The big breaking news out of today is that TNA and 6-year announcing veteran Taz had “mutually agreed” to part ways. If rumours are to be true, that probably means they agreed to let him go painlessly if he promises not to bad mouth the pay scheduling and bad morale going on in TNA right now.
And while Taz’ run in TNA was far from memorable, it did make me reflect on Taz’ career and what his future may hold for him. Starting out wrestling in Puerto Rico with WWC, before his iconic career in ECW that saw him capture the World Championship twice, the World Tag Team Championship three times and a 2-time World TV Champion, “The Human Suplex Machine” was one of indy wrestling’s Superstars. The pop he received when he debuted in WWE was enormous. Unfortunately, injuries got in the way of a great run in WWE, but he became one of the faces of Smackdown when he debuted as a colour commentator. But one thing that comes to mind is a return to the WWE Universe. Maybe not to television, but he can now participate in future WWE DVDs and Network specials on ECW. He’s run his own wrestling school in New York – he could become the new Head Trainer at the WWE Performance Centre as well as host “Tough Enough”. He’s charismatic enough and just within the legendary former wrestler boundaries that aren’t “too old”. And who knows? If Paul Heyman remains active, Taz would be a perfect first ECW Original inductee in WWE’s Hall of Fame. I don’t think many people would argue that (except maybe Shane Douglas).
But a more interesting scenario could be Taz’ return to the WWE announcing team. Now let’s play this out. It’s not secret that WWE is moving forward with trying to nudge Jerry “The King” Lawler from the broadcast team. He was recently removed from the “flagship” program, Monday Night Raw, and moved to Thursday Smackdown. That’s one step down in the broadcast hierarchy in WWE, no matter what anyone says. His jokes are on repeat a little too often and many of his comments regarding female wrestlers still comes across lecherous and sexist. With his upcoming career-spanning DVD coming out from WWE, that may be the King’s swan song from appearing on WWE television. He’ll be kept on a WWE Legends contract and do public appearances, but his best days behind the mic are behind him. Like Bobby Heenan without Gorilla Monsoon, Lawler just isn’t the same without Jim Ross beside him.
If Lawler is removed from colour commentator from Smackdown, the perfect replacement would be it’s original colourman, Taz (or Tazz as he’d revert to). He has familiarity with older fans, internet/indy hardcores love Taz for his legendary ECW career (which is warranted), and he’s already trained in and used to WWE’s “headset driving” of broadcasting (and one could argue that Taz’ TNA career behind the mic was proof that having Vince McMahon may be a good thing. I loved Taz’ work on Smackdown, but in TNA he sounded like he was in final stage dementia sometimes). Replacing Lawler would also remove one more on-air connection to WWE History pre-Attitude Era – Raw has two Attitude Era/Monday Night War Veterans in Booker T and JBL beside Jim Ross’ successor, Michael Cole. By replacing Cole on Smackdown with his heir apparent, Renee Young, and placing her with ECW Legend Taz and Byron Saxton, you’ll have the start of something new and fresh going on. Young knows her WWE History in a Matt Striker kind of way, and won’t flaunt it with the excitement of an old uncle at a tackle shop like Mike Tenay. She comes from a legitimate sports broadcaster background (The Score), so she knows how to handle jock dudes like Taz can be sometimes. She can handle her own. I’m not sold on Byron Saxton yet (and apparently is WWE after his solo performance on Raw a few weeks back got awkward quick) – I’d almost like to see Renee paired with another Legend, like maybe William Regal – but he’s got his moments. As long as Taz can remain collected and follow the voices in the headset, he could get another two years on the broadcast team before he enters the Hall of Fame. And maybe THEN he becomes head trainer at NXT.
