Tom Phillips Becomes New SmackDown Lead Announcer

[Steveweiser]

www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2014-08-22/tom-phillips-joins-smackdown-announce-team

Starting from tonight's show, Tom Phillips becomes the new PBP man for SmackDown, with Michael Cole and JBL as his colour guys. Next move should be Jerry Lawler announcing his retirement, and Renee Young joining Cole and JBL on RAW.

[turkeysandwich]

Why is Cole still there?

[Deleted]

I'll give him 11 minutes before cracking.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Aug 22, 2014 11:14:28 GMT -5 turkeysandwich said:

Why is Cole still there?

My first thought as well. I get him being there for a few weeks just so the new guy can get acclimated but I hope it's not permanent. I hate three man commentary teams.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

My body is ready for Tom Phillips.

[PKO]

I assumed he was replacing Cole which would be preferable.

[Hit Girl]

It won't work.

JBL will verbally haze the guy and Cole will be the de facto play by play guy.

[wallabylikeyou]

Serious question: Was Tom Phillips not the one they let go?

[Just call me D.j.m.]

He'll be the lead PBP man, and yet JBL and Cole won't let him get more than 10 words in.

[Mayonnaise]

I'm okay with this. Tom is alright on NXT and since the same people are in charge on Smackdown, he should be alright.

[Just call me D.j.m.]

Aug 22, 2014 11:39:17 GMT -5 wallabylikeyou said:

Serious question: Was Tom Phillips not the one they let go?

That was Josh Matthews. The guy who had been with the company forever.

[silverplaquevii]

I smell a brand split 2.

People remember Matthews, Booker, Cole did it. There were two versions in the past like:

2007 - Ross/Lawler, Cole/JBL, Styles/Tazz
2010 - Cole/Lawler, Grisham/Striker
Today - Cole/Lawler/JBL, Phillips/Cole/JBL

For me it should be:
Tenay/Hudson/Lawler - Raw
Cole/Saxton - Main Event
Phillips/JBL/Cole - SmackDown

[Hit Girl]

I'd do it like this...

Phillips/Young/Regal - NXT

Cole/Lawler - RAW



I'd replace Smackdown with NXT, since Smackdown is pretty much irrelevant now.

[The Tee Why]

I dont mind Cole as he sometimes tries to call the action in the ring as opposed to getting himself over

[Wolfman Rose]

Aug 22, 2014 11:26:33 GMT -5 PKO said:

I assumed he was replacing Cole which would be preferable.

I'd say Cole will just be on RAW in a couple of months, but until then he'll be on Smackdown while Phillips gets adjusted.

[Abdullah]

JBL is going to wreck 'dat.

...Verbally, much like he ran off Matthews.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Joey Styles is going to rip someone's eye out of its socket if anyone messes with Tom.

[Chiral]

I'm not surprised he's gonna be on the main shows already, he says a lot of Cole-isms, which I assume are WWE-isms now. Stuff like "Knocked off" instead of beat and the like.

[Deleted]

Congrats to him.

But yeah, why is Cole there indeed. Has a commentator ever been lead commentator on one show and a color analyst on another at the same time?

Plus if they feel they need to gently transition Phillips into the position by keeping Cole around, then he probably isn't ready for the job...

Aug 22, 2014 11:49:16 GMT -5 silverplaquevii said:

I smell a brand split 2.

With the emaciated roster we have nowadays?! Different announce teams on shows isn't brand split specific.......man, I feel old suddenly.

[mrbananagrabber]

Since when does "colour commentator" mean Michael f***ing Cole?