Okay, so, Elevation commentary...

[Mozenrath]

I love AEW, it's currently my favorite wrestling company by a margin, but they definitely are still working the kinks out with commentary. Just, as a bit of setup, he's an overview of the commentators.

JR's infamously inconsistent on Dynamite. Some great calls, and a whole lot questionable ones. His age has definitely highlighted cracks in his commentary that he always had, but they are more glaring now. But, this isn't about him.

Tony's got a lot of enthusiasm and can be warm, even if he gets a chip on his shoulder sometimes. Never anything major, just the occasional stuff where he gets kind of sensitive about smarks. That rarely really pops out when he's commentating, and it's whatever, he's human. His biggest issue I guess is that he really does not seem to know enough move names to really be doing play by play, but that's not a big deal and is overshadowed by his positives.

Paul Wight similarly has enthusiasm, even if he's got issues. A lot of his seem to just be inexperience, and he's smoothing some of it out. Like Jericho, he just kind of steps on bits sometimes and seems a little confused, though he's a bit less of a braying jackass than Jericho can be if he gets off on a tangent.

Eddie Kingston and Ricky Starks both do a good job, both in working kayfabe in to where they aren't just suddenly cool with people they shouldn't be cool with, but also not burying their rivals. I can buy them, they're good.

Excalibur and Taz are the best commentators they have, honestly, certainly together but also just in general. Experienced, energetic, and very aware of what the performers are trying to get over, and they work it in. Couldn't ask for more, really.

As for tonight, though....

Tonight's Elevation was... excruciating, from a commentary perspective when Mark Henry replaced Eddie Kingston.

If the camera cut to Mark Henry with a tranquilizer dart jutting out of his neck, it would have hardly phased me. That was easily the worst commentary I have ever heard from Mark. Can they send him to Chicago to learn how to call a match from Mongo? He stunk up the place, badly, and he was actively a hindrance to the matches going on, bringing Tony and Wight down with him in what just made the matches' energy leak out like a balloon. Did he find out before putting his headset on that he had a severe diagnosis, or that his stocks all crashed? What the hell happened here?

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

There's a reason Henry has been taken off of TV commentary. They really need to cut their losses entirely with him in that regard and just have him as the backstage interviewer. Unless there's a clause in his contract that has him needing to commentate a certain number of times which... idk why that'd exist.

The best Elevation team is Tony/Paul/Kingston and it's not even close. They all bounce off of each other so well. But you remove Eddie and suddenly Tony can't call any moves right and no one corrects him... and Paul just loses who he can bounce off of... because Henry's a brick wall to try and get anything out of.

Hopefully this isn't a regular thing going forward because it's just... a drastic drop off when Kingston leaves the booth.

[Dub H]

Honestly even as the pre-match interview I dont dig much Henry, exactly because of the way too unexcited and kinda phony sounding way he talks

[Chiral]

I was probably paying attention to him more cuz of his dumb comments but Henry REALLY stuck out tonight, sounding like he was nodding off and him talking about food more than matches at points.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 12, 2021 0:34:35 GMT -5 Chiral said:

I was probably paying attention to him more cuz of his dumb comments but Henry REALLY stuck out tonight, sounding like he was nodding off and him talking about food more than matches at points.

The "I don't like holding hands" tangent he made aged horrifically. Especially when Paul asked if he would hold his and he said something along the lines of "Of course I wouldn't you're a MAN first off" and then went into it being because of germs or something.

Khan's personally editing the Youtube Shows now so he's hearing the same shit we are... I'd imagine he's reconsidering Henry as an on screen talent by this point. Probably thought "Maybe if I put him on Elevation he can either get better or be less of a distraction" but lord he still is... especially when you tangent him from KINGSTON. It's just a losing battle.

[Cyno]

So, I normally don't watch Elevation, but after hearing talk about how bad Henry was, I was curious to see what the deal was.

Yeesh, he was awful.

[Chiral]

At one point he said something like "Don't even TALK to me about peanut butter right now" sounding more engaged than anything going on in the ring and that should be his catchphrase instead of "It's time for the main event"

Wrestler A: "Just you wait, I'll show you what a real rampage is!"
Wrestler B: "No *I* will, I'm gonna kick your ass in a few minutes."
Mark Henry: "Alright alright guys. Don't even TALK to me about peanut butter right now!"

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 12, 2021 1:34:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

So, I normally don't watch Elevation, but after hearing talk about how bad Henry was, I was curious to see what the deal was.

Yeesh, he was awful.

Ruby/Sakura and The Eight Man were really fun matches though

I just wish Kingston had called them...

[Mozenrath]

Tonight's Elevation is sponsored by Ambien!

[mrbananagrabber]

He must be getting paid a pretty penny to be there. I can’t imagine that investment has paid off.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 12, 2021 4:19:03 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

He must be getting paid a pretty penny to be there. I can’t imagine that investment has paid off.

He is really good on the recruitment side and even helped get Giannis in to an AEW show. I also imagine he might have helped set up the Owen Hart stuff with how close he is to the family.

On screen however he has been less than stellar. His stupid comments on the radio show haven't helped peoples perception of him when he does show up either.

[mrbananagrabber]

Oct 12, 2021 4:28:17 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Oct 12, 2021 4:19:03 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

He must be getting paid a pretty penny to be there. I can’t imagine that investment has paid off.

He is really good on the recruitment side and even helped get Giannis in to an AEW show. I also imagine he might have helped set up the Owen Hart stuff with how close he is to the family.

On screen however he has been less than stellar. His stupid comments on the radio show haven't helped peoples perception of him when he does show up either.

Oh I didn’t know all that. Yeah he’s probably good to have behind the scenes. But on the show I’m not sure what there is for him to do that doesn’t involve him wrestling or managing.

[markymark]

I would move Mark to AEW Dark, keep Paul, Eddie and Tony on Elevation.

Maybe Mark needs someone cheerful to get motivated like Paul has gotten enjoyable when Eddie was in the booth.

[King Devitt]

Oct 12, 2021 1:58:16 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Oct 12, 2021 1:34:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

So, I normally don't watch Elevation, but after hearing talk about how bad Henry was, I was curious to see what the deal was.

Yeesh, he was awful.

Ruby/Sakura and The Eight Man were really fun matches though

I just wish Kingston had called them...

I had to end up muting the sound on my computer. I couldn't take it anymore.

Keep Mark away from any and all microphones. The man is a closed minded relic from a (thank god) bygone era.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 12, 2021 7:20:45 GMT -5 markymark said:

I would move Mark to AEW Dark, keep Paul, Eddie and Tony on Elevation.

Maybe Mark needs someone cheerful to get motivated like Paul has gotten enjoyable when Eddie was in the booth.

Keep him a million miles away from Excalibur and Taz's rapport. That's special.

[bog]

Eddie helps but yeah Elevation commentary has never been great, and really distracts me from the show. Easily my least favorite of AEW programs.

[markymark]

I still question why they never hired Veda Scott(she was great at Knockouts Knockdown, carrying Mickie on commentary).

[Deleted]

Eddie is really the glue that holds that booth together. To an extent that I think he and Paul Wight together is a top tier booth, but Paul is one of the worst commentators around without him. I get that Eddie has to go wrestle and stuff sometimes, but he really should stay in the Elevation booth full-time. His presence is invaluable.

[lucas_lee]

Mark Henry is really bland but I think Jericho is still the worst on commentary. My goodness all he does is go at a 10 when its not required and that act gets old quick.

[Deleted]

Someone's wig was split and, looking into the mirror, Mark realized it was his own.