers and such

5. Try to cover up or explain blown spots or fuckups

6. Do NOT, under any circumstances, spend the entire time talking about the main event or how cool your company is. (ROH was real bad about that when Sapolsky was the lead announcer.)