Discussing four legendary wrestling broadcasters
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Hello & welcome to a Wrestlebuddy special presentation. We take a look at some of professional wrestling’s legendary voices.
These commentators laid the foundation for success in territories & national expansion. Many refer to them as their childhood soundtracks. People felt connected regarding the wrestling storytelling by each broadcaster.
Universally one had expressed respect & passion for wrestlers, conveying their athletic art on Television. Numerous iconic calls transcended historically over the years. Every individual was a reference that synched up with this physical in-ring action. Each angle resonated due to the great instincts of your commentators. Pro-wrestling became elevated as a result of such prudent journalism.
In my opinion, these are some of the best to do it.
Gordon Solie:
He’s called “ The Dean of Professional Wrestling! “ Those who grew up on Championship Wrestling from Florida or Georgia Championship Wrestling quickly learned about him. Gordon Solie added intellectual professionalism through his association with iconic brands. Mr. Solid provided valuable insights into some of wrestling’s great personas.
Other famed promotions included Continental Championship Wrestling & World Championship Wrestling. Notable promoter Eddie Graham gave Gordon his start in the industry. Solie will also have a beloved history with one hall-of-fame wrestler named Roddy Piper during the GCW era of his career. Superstation WTBS saw this dynamic pairing on TV. Roddy did color while Gordon conducted the play-by-play. That’s where he found broader exposure nationally with the NWA. Solie articulated things nobody else could. His influence is still on display today. Sadly we lost Gordon on July 27th, 2000, at 71, to throat cancer. He’s gone but certainly not forgotten. What a legacy that maintains incredible longevity. He’s also a WWE Hall of Famer. Solie went in circa 2008. Jim Ross inducted his hero that evening.
Gorilla Monsoon:
The wrestler turned into the lead man in an announcing position proved highly successful. Gorilla Monsoon assisted a company he once had stakes in along with Vince McMahon Sr. Following the 1980s National expansion under Vince McMahon Jr. Later, Monsoon found himself being WWF’s featured commentary voice about extravagant events for the promotion. Pairings with Jesse Ventura & Bobby Heenan lived up to expectations immensely.
Why Monsoon stands out from the rest & it applied to his wrestling background. Most color newscasters we’re ex-wrestlers. Monsoon was the exception to that rule and executed play-by-play instead. Prime Time Wrestling premiered on USA Network in 1985. I bring this up to highlight Gorilla’s versatility as someone whose presence further established WWF when moving forward concerning prime-time exposure for wrestling, except McMahon labeled his wrestling more like sports entertainment. He was already a big-name personality. His star grew even brighter after the brand went coast to coast. Watching WrestleMania back then, several lasting qualities made an impression on supporters everywhere, but it came down to Monsoon’s excitement & passion. More importantly, Gorilla lent credibility as well. Monsoon would get inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Another prominent broadcaster named Jim Ross would induct the fellow analyst. Sadly, Robert James Marella passed on October 6th, 1999. Gorilla also knew how to relate obvious wrestling psychology naturally when calling matches.
Bob Caudle:
If ever there was one man whose voice personified wrestling in Virginia & the Carolinas and beyond this region. That person would undeniably be Bob Caudle. His magnificent pro-wrestling journalistic career started under Jim Crockett Sr. during the late 1950s. Beginning throughout the later 70s & ’80s periods of Jim Crockett Promotions, Caudle became recognizable with a tremendous broadcasting association with JCP. One premiere television series labeled “Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling “ became ingrained as wrestling’s more popular destination.
Bob Caudle was the official voice of that program. Fans came to admire & appreciate his remarkable aptitude. People remembered Caudle’s synonymous greeting, ‘ Hello Wrestling Fans’ & closing line, “ That’ll do it for this week. We’ll see you next week, and until then, so long for now.” He ascertained stellarly what these great wrestlers completed as it pertained to their individual & collective stories. Candle represented a fundamental blueprint for future wrestling journalists. His love of wrestling instantly became infectious. Folks gravitated toward Caudle, and for decades a singular voice became intertwined with Crockett’s vision concerning wrestling. Caudle was unselfish in allowing the wrestlers to be elevated & not himself. He’s still with us. Mr. Caudle gave viewers an assorted amount of nostalgic memories.
Lance Russell:
We often hear the word great attached to somebody. Lance Russell identified with such a term. Jerry Jarrett’s Continental Wrestling Association vastly rose to notoriety based on intense wrestling sagas. This process needed an extraordinary lead broadcaster to assist with these terrific strategies to retain that grand achievement. Russell began commentary under CWA’s predecessor NWA Mid-America run by Nick Gulas & Roy Welch, before making additional classic calls for Memphis Wrestling.
His noted career lasted between 1959 to 1997. Russell endeared himself to wrestling enthusiasts who lived within not only Memphis & Nashville but other cities like Louisville, Kentucky & Evansville, Indiana. The Tennessee Territory reached various communities. His expertise preluded wrestling had comprised doing other popular sports Basketball & Boxing, &, etc. He inserted a sports mentality into pro wrestling. The way Russell could characterize fortes produced memorable highlights regarding fans that grew up on the type of wrassling’ Jarrett would manufacture with his stars like Jerry Lawler. Russell’s interview segments also became captivating similar to lots of wrestling promotions. Feuds are not only developing in-ring.
The action transpired just as much out of it as in it. CWA approached this uniquely. Lance showcased wrestlers & gave them a platform to express themselves that sometimes got very heated. Russell had stints in World Championship Wrestling & Smoky Mountain Wrestling too. He received the Announcers Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2016. He’s an NWA Hall of Famer via 2006. Russell sadly passed on October 3rd, 2017, due to complications from a broken hip.
Why I selected these individuals? The answer is simple. Each man trailblazed a path of excellence as far as broadcast excellence goes. See, commentators are also storytellers & another thing, none of these men put themselves over. It was about the wrestlers & their journeys.
Now a lot of you reading this will go, where is Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, & Michael Cole, or Kevin Kelly? They deserve all the accolades. JR & Tony have personally influenced me. We’re discussing the men who predated them & if you ask JR and Tony, these gentlemen inspired them both.
So there you have it. I hope everyone will enjoy this article.
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