Do you know since Monday Night time Uncooked launched all the way in which again in 1993 that the weekly present has used greater than seventy-five completely different commentary groups? A few of these have been, after all, random one-offs due to announcers getting sick or no matter, besides, that quantity nonetheless speaks for itself. With a couple of notable exceptions, it’s too typically felt like a science experiment being consistently tinkered with, and now, it appears WWE followers wish to tinker once more.
Final evening on Monday Night time Uncooked, former famous person and WWE World Ambassador Titus O’Neil stopped by the commentary sales space so as to add slightly aptitude to the Alpha Academy and Viking Raiders match, and on the entire, he was fairly good. He injected loads of vitality, got here throughout like an invested fan and largely bounced nicely off Corey Graves particularly. Followers responded very positively on social media, and shortly, there have been a bunch of tweets speaking about how he must be a regular part of the Raw commentary team. Right here’s an instance tweet with virtually 5,000 likes…
Titus O’Neil must be on the Uncooked commentary desk completely. pic.twitter.com/uruzBbJOFOJuly 18, 2023
The present Uncooked commentary crew options Corey Graves, who has been a longtime fixture on WWE programming as an analyst and Kevin Patrick, who was promoted from interviewer and PPV pre-show speaking head to play-by-play man again in October. Most followers actually like what Graves brings to the desk (and so do I), however the response to Kevin Patrick has been, for probably the most half, lower than enthusiastic.
He hasn’t developed a very good rhythm of when to relate the motion and when to be quiet, and he typically speaks in obscure generalities which might be flawed, like final evening when he stated Kevin Owens isn’t perturbed, regardless of his whole present character being about not controlling his feelings. By all accounts, he’s a very nice man, and typically he’s capable of deliver a enjoyable and real vitality to the sales space, however he wants much more seasoning. It’s simply not there but.
So, on the one hand, I get the place the WWE Universe is coming from in wanting Titus O’Neil to affix the crew. A change is unquestionably wanted, and like most individuals, I root for Titus in no matter he’s doing. His enthusiasm makes no matter I am watching pop a bit extra, and my knee jerk response was additionally that he may deliver one thing new as a 3rd chair.
However however, no. The extra I take into consideration this concept, the extra I’m satisfied it’s really dangerous. First, Titus O’Neil shouldn’t be an skilled commentator, and the very last thing the inexperienced Kevin Patrick wants is one other inexperienced individual added to the crew. For instance, in the beginning of The Viking Raiders and Alpha Academy match, Graves tried to set O’Neil up by saying he have to be an skilled in Vikings Guidelines Matches, having competed in opposition to The Viking Raiders and as a substitute of simply going with it and taking the lead, O’Neil stated he’s not an skilled as a result of his match in opposition to tag crew was below regular guidelines, which was adopted by awkward useless air.
Clearly everybody has bizarre and uncomfortable moments within the saying sales space. That’s simply a part of the job, however should you return and really hear carefully to your complete commentary final evening, there’s not a lot smoothness in any respect. There’s additionally not a lot serving to to inform the story. It’s simply loads of reacting with vitality, which is ok for a ten minute mid-card match, however shouldn’t be what’s lacking from the Uncooked commentary sales space as a complete.
Uncooked‘s issues are all of the extra putting in comparison in opposition to WWE’s different major weekly present Smackdown. You’ll have thought the FOX staple would have been the one in disarray after Pat McAfee stepped away, however Wade Barrett has stepped in and completed a rattling good job in a throwback heel commentator sort of means. He is gelled nicely with Michael Cole, who has continued to construct on the profession resurgence he is had over the previous few years because the preliminary pairing with McAfee.
So, actually, it is all about fixing Uncooked. I’m glad Triple H and firm have given Kevin Patrick time to truly develop. Poor Adnan Virk acquired like six weeks earlier than they let him return in 2021, however it’s been 9 months. I feel it’s time for a change. In the event that they wish to follow Patrick, they want to usher in a 3rd chair, but when they try this, it must be somebody who’s an skilled broadcaster that may assist overcome these shortcomings. Titus O’Neil shouldn’t be that man and he’s not the precise match right here. That being stated, would I like to see him added to 1 match a month on Uncooked indefinitely? Sure. Signal me up for that.
