How Much Does Commentary Affect a Match?

Marketh. · 07-20-2009, 01:54 PM

I'm asking this because recently I saw the Hybrid Dolphins/MCMG match, which was great, but had one thing going against it: the commentary was the worst I'd ever heard.

Anyone who knows anything about the Hybrid Dolphins knows they began in a promo where London and Dragon were pretending (or maybe they actually were) to be high. And they rambled on about dolphins and bees and it got over huge. It was hilarious. London had to pull out of the match, and was replaced by Roderick Strong, so London stayed on commentary, calling it with whoever does it for PWG. I think he was high again. Basically, all four men in the ring are putting on a brilliant match, but these two idiots can't stop talking shit about mutated animals and taking the Hybrid Dolphins joke way too far to the point where it just wasn't funny anymore and incredibly annoying. It seriously took away from the match and it was painful to listen to. They weren't taking anything about the match seriously, thus hurting it.

As great of a match it was, I never want to watch it again, unless I can find a version with muted commentary.

But then there's the case of the announcing making matches better. Most people enjoyed CM Punk when he was on colour for a while, he was so entertaining, it made it easier to watch what was going on in the ring. I felt Nigel McGuinness had the same effect, making lowcard matches seem more fun.

What do you think?

Tommy Platinum · 07-20-2009, 01:59 PM

Obviously the job of the commentators is to put over the match and make it seem like the huge deal it should be, so whenever commentators arn't doing that, it is a big problem and can definitely make a match a lot less enjoyable. You want to be watching a match thinking it is a big deal, and you can't really buy into the significance and drama of a match if the commentators are being complete idiots and neglecting to talk about it and give it the respect it gravitas it deserves.

I even hate it when there's a match going on in the ring and all the commentators are doing is talking about the rest of the card. Makes it seem like the guys in the ring don't matter. This London thing sounds awful. I have the match on my comp but am yet to watch it. I am not looking forward to hearing these idiots basically shit all over the match by commentating in that way.

The Raw King · 07-20-2009, 02:01 PM

The Commentary can make or break the match, hence, when I watch Raw, and they have a great match i push the mute button.

Sir Nicky Talent · 07-20-2009, 02:14 PM

I don't mind humor in commentary. However, you have to realize, your job is walk the audience through the match up. You're supposed to help the viewer understand many elements of the match-up. You are supposed to describe the build-up of the match. Describe the background of the competitors. Give out interesting facts. Most importantly, explain the impact and the manuevers of the the competitors.

Commentary is like art. With your voice as the brush, you finish the entire painting.

I saw that match, Marketh, and I agrre with you. With these four talented men in a wrestling ring, this isn't a time for open mic night. It ruined the match for me.

Crest Fall · 07-20-2009, 02:21 PM

Quite a bit. PWG's commentary is so bad that if they didn't offer the option on many of their DVDs to switch it off I'd probably never watch their product. Another example is that some of the older commentary from guys like Gorilla Monsoon & The Brain, Jim Ross in WCW, etc. can make a show worth watching even if the actual wrestling isn't up to par.

For me, announcing is a bit like refereeing, in that you're not really supposed to notice it, but what you do hear should add to the wrestling experience of getting you excited, angry, happy, etc.

Strong Machine · 07-20-2009, 06:32 PM

I love it when the color guy actually talks about his experience in the ring especially what a certain move can do to you and its affect on, Taz and JBL used to do it all the time, Striker occasionally does too, but Jerry Lawler hardly ever talks about his in ring experience anymore, despite Cole asking him if he has ever done something (competed with an injury)

What is the point of two guys sitting at the table wondering what certain moves feel like? With a former wrestler at the table they can put over what a move does to you and what their strategy would be.

horrorfan_1986 · 07-20-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marketh.
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As great of a match it was, I never want to watch it again, unless I can find a version with muted commentary.

If you'd like, I can start ripping PWG matches with both commentary tracks. Then with VLC, you can change audio tracks.

Commentary does affect a match, however; I find it more for the good than bad. Granted, having bad commentary can take some enjoyment away from a match, but you could always turn down the sound. Plus quality speaks for itself. On the other hand, if you have a horrible match, sometimes a commentary can make it enjoyable. CM Punk and JBL were known for that.

The worst commentary I've ever heard was typically from WCW. Especially when you're watching WCW Saturday Night or something that isn't too important, the commentators will completely ignore the match. It basically makes the match pointless as the young wrestlers aren't being put over. There were a few times I just muted the TV so I could focus on the match. Even the best story line can become annoying when it's talked about in every single segment. After a couple years of the nWo, I couldn't stand it anymore because of that.

Strong Machine · 07-20-2009, 06:58 PM

Coach and Al Snow did the same things on Heat, calling everyone "Babaganouche". It was unfunny and got old quick

Sir Nicky Talent · 07-20-2009, 06:58 PM

That's also why TNA is a joke as well. Instead of talking about the match, DW plays a bad, biased heel and both men constatnly talk about the main event or The Main Event Mafia.

It's hard to find good commentary these days, along with other things.

Marketh. · 07-20-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorfan_1986
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If you'd like, I can start ripping PWG matches with both commentary tracks. Then with VLC, you can change audio tracks.

That'll do nicely. Their commentary was bad, but bearable at first, but now I've had enough.

As for the muting thing, tbh, I just don't think I could do that. Missing out on the crowd reactions and the impact sounds would really take away from the match, maybe not as much as the bad commentary, but quite a bit. Maybe some of you have done it before and are used to it, but I don't think I could do it.

How Much Does Commentary Affect a Match?

This is a discussion on How Much Does Commentary Affect a Match? within the General Pro Wrestling : Classic & General forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; I'm asking this because recently I saw the Hybrid Dolphins/MCMG match, which was great, but had one thing going against ...