It has been a year unlike any other and like every other industry out there pro wrestling has been hit hard but has risen to the challenge as it always does. Here at Slam we are recognizing the best and the worst of 2020 with our annual awards. Like 2020 itself, this year things are a little different. We will be announcing a winner or winners every day leading up to the Best Male and Female Wrestlers on New Years Day. We are also only considering nominees up to the first week in November, which will be our new annual cut-off and start date. The voting by Slammers was held independently and blindly. What we mean by that is none of our staff knew how the other staff members were voting.
Without further ado, the nominees are…
2020 Nominees: Kevin Kelley, Michael Cole, Jim Ross, Mauro Ranallo and Tony Schiavone
| Slammer | Pick |
|---|---|
| Bob Kapur | Michael Cole |
| Dale Plummer | Mauro Ranallo |
| Dave Hillhouse | Mauro Ranallo |
| Gavin Hillhouse | Mauro Ranallo |
| John Powell | Mauro Ranallo |
| Matthew McFarlin | Mauro Ranallo |
| Matthew Byer | Mauro Ranallo |
| Nick Tylwalk | Mauro Ranallo |
| Justin Powell | Mauro Ranallo |
I guess this falls under the category of different strokes for different folks. Mauro Renallo is my least favorite announcer. His style of constantly screaming in a “fake announcer voice” (the type of voice you would use when mimicking a DJ) made NXT unwatchable for me, even with the volume turned down. He also used the same approach when calling boxing matches.
I enjoy your site, but have a difference of opinion on this choice.
I agree with you, Bob – and not only because you have a great first name.
I find Mauro to be too over-the-top, and for wrestling, that’s no small feat. His commentary always jarred me out of the match.
lol seriously voting for Cole?
I know it’s not a popular choice. I wanted to vote for Don Callis, but he didn’t make the short list of nominees.
I don’t watch enough ROH so can’t really say how good Kevin Kelley is or isn’t. And JR and Schiavone feel to me like they’re coasting most of the time, and just phoning it in when they’re not openly making fun of the product.
So I’d say Cole is the least of the worst for me, hence my vote.
Ah yes Cole never phones it in or actively mocks the show /s
Not never. But not nearly as often. And not in a way that actually takes me out of the show.