Mauro Ranallo

In January I was very excited to lean that Mauro Ranallo and his legendary voice would become the lead announcer on Smackdown when it debuted on the USA Network.

I first heard Mauro when he and Bas Rutten called Pride Fighting Championship, my favorite MMA League.  Mauro has a very unique and exciting voice and I truly enjoy listening to him call the action.  He also provided commentary on EliteXC, ShoXC, Invicta Fighting Championship, Glory Kickboxing and Showtime Championship Boxing.  If it's a combat sport he has guided with his insightful play by play.

Many may think that WWE is his first time he has called wrestling, they would be wrong.  Most recently he and Josh Barnett called New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS.  His first foray into wrestling was at the young age of 16 in 1989 for All Star Wrestling in his native Canada and then later Stampede Wrestling from 1999 - 2000.

I have never been a fan of Michael Cole, I realize he has spent 19 years in the WWE and has put in his dues to get to where he is.  I also realize he had big shoes to step into taking over for Jim Ross but that's not why I'm not a fan, I simply do not like how he calls matches.  I didn't like his time on Smackdown with JBL but that was only because JBL would rip on Cole all show long.

Currently I love how Kevin Owens jumps all over Michael Cole before, during, and after his matches.  I don't know if it's a work or a shoot, but I like it.

My feeling is, and my hope is, is that talent will shine through and Ranallo will eventually become the lead announcer for all WWE programming.

You can find out more about Mauro at his website http://www.mauroranallo.com and check out his blog with Bas Rutten called Rutten and Ranallo, available at soundclound and Itunes.  It's only up to 7 episodes, but it has fast become one of my favorite podcasts.  Bas Rutten is another guy I love listening too, he tells great stories and has loads of charisma.  These two together are simply fantastic.

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WWE Fastlane Feedback

You see what I did there.....

Greetings and thanks for stopping by the Wrestling Insomniac for my thoughts on this WWE Pay Per View.  Did we still call them Pay Per View's?  Should we start calling them Supershows or Mega Events?

Pre-Show 

2 out of 3 Falls United States Championship
Champion Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio 2 falls to 1
Good match, Del Rio is really good and Kalisto was able to show himself off more in this match than he had previously.  Del Rio was disqualified after attacking Kalisto with a chair to lose the first fall.  He quickly got the pin for the second fall after a second rope double foot stomp.  The third fall and win went to Kalisto with a school boy.

Fastlane

Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch defeated Naomi & Tamina
Banks submitted Tamina with the Bank statement.  I wasn't expecting much from this match but it was really good.  All 4 woman fought hard putting on a great match.

Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens defeated Dolph Ziggler
Such a great match, seriously a toss up between this and AJ vs. Jericho for match of the night.  Owens had just won the Championship Monday night in a 5 way match.  I am such a huge fan of Kevin Owens, probably my favorite wrestler in the WWE right now.  He is so good in the ring and I love his trash talking during the match, telling Dolph "Your hometown likes me better than you" and his hatred of Michael Cole.  I hope we see the package piledriver again!

Big Show, Kane & Ryback defeated the Wyatt Family
Ryback pinned Luke Harper with a botched version of his finish that appeared to injure Harper's shoulder.  The ending of this was pretty good, but it was an ok match.

Diva's Champion: Charlotte w/ Ric Flair defeated Brie Bella
Charlotte submitted her with the figure 8.  I really hated that Brie is using Bryan's gimmicks with the YES chant, kicks, YES lock and everything else she stole from her husband to get herself over.  Charlotte looked good in the ring, not surprising.

AJ Styles submitted Chris Jericho
A truly fantastic match indeed!  Their third and by far their best match.  I hated that Jericho kicked out of the Styles Clash, but they seem to be phasing that move out for the Calf Crusher.  Styles showed in this match why he deserves to debut in the WWE bypassing NXT and getting an immediate push.  Styles and Okada share the honor of the best dropkick in wrestling.
Jericho once again botched AJ's springboard backflip into a reverse DDT spot.

Cutting Edge/Peep Show segment with Edge & Christian and guest New Day
A waste of time, I didn't find it overly funny and all it did was build towards a New Day vs. League of Nations feud.

Curtis Axel w/ Social Outcasts defeated R-Truth
and unadvertised match that could have stayed off the card.  Goldust came out to help Truth but inadvertently caused Truth the match.

Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose
Reigns pinned Ambrose to win the match and to face Triple H at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  This match was really good, and the finishing sequence was great.  It was obvious Reigns was going to win.  Storyline wise it makes sense for Reigns and Triple H to wrestle at WrestleMania I just don't think the WWE Championship needed to be involved.

The biggest pops of the night were for AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Lesnar, & Ambrose.  The Crowd was hot all night so that makes it better.

Going forward I think we will definitely see Ambrose vs, Lesnar at Mania and I'd like to see AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens.

After the PPV WWE announced the NXT Signing of Shinsuke Nakamura.  I cannot wait to see him on the main roster, I think we have the first Japanese guy that is going to be a main eventer in WWE and possible win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Finally, Mauro Ronallo called the pre-show match with JBL and Byron Saxton, seriously he is so much better than Michael Cole that I like watching Smackdown more just to hear Mauro call the action.

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The Last Match - Promotions Gone By

This will be a unique list of Last Matches as it will reflect the last matches of promotions and their major TV shows, if I can find the results.

Jim Crockett Promotions

Ran 1931 – November 2, 1988

November 1, 1988 Savannah, GA Civic Center

NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal defeated The Midnight Express: Beautiful Bobby & Sweet Stan

JCP was sold to Ted Turner on November 2, 1988 and even though from the fans perspective the transition was seamless this was the final JCP show.

World Championship Wrestling

Ran November 2, 1988 – March 26, 2001

WCW’s final match was at the final episode of Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro

First broadcast September 4, 1995

March 26, 2001

Panama City, FL Boardwalk Beach Resort

Sting submitted “Nature Boy” Ric Flair with the scorpion death lock

WCW Thunder

First broadcast January 8, 1998

Aired March 21, 2001 Taped March 19, 2001

Gainesville, FL

Jeff Jarrett & United States Champion: Rick Steiner defeated Dustin Rhodes in a handicap match

WCW Saturday Night

First broadcast December 25, 1971

Aired August 19, 2000 as recap show

Final original match April 1, 2000

WCW Hardcore Championship on a pole match

Champion: Brian Knobbs defeated Norman Smiley, The Dog, Rick Fuller, Adrian Byrd, & David Burkhead

WCW Worldwide

First broadcast in 1975 as JCP Wide World Wrestling

Aired February 24, 2001 Taped December 22, 2000

Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN

Ron & Don Harris defeated Jung Dragons: Yang & Kaz Hayashi

WCW House Show

March 4, 2001

Freedom Hall, Johnson City, TN

Diamond Dallas Page & Dustin Rhodes defeated World Champion: Scott Steiner & Jeff Jarrett

Final Champions:

World Champion: Booker T won March 26, 2001

United States Champion: Booker T won March 18, 2001

Cruiserweight Champion: Shane Helms won March 18, 2001

World Tag Team Champions: Natural Born Thrillers: Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire won January 14, 2001

Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions: Filthy Animals: Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio  won March 26, 2001

Extreme Championship Wrestling

a.k.a.  Eastern Championship Wrestling

Ran April 25, 1992 – April 4, 2001

January 13, 2001 Pine Bluff, AR Convention Center

The Sandman pinned Justin Credible w/ Francine with a pile driver

Final Champions:

World Champion: Rhino won January 7, 2001

World TV Champion: Rhino won September 9, 2000

World Tag Team Champions: Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill won December 3, 2000

Smoky Mountain Wrestling

Ran: October 30, 1991 – December 1995

November 26, 1995 Cookeville, TN Community Center

Ricky Morton, Dirty White Boy, & Tracy Smothers vs. Tag Team Champions: The Heavenly Bodies Dr. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Ray, & Robert Gibson

Final Champions

Heavyweight Champion: “Wildfire” Tommy Rich won November 25, 1995

Tag Team Champions: The Heavenly Bodies: Dr. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Ray won August 4, 1995

American Wrestling Association

Ran 1960 - 1991

Last TV taping August 11, 1990

House Show

May 3, 1991 Bloomington, MN  Kennedy High School

Greg Gagne & Wahoo McDaniel defeated Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos

Final Champions:

World Champion: Larry Zbyszko won April 8, 1990 officially stripped December 12, 1990

World Tag Team Champions: DJ Peterson & The Trooper won August 11, 1990

Women's Champion: Candi Devine won December 6, 1989

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