Powell's Blog: Tazz leaves WWE - What's next for him and the WWE broadcast team?


prowrestling.net
MEMBERSHIP INFO | LOG-IN | CONTACT US | SUBMIT NEWS | ABOUT US
Insider News • Live TV & PPV Coverage • Hitlists • Results • Blogs

HOME | WWE NEWS | TNA NEWS | MMA NEWS | ALL NEWS | TV & PPV | ARENA REPORTS | VIEWPOINTS | PRODUCT REVIEWS | AWARDS

Powell's Blog


Powell's Blog: Tazz leaves WWE - What's next for him and the WWE broadcast team?
Apr 1, 2009 - 12:00 PM


Wednesday, April 1 – 12:00 P.M. (CT)

-The surprising news of Tazz's departure from WWE leads to some obvious questions. First, what's next for Tazz? As I mentioned yesterday, he would be a great addition to the TNA broadcast team. The current storyline with Don West could be the company's way of eventually pulling him from the team or setting up a three-man team with Mike Tenay.

I'm not a fan of three-man broadcast teams, but I think a motivated Tazz would be a tremendous addition to TNA. I'd love to see Tazz wrestle full-time again, but I don't think that's in the cards given his injury history. If nothing else, he would provide some much needed credibility to the TNA broadcast team, which has really taken a turn for the worse ever since West's heel turn.

I've always thought that West would be better off as the backstage pitch man. He might see it as a demotion, but who better to sell the company's pay-per-views, house show events, and merchandise than someone with his background?

Meanwhile, Ring of Honor desperately needs someone like Tazz on their new HDNet show. Rookie-to-wrestling play-by-play man Mike Hogewood brings an old school vibe to the broadcast. Color commentator Dave Prazak knows his stuff and does a solid job, but he lacks credibility with new viewers.

I'd be surprised if Tazz gave up his WWE career for a stint with Ring of Honor, so this is admittedly wishful thinking on my part. Nevertheless, ROH officials must know that new viewers are subconsciously asking themselves, "Who is the guy with the bad dye job and why should I care what he has to say?" I'm not saying that Prazak won't make a name for himself in time, but ROH needs to make a splash and company officials would be wise to consider the idea of adding a former wrestler to their broadcast team that fans recognize and respect.

-What's next for WWE? The obvious answer seems to be JBL, who was a fantastic color commentator in the past. He is expected to hang up the boots soon and I'm sure he'd be welcomed back to the broadcast team with open arms, but the question is whether he wants the gig.

It's no secret that JBL also received the Vince McMahon treatment while working as a color commentator. They've established a good friendship since then, but JBL has plenty of options outside the wrestling industry and only he knows whether he enjoys the business enough to include weekly WWE tapings in his schedule if he opts to end his in-ring career.

Even if JBL takes his old job back, WWE may still need to add a new commentator to the mix. After all, they have the new WGN show debuting later this month. They could have the team of Todd Grisham and Matt Striker do double duty since they're only doing an hour of ECW each week, but there's no telling what the broadcast teams will be once the WWE Draft unfolds a week from Monday.

The company has reportedly auditioned several people who work for the company for a color commentator position, and they could always reach out to former color commentator Paul Heyman again (although I don't know if he or the company are in a hurry to work together again).

Regardless of the long-term plan, it will be interesting to see how the situation is handled at WrestleMania 25. The company could have worked out a deal to keep Tazz around through the pay-per-view, so the fact that he finished up on Monday night is a good indication that they already have a plan in place.

My guess is the big WrestleMania moment that JBL has been teasing will be that he wrestles his match, retires, and joins the broadcast team again all in the same night, but that's purely speculation on my part. No matter what happens, it will be an interesting story to follow in the days leading up to WrestleMania 25.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE:


READ OUR INSIDER NEWS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE! BECOME A MEMBER FOR JUST $7.50 A MONTH (or less with a year-long sub) - GET THE FIRST LOOK AT EXCLUSIVE INSIDER DOT NET NEWS, TONS OF EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CONTENT, MEMBER MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, START YOUR OWN BLOG, AND VIEW THE SITE WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISING: SIGN ME UP (or MORE INFO)



RELATED ARTICLES FROM MGID AFFILIATE SITES...
Powell's Blog • Latest Five Articles
Powell's Blog: UFC 143 in 3D at the movie theater, why WWE may do better business in 3D, a strange call by Ring of Honor
Powell's Blog: Thoughts on ROH on SBH debut - Nigel McGuinness makes a surprise return as the color commentator, Kevin Kelly is everywhere, and the show desperately needs a dash of sex appeal
Powell's Blog: Booking The Rock and John Cena at Survivor Series with an NWO twist
Powell's Blog: A list of candidates for who brought Kevin Nash to WWE SummerSlam and their possible motivations
Powell's Blog: WWE drops the ball on Money in the Bank promotion, and in hyping the Power to the People edition of Monday Night Raw
Powell's Blog: Mick Foley to follow in Chyna's footsteps - the real reason he and the greatest writer in pro wrestling history are leaving the TNA Impact Wrestling Matters But Not Really promotion

Get Dot Net's Free Mobile Apps

GOT AN IPHONE, IPAD, IPOD TOUCH, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, OR ANDROID PHONE? THEN BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR NEW FREE APP
(or SEARCH "pro wrestling" in App Store or Android Marketplace)


Or simply visit www.prowrestling.net on your smart phone's browser for a mobile-friendly version of this site.



DOT NET MEMBERS LOGIN
CLICK HERE

(www.prowrestling.net/members)
The URL MUST include "www."

FORMER MEMBERS, RENEW BY CLICKING HERE
(enter your username/password)

Become a Member Today - Click Here!


Dot Net Podcast
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DOT NET FREE PODCAST IN ITUNES OR CLICK HERE FOR LISTING OF LATEST SHOWS



MEMBERSHIP INFO
Become a Dot Net Member right now for $7.50 a month or $66 a year ($5.50 a month avg.). Get exclusive audio, first-look insider news, Forum access, member blogs, more...

CLICK FOR SIGN-UP INFO


The Current Must-Read List
• 2/11 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: WWE Smackdown audio review – Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton, Big Show ad Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes, and more
• Shore's WWE Smackdown Hitlist: Another gassy episode of Smackdown, Randy Orton and Big Show brawl, Daniel Bryan and AJ bore, Jinder Mahal preforms a ceremony for no reason, and Sheamus looks strong
• 2/10 Shore's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: AJ speaks for the first time since her run-in with Big Show, and Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton
• 2/10 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live Review: Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton plus Beth Phoenix, Sheamus, Big Show, Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett in action
• Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Rundown: James Storm and Sting vs. Bully Ray and Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles, Austin Aries vs. Douglas Williams vs. Alex Shelley, and more
• WWE News: Alberto Del Rio says he genuinely dislikes The Miz and has tried to punch him in the face, comments on his injury and his current health status
• 2/10 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: TNA Impact Wrestling recap - Sting returns to action on the Against All Odds go home show and much more
• Dot Net Awards 2011: Vote for the best pro wrestler of 2011
• Pruett’s Pause: TNA Impact Wrestling – Sting teams with James Storm to take on Bobby Roode and Bully Ray, Against All Odds go-home show, Star Wars meets wrestling
• 2/9 Impact Wrestling Live Coverage: A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels, Mickie James vs. Velvet Sky, and Sting and James Storm vs. Bobby Roode and Bully Ray
ACCESS PREVIOUS MUST-READ ARTICLES

Dot Net Free Podcasts
• 2/11 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: WWE Smackdown audio review – Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton, Big Show ad Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes, and more
• 2/10 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: TNA Impact Wrestling recap - Sting returns to action on the Against All Odds go home show and much more
• 2/7 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: WWE Raw SuperShow review - Six Pack Challenge, Chris Jericho speaks, R-Truth and Eve injuries, Triple H responds to Undertaker's challenge
CLICK FOR FULL LISTING OF ALL PODCASTS

Articles Grouped by Category

LATEST NEWS UPDATES

• TNA Against All Odds PPV lineup: The full card set for Sunday's show headlined by Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy vs. James Storm vs. Bully Ray for the TNA Title

• WWE News: Jim Ross comments on Undertaker vs. Triple H, the involvement of Shawn Michaels, The Rock vs. John Cena, C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho, Nick Diaz controversy

• Video: WWE star The Rock on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"

• WWE Video: 2/9 WWE Superstars - WWE Tag Champions and the U.S. Champion in action

• Former WWE Tough Enough contestant fighting for Bellator, believes he's been blackballed in pro wrestling

• WWE News: Alberto Del Rio says he genuinely dislikes The Miz and has tried to punch him in the face, comments on his injury and his current health status

• How old is TNA Knockout Tara?

• Samoa Joe on his proudest moment in TNA, whether Impact Wrestling needs to leave the Impact Zone, the state of the tag team division

LATEST PPV & TV REPORTS

• 2/10 Kester's WWE Superstars Report: Primo and Epico vs. JTG and Michael McGillicutty, Jack Swagger vs. Santino Marella, Yoshi Tatsu vs. Johnny Curtis, and Heath Slater vs. Justin Gabriel

• 2/10 Shore's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: AJ speaks for the first time since her run-in with Big Show, and Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton

• 2/10 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live Review: Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton plus Beth Phoenix, Sheamus, Big Show, Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett in action

• 2/9 Impact Wrestling Live Coverage: A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels, Mickie James vs. Velvet Sky, and Sting and James Storm vs. Bobby Roode and Bully Ray

• 2/8 Kester's WWE NXT Live Coverage Review: Darren Young vs. Percy Watson, Maxine vs. Kaitlyn, Heath Slater vs. Derrick Bateman, Trent Barreta vs. Tyson Kidd, and The Uso Brothers vs. Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins

• 2/6 Powell's WWE Raw Live Coverage: The Elimination Chamber build continues, John Laurinaitis's job status

• Kester's UFC 143 PPV Results and Review: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce, Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen, and Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks

• 2/3 Shore's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: Elimination Chamber entrants announced, Brodus Clay appears, and Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

LATEST VIEWPOINTS

• Shore's WWE Smackdown Hitlist: Another gassy episode of Smackdown, Randy Orton and Big Show brawl, Daniel Bryan and AJ bore, Jinder Mahal preforms a ceremony for no reason, and Sheamus looks strong

• Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Rundown: James Storm and Sting vs. Bully Ray and Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles, Austin Aries vs. Douglas Williams vs. Alex Shelley, and more

• Pruett’s Pause: TNA Impact Wrestling – Sting teams with James Storm to take on Bobby Roode and Bully Ray, Against All Odds go-home show, Star Wars meets wrestling

• 2/8 Wednesday One Shots: The Dot Net staff give their quick thoughts from the previous week in WWE, TNA, MMA and indy wrestling

• Kester's WWE Raw Rundown: The Undertaker demands a WrestleMania rematch, CM Punk gives Chris Jericho a taste of his own medicine, Kane continues to stalk Eve, and more

• Pruett’s Pause: WWE Raw SuperShow – Chris Jericho and Triple H offer exposition, Six Pack Challenge with Elimination Chamber participants featuring C.M. Punk, John Cena and The Rock embrace Twitter hate

• Powell's WWE Raw Hitlist: Triple H and Undertaker, Six Pack Challenge, Daniel Bryan and Big Show, Chris Jericho talks, John Laurinaitis keeps his job, Randy Orton and Great Khali vs. Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett

• Powell's Blog: UFC 143 in 3D at the movie theater, why WWE may do better business in 3D, a strange call by Ring of Honor

LATEST PRODUCT REVIEWS

• testtewt234

• MEMBER AUDIO ALERT: Here's how to listen to our exclusive audio shows on your phone

• Dot Net Video Game Review: WWE ’12 – Does the series reboot live up to expectations?

• Dot Net DVD Review: WWE Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

• Dot Net Theatre Review: Pro wrestling play - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

• Dot Net DVD Review: Colt Cabana and Daniel Bryan's Wrestling Road Diaries

• Brock Lesnar's "DeathClutch" book review - Powell's thoughts on the former UFC Champion's autobiography co-written by Paul Heyman

• Dot Net Book Review: "The Road Warriors: Danger, Death and the Rush of Wrestling" by Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis

© 2008-2011 LAST ROW MEDIA LLC • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -- PRIVACY POLICY