Posted By James Walsh on 10/06/17


The role of a great announcer is to be the voice of the brand. Simply put, you know when you hear Al Michaels, Joe Buck, or Jim Nance that you are watching NBC, FOX, or CBS sports respectively. They are the voices of their respective networks which, in wrestling terminology, would be promotion.

For wrestling, with much less TV exposure, an announcer can become the host and the voice of the entire brand. This was never more true than with the CWA in Memphis and the great Lance Russell.

Lance was not your classic wrestling announcer that had every move down pat or was going to give you a Gordon Solie like "Suplay" or "Crimson Mask". But, he was going to give you emotion that matched the action in the ring and told the story the wrestlers in the ring were trying to tell. And, that is the lost art of wrestling.

Corey Maclin, the deceased follow-up to Lance Russell in Memphis, did an almost identical job to Lance Russell on commentary. That was the intent, I believe. And, he did a fitting tribute to the best at his field.

When the history books are written, there will be a top 5 Wrestling Announcers list. And, on that list will be 2 of the gentlemen we lost this year. My list now?

1. Gordon Solie
2. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
3. Gorilla Monsoon
4. Lance Russell
5. Jim Ross

That list may deviate from time to time. But, they arre all among the best. And, that makes Jim Ross the greatest living wrestling announcer. I think he can live with that name.