What did you think of WCW's commentary?

[Pushed to the Moon]

I was just watching some Starrcade 96 (Specifically for Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko cos Dragon said it was his fave match on Jericho's podcast.) and there was a 4 man team. Schiavone, Tenay, Dusty and Heenan. It didn't seem quite as cluttered as today's 3 or 4 man commentary although there was some slight awkwardness here and there. I really liked how they treated it as a real sport and how into it they were. Especially Schiavone.

I know Dusty wasn't always there and Zybysko and Bischoff did it too but what are your thoughtz on the WCW teams?

[DiBiase is Good]

Not a big fan of their commentary. Heenan was past caring and his disdain was obvious. Schiavone was actually a better commentator than he gets credit for but his ridiculous hyperbole overshadows it (although most of that was probably Bischoff in his ear telling him what to say). Tenay was good but was never really used consistently. Then there’s Mongo, dear f***ing Christ. Zbyszko was too busy marking for himself most of the time.
Towards the end I actually quite liked Scott Hudson but he was commentating for a company that was dying on its arse. Mark Madden was absolutely woeful, I get that he was meant to be sucking up to the bosses but any heat he got was from him being f***ing awful.

[schma]

I remember during the Monday Night wars that I did like WCW commentary. My memories of it are pretty fuzzy as opposed to JR and King, though that's partly good. I found King insufferable, especially when he was just screaming puppies but JR's enthusiasm helped make up for that. As for the WCW crew, I think the team I was most familiar with was Heenan, Schiavone and Zybysko and they seemed to do a fine job in their roles. (I drifted from wrestling in the mid 90s due to access and came back to it mid to late 90s so I missed Bischoff and Dusty commentating).

[wrestlingrecap]

I preferred when it was Tony, Heenan and Tenay. Heenan kinda teasing Tenay about various things was enjoyable.

Also, I think Scott Hudson doesmn't get enough credit for his work. By all accounts, he seemed to be next in line to call Nitro.

[schma]

Also, apparently with Heenan his lack of engagement was that he genuinely tried to offer his experience and knowledge in some areas where it would have applied and they basically told him, you're a commentator, go commentate (basically telling him they didn't care to hear what he had to say). At that point he pretty much said fine, sat in his commentator booth and cashed a cheque. It's crazy to think that someone with the kind of knowledge of the business that he had would be told to sit down and shut up basically.

[Pushed to the Moon]

Jul 28, 2018 13:43:26 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

Not a big fan of their commentary. Heenan was past caring and his disdain was obvious. Schiavone was actually a better commentator than he gets credit for but his ridiculous hyperbole overshadows it (although most of that was probably Bischoff in his ear telling him what to say). Tenay was good but was never really used consistently. Then there’s Mongo, dear f***ing Christ. Zbyszko was too busy marking for himself most of the time.
Towards the end I actually quite liked Scott Hudson but he was commentating for a company that was dying on its arse. Mark Madden was absolutely woeful, I get that he was meant to be sucking up to the bosses but any heat he got was from him being f***ing awful.

Oh man I forgot about Mongo. Yeesh. Schiavone saying everything is the greatest thing ever is pretty enjoyable in isolation as opposed to hearing him say it week after week.

Jul 28, 2018 14:01:46 GMT -5 wrestlingrecap said:

I preferred when it was Tony, Heenan and Tenay. Heenan kinda teasing Tenay about various things was enjoyable.

Also, I think Scott Hudson doesmn't get enough credit for his work. By all accounts, he seemed to be next in line to call Nitro.

Yeah that's the 3 I remember from when I was a kid. Not up there with Vince, JR and King but better than what WWE has now I'd say.

[Hit Girl]

The greatest commentary in the history of professsional wrestling!

[schma]

I vaguely remembered Mongo and can't believe I forgot about Tenay. Larry was definitely full of himself but I do remember an episode of Thunder where he was pulled in front of the powers that be to explain why Thunder didn't have viewship like Nitro or something and he basically said everything I'd been thinking about Thunder. So that got him some points in my book.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

When Schiavone gave a shit, he could be great. But man, that company drained the life out of him like a vampire. Hudson and Tenay were as good as they could possibly be in the latter days of WCW, considering what the shows had become. Bischoff is actually better than he's given credit for as a commentator, I think.

[chazraps]

Zybsczko and Madden are the two absolute worst to ever do it for a major promotion's flagship show. (modern day Coach is third)

[chazraps]

Jul 28, 2018 14:01:46 GMT -5 wrestlingrecap said:

Also, I think Scott Hudson doesmn't get enough credit for his work. By all accounts, he seemed to be next in line to call Nitro.

Hudson is tremendous and I'd consider him the all-time most underrated. WCW just never found the perfect partner for him, so his legacy isn't what it should be based on his talent, ability and consistency.

[Deleted]

I liked when during the cruiser matches the announcers would really put over the athleticism and be blown away by what they were seeing in the early days of the international cruiser influx.

By the end all of the announcers were just beaten down by terrible shows and getting annihilated by Raw every week.

Zybysko and Madden are garbage at the table.

[Mister Pigwell]

Tony Heenan and Tenay is one of my favorite teams of all time.
I loved them. Tenay as "The Professor" especially.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Tenay as an additional analyst for international talents was always good value.

[Deleted]

Tony Schiavone, when he was "on", was better than anyone. Yes, including JR. Tony called it like a sport, and behaved like a sports commentator would.

Yeah, he stopped giving a shit after 98... but can you blame him?

[Shark]

For the flack they, rightly, get at times, I do think they really perfected the concept of the 3 man booth. Tony was the lead play by play guy, got over the action in the ring. Heenan was the clearly heel color commentator, even coasting Heenan was still great to listen to. Tenay was the encyclopedia, which was invaluable for the cruiserweight matches. But most important, all 3 gelled together really well.

I'll be honest too, I found Mongo and Dusty to at least be entertainingly goofy. I'd take their weird comments over Lawler lusting over girls who were old enough to be his daughters or even granddaughters.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Mongo was an awful commentator, but god, was he entertainingly bad.

[Deleted]

I loved Tony,Bobby and Dusty with Tenay coming in for specific matches in 96 & 97 on the ppv’s the company was hot and it was a fun dynamic.Never a fan of Larry Z and I was always baffled at how over he was with the crowds I never got his appeal.

[segaz]

Jul 28, 2018 13:43:26 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

Not a big fan of their commentary. Heenan was past caring and his disdain was obvious. Schiavone was actually a better commentator than he gets credit for but his ridiculous hyperbole overshadows it (although most of that was probably Bischoff in his ear telling him what to say). Tenay was good but was never really used consistently. Then there’s Mongo, dear f***ing Christ. Zbyszko was too busy marking for himself most of the time.
Towards the end I actually quite liked Scott Hudson but he was commentating for a company that was dying on its arse. Mark Madden was absolutely woeful, I get that he was meant to be sucking up to the bosses but any heat he got was from him being f***ing awful.

I used to believe this, until i started watching actual whole nitros from 1996, and heenan and Tony would actually go back and forth at times. There were even times they'd team up on Tenay. Yeah, not consistently amazing like his WWE work, but....

It's like everything WCW, it's easy to look at the obvious failures and say it always sucked, but if you dig deep, there are gems, and Tony doesn't literally "greatest night in the history of our sport!" Every nitro and thunder. Well i don't know about march 1999+ tbh...

Bishoff too could be quite good when not taking pot shots at WWF.

[agent817]

Jul 28, 2018 21:37:53 GMT -5 2coldMack is even more baffled said:

Mongo was an awful commentator, but god, was he entertainingly bad.

That comment was appropo, and that doesn't you're digging in the dirt with farm implements, baby.