Mauro Ranallo Opens Up About Leaving WWE

Former WWE and NXT play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo has opened up about his decision to leave the company earlier this year.

Ranallo ended his second stint with WWE in August, but it wasn’t on negative terms this time around.

Speaking with POST Wrestling, Ranallo said:

“WWE is one of the most mentally grueling places — and that’s not necessarily a criticism by any means — there’s a reason Vince McMahon has built a multi-billion dollar empire. Is it perfect? Not by any means, but neither am I. I chose to go to WWE and it was a dream come true. I wanted to work with WWE because I thought it would be an affirmation of my achievements as a broadcaster, but because of the connection I had with pro wrestling. I thought Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton and I had instant chemistry, but they made the changes they felt they had to make. I’ve proven I can work with almost anyone as a broadcaster, but there were many times I was like, ‘what is going on here?’ Four-man booth, an eight-man booth. I get it, but that’s not what I want as a commentator. I get the stressful situations and the changes on the fly and the system, but for my mental health, even moving to NXT — when we were live, it was the best experience I could ask for, and that’s a testament to what Triple H and everyone in NXT has done. I just felt, for my own mental health, even doing the show from home, it was to the point where I would have a panic attack in the morning of the recordings in the last few months. All respect, I didn’t like what was happening and who was involved. All respect to all announcers, I believe in chemistry. Maybe I was the problem. On show day, I’m not a great guy to be around because I’m focused. I’m prepared and I expect everyone else to be the same. I’m a play-by-play announcer, and I think I’m one of the best in business, I need to be left alone at times.”

Mauro Ranallo has stayed active in the world of combat sports announcing and recently called the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. boxing fight card last month.

After some chopping and changing, NXT has now settled on Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett and Beth Phoenix as its announce team.

Quote via Fightful

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