Report: Mauro Ranallo Parts Ways With WWE
After four and a half years with the company...
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported on Monday night that Mauro Ranallo and WWE had parted ways.
According to a detailed report on the situation from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Ranallo finished with WWE sometime in the past few weeks, with one source saying that it happened right after last Saturday night's TakeOver.
The longtime wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts announcer signed with WWE at the end of 2015, and began a 14-month tenure as lead voice of SmackDown in January of 2016.
After a noted absence through the spring and summer of 2017, Ranallo joined the broadcast team of NXT, where he remained up until recently as play-by-play announcer.
Ranallo was absent from the August 26 broadcast of NXT, replaced in the main chair by Vic Joseph.
Though he was a regular broadcaster with WWE, Ranallo maintained a degree of independence that allowed him to continue broadcasting boxing and mixed martial arts events. He is signed with Bellator MMA as a play-by-play announcer, and calls boxing events on Showtime.
UPDATE: Meltzer has since put out a report, claiming that Ranallo and WWE's parting was mutual, and that Ranallo had been looking for a less-stressful schedule, which WWE had done their best to accommodate.
The report quotes Ranallo as saying, "I appreciate the opportunity I had to realize my childhood dream of working in sports entertainment, and I wish WWE well in the future. Now I want to direct my focus and devote my time to my other projects and to my mental health charitable activities and the well-being of my mother and myself."
WWE has since issued their own statement, wishing Ranallo well in his future endeavors.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
