Michael Cole (wrestling): Difference between revisions
→Backstage interviewer and Raw (1997–1999): ditching your throwaway trivia fact is hardly unjustified. working one night together is hardly notable |
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===World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1997–present)=== |
===World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1997–present)=== |
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====Backstage interviewer and Raw (1997–1999)==== |
====Backstage interviewer and Raw (1997–1999)==== |
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Coulthard came to the World Wrestling Federation in mid-1997 and started using the stage name "Michael Cole." He became the host of ''[[WWF LiveWire|LiveWire]]'' show alongside [[Jim Cornette]] as a backstage interviewer.<ref name="WWEbio"/> Coulthard replaced [[Todd Pettengill]] who left |
Coulthard came to the World Wrestling Federation in mid-1997 and started using the stage name "Michael Cole." He became the host of ''[[WWF LiveWire|LiveWire]]'' show alongside [[Jim Cornette]] as a backstage interviewer.<ref name="WWEbio"/> Coulthard replaced [[Todd Pettengill]] who left from WWF after [[SummerSlam (1997)|SummerSlam]] (the two would work together at the event). In late 1997, Cole became one of the three announcers for the first hour of ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'', alongside [[Jim Ross]] and [[Kevin Kelly (announcer)|Kevin Kelly]].<ref name="WWEbio"/> Eventually Cole was permanently replaced by [[Jerry Lawler]] later in the year. In 1999, Cole became the regular play-by-play announcer for ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' subbing for [[Jim Ross]] when Ross was devastated by [[Bell's palsy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/jimross.html|title=Jim Ross|last=Milner|first=John M.|accessdate=2008-08-31|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}</ref> |
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====SmackDown! (1999–2008)==== |
====SmackDown! (1999–2008)==== |
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Revision as of 05:49, 18 February 2011
| Michael Cole | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 8, 1968[1] Syracuse, New York[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Michael Cole |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Billed weight | 176 lb (80 kg) |
| Billed from | Amenia, New York[2] |
| Debut | 1997[2] |
Michael Sean Coulthard (born December 8, 1968),[1] better known by his stage name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment. A former news journalist, Cole is the current play-by-play commentator for WWE, appearing on all major programming (Raw, NXT, Smackdown, and PPV).[2]
Life and career
Journalism
Coulthard began his career in the media as a journalist, working for CBS Radio.[4] His first high-profile assignment was to cover the failed 1988 US presidential campaign of Democratic Party nominee Michael Dukakis.[5] In 1992, he reported on the presidential campaign of Bill Clinton.[5] Coulthard covered the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993.[4] The following year, he spent nine months covering the Yugoslavian civil war.[5] In 1995 he was also selected to cover the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing.[5] He returned to the presidential campaign trail in 1996 to cover the failed campaigns of Steve Forbes and Sen. Bob Dole.[5]
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1997–present)
Backstage interviewer and Raw (1997–1999)
Coulthard came to the World Wrestling Federation in mid-1997 and started using the stage name "Michael Cole." He became the host of LiveWire show alongside Jim Cornette as a backstage interviewer.[2] Coulthard replaced Todd Pettengill who left from WWF after SummerSlam (the two would work together at the event). In late 1997, Cole became one of the three announcers for the first hour of Monday Night Raw, alongside Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly.[2] Eventually Cole was permanently replaced by Jerry Lawler later in the year. In 1999, Cole became the regular play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Raw subbing for Jim Ross when Ross was devastated by Bell's palsy.[6]
SmackDown! (1999–2008)
When the promotion's new SmackDown! television program debuted later that year, Cole was chosen to be the show's play-by-play announcer.[4] Originally his broadcast partner was Jerry "The King" Lawler, but when Lawler briefly left the WWF, he was replaced by Cole's Heat broadcast partner Tazz shortly before the WWF vs. WCW/ECW invasion storyline.[2][7] Cole also had a stint doing commentary on SmackDown!'s former sister show WWE Velocity.
As announcer, Cole was rarely involved in storylines; however, he has had minor roles in storylines involving Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, Heidenreich, Stephanie McMahon, Vito, and D-Generation X (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, and Rick Rude).[8] He also appeared in the Taxi Driver parody trailer in promotion of WrestleMania 21.
Cole called play-by-play at the 2006 Royal Rumble match because Ross, who had commentated the last three Royal Rumble matches with Tazz, had been "fired" in the storylines and replaced by former ECW play-by-play man Joey Styles, reuniting the original SmackDown! team of Cole and Lawler.[9]
On February 3, 2006, it was announced that he and Tazz were starting a radio show on Howard Stern's "Howard 101" radio station on Sirius, airing Thursday through Sunday at 8 pm, but the show was a trial run that only lasted a couple of weeks.[10]
On April 26, 2006, WWE announced that Cole would become the Managing Editor of WWE.com.[4] Shortly after, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon told shareholders in a meeting held on September 14 that he believes that the website "sucks".[11] In response, Cole replied on WWE.com about updated content for the website: a broadband network with original web-only shows have been scheduled for October, with a new mobile offering, a re-vamped subscription site and more exclusive videos and photos.[12] Cole went on to say, "So in summary, the web site does suck, compared to where we are going to take it, but it won’t suck for long. Wish I could say the same for the boss."[12]
On the June 9 edition of SmackDown!, Cole's broadcast partner Tazz left from SmackDown to ECW, leaving Cole at that moment without a broadcast partner.[2][13] At ECW One Night Stand 2006, John "Bradshaw" Layfield announced he would replace Tazz as color commentator.[14] This proved true five days later when he appeared on that week's edition of SmackDown! as Cole's new broadcast partner.[2][15]
After JBL left the broadcast booth and returned to wrestling action on Raw, Jonathan Coachman became Cole's new partner on January 4, 2008.[2][16] Coachman was then replaced by Mick Foley beginning at Backlash on April 27, 2008.[2][17]
Raw (2008–present)
As a part of the 2008 WWE Draft, Cole was drafted to the Raw brand as Jim Ross was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[18] This effectively ended Cole's near 10 year run as play-by-play commentator on Smackdown in which he called every episode except for two. (The two episodes were the pilot and the 9/11 Tribute show, both of which were called by Ross.)[18] On the July 7, 2008 edition of Raw, Cole was attacked by Kane.[19] He repeatedly asked Cole "Is he alive or dead?" before Cole was saved by Jerry Lawler.[19] Cole made his in-ring debut as Lawler's partner against the tag team of Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase; a match for the World Tag Team Championship.[20] Cole and Lawler lost after Cole inadvertently tagged himself in, and was quickly pinned by Rhodes after a lariat.[20] On the December 14, 2009 episode of Raw, which was the 2009 Slammy Awards, Cole won The "Oh My" Moment of the Year award for vomiting on Chris Jericho at SmackDown's 10th Anniversary show on October 2. On the June 21, 2010, episode of Raw, Cole became the official spokesman for the new (anonymous) General Manager of Raw (as the GM issues his orders through e-mails addressed to Cole) coming up with a new catchphrase of "and I quote...." to begin each e-mail reading.
NXT, Return to SmackDown and Heel Turn (2010–present)
Cole became the color commentator for WWE NXT when the show debuted on February 23, 2010. On the show, Cole started acting more like a heel, constantly arguing with Josh Mathews on commentary and sometimes praising the heels, particularly The Miz, and talking down the faces, most noticeably Daniel Bryan. On the May 18 edition of WWE NXT, Cole was attacked by Bryan, after he constantly belittled him on commentary. On the May 24 episode of Raw, Cole said that on that weeks edition of WWE NXT, he was going to call out Daniel Bryan and demand an apology from him or else sue him for the assault. The following day, on the May 25 edition of WWE NXT, instead of apologizing, Bryan insulted Cole. Cole would retaliate by calling Bryan a "loser" and telling him "he didn't have the heart to be in the WWE" before slapping him, which caused Bryan to be restrained by security as Cole exited the ring. On the May 31 episode of Raw, after defeating The MIZ in a match, Bryan would get attacked from behind by Miz, who would then take Bryan to the commentator desk for Bryan to apologize to Cole, only for Bryan to throw Miz onto Cole instead.
After Cole's feud ended with Bryan, in the second season of NXT, Cole began to show more support for The Miz and his rookie for that season, Alex Riley. Like with Bryan in the first season of NXT, Cole picked on season two rookie Kaval, for being another "internet darling".
Cole would then bring his NXT commentary style to Raw, where he would pick on certain superstars on the Raw roster, such as R-Truth when he performs his entrance theme, Cole would show his displeasure to the song. Cole would also carry over the practice of belittlement towards Bryan as well.
On the third season on NXT, Cole would criticize the whole competition after a challenge, which would require him to ring a gong that was next to him. He would then walk off commentary, "quitting" the show. Cole would return halfway through next week's edition of WWE NXT, rejoining Mathews and CM Punk, who filled in for Cole. Cole would state on commentary that "NXT without Michael Cole is simply bad and he is giving the show journalistic integrity". Like the first two seasons of NXT, Cole would pick on a rookie, this time A.J., who he would also call an "internet darling".
On the October 1 edition of SmackDown, Cole returned to the show to join Matt Striker and Todd Grisham on commentary. On that same episode, Cole would tell Striker and Grisham that the reason he is on the show is because he is the new "Voice of the WWE"[21] and that he should be on all WWE shows.
On the November 15 edition of "Raw," Jim Ross came back to be the special guest commentator for Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger's match as it was Old School night. Cole hated it and called it ridiculous as King and Ross embraced. Ross ignored Cole throughout the pleasantries and Ross said that he was glad to be there, all the while ignoring Cole. As the match started, Michael continued to insult JR and insult Daniel Bryan. After the match, Ross swatted Cole with his hat.
On the November 29 episode of Raw, Cole interfered in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the WWE Championship between Jerry Lawler and The Miz, costing Lawler the match by helping Miz retain his title.[22] A week later, Cole apologized to Lawler, but then changed his mind and said it was all Lawler's fault, so it should be him apologizing. This led to the Raw General Manager to request both men to have a handshake in the ring, and if Lawler hits Cole, he will be terminated from his contract. The two shook hands, only for Lawler to not let go and tell Cole someone else wanted to talk to him, with that person being Randy Orton. After Orton argued with The Miz and Alex Riley, Orton hit an RKO on Cole, who would miss the rest of that night's Raw and was permanently replaced by Todd Grisham on NXT the next day. On the December 28 episode of NXT, Cole returned to the show to help Brodus Clay in a talent show competition.
In 2011, for the first time ever, Cole received his own entrance music, "Texas Fight", the fight song for the University of Texas at Austin.
In wrestling
Accomplishments
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- Slammy Award for the "Oh My" Moment of the Year (2009) Vomiting on Chris Jericho at SmackDown's 10th Anniversary
- Slammy Award for the "And I Quote..." Line of the Year (2010) For his quote "I have just received another email from the general manager."
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Television Announcer (2001, 2009, 2010)[23]
References
- ^ a b c "Michael Cole's IMDB Profile". IMDB.com. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "WWE Bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ "Weekend ramblings from the "Baron of Bar-B-Q"". J.R.'s Bar-B-Q. 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- ^ a b c d Dee, Louie (2006-04-26). "Cole's got a new role". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Cole bio on USA Network". USA Network. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ Milner, John M. "Jim Ross". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Milner, John M. "Tazz". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ "WWE SmackDown! Results - September 16, 2004". Online World Of Wrestling. 2004-09-16. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ "Royal Rumble - January 29, 2006". Hoffco-Inc. 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Schomburg, Eric (2006-02-13). "WWE needs to grow up: Michael Cole, Eddie Guerrero, Triple H, and Todd Grisham". American Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2006-09-14). "Vince McMahon says WWE.com "sucks"; Michael Cole issues a response". WrestleView. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ a b Pena, Daniel. "Vince McMahon says WWE.com "Sucks"". ProWrestling.com. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Dee, Louie (2007-06-09). "Hell week continues". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "ECW One Night Stand 2006 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
- ^ Williams III, Ed (June 16, 2006). "Royal Beating". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-06-16.
There was also a brand new color commentator on SmackDown this week – none other than JBL.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-01-04). "Friends and foes". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ^ "Foley joins Smackdown! broadcast team". 2008-04-27. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ a b Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-06-23). "A Draft Disaster". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ a b Adkins, Greg (2008-07-07). "Four on the Floor". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ a b Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-07-28). "That's "Mr. Adamle" to you". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ a b "SmackDown result 10/08/2010". WWE.com.
- ^ http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/16444776/
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 26, 2011). "Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, CA: 1–40. ISSN 1083-9593.
External links
