Total Wrestling Magazine has an interview with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross in its latest issue, during which JR talks about three man commentary booths, Shinsuke Nakamura and below. The following are some interview highlights:
His thoughts on three man commentary booths:
Well, I think that the three-man booth thing is just something that WWE likes. I think it feels big. It’s three talking heads instead of two, so you super-size your announce team by one body. I think there’s something to be said for that.
On a personal level, it’s not my favourite. It’s just that I’m stubborn, I guess, and it’s not my favorite thing. I think that we don’t focus enough audio on the video that we’re seeing on our screen, and so when you get guys that are practicing that philosophy, and there’s three of them, it really can be disconcerting sometimes – what you’re seeing and what you’re hearing being two divergently different things.
But I think that WWE has done a nice job. I thought that Tom Phillips and Corey Graves at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn had as strong a broadcasting night as anybody all SummerSlam weekend.
His thoughts on Shinsuke Nakamura:
He’s a legitimate, bona fide star. Depending on your perspective of why he’s on NXT, and what NXT is in the big picture, he’s like the big ringer in NXT. He is by far the biggest star there – because I assume Joe’s coming up, but I don’t know. Right now, assuming Samoa Joe gets called up – which I think he should: he’s not getting any younger, let’s go. And I’m a big fan of Samoa Joe, so take that for what it’s worth. I’m biased, I would book him tomorrow because I like his work, so selfishly sometimes those aren’t the best decisions. But I think Joe belongs on the main roster.
With that being said, Shinsuke really has an unknown ceiling. I don’t know, I can’t see the ceiling. It’s uncharted waters, because someone of his ethnic background being put into such a high profile – presumably babyface – role in the company, it would be groundbreaking. So I really do believe in him, and I think he’s a great hire. Obviously he needs to continue to practice his English, so that he can communicate to his biggest fan base. Speaking English is a necessity to a sports entertainer in today’s marketplace, him being no exception.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
