Ring Rust Radio: Your arrival in WWE coincided with Jerry “The King” Lawler going back to the heel persona that so many people enjoyed during the Attitude Era. Were you aware that dynamic was in the works when you signed with WWE? And also, how has the dichotomy with King benefited you so far?
Mauro Ranallo: It is absolutely a blessing and a pleasure to be working with Jerry “The King” Lawler. Lawler and I think it was the perfect time for him to tweak his role and he wanted to do it. I know Vince was a fan of his work in that role. I think they wanted me to maintain my standing in combat sports. There has been a long-standing stigma between sports entertainment and combat sports. I have to tell you man, the majority of the WWE roster are big time combat sports fans and vice versa. There’s a huge crossover. For me the timing has never been better. For Jerry Lawler, he went to Vince said, “Obviously Mauro is the new guy, Byron is the good and nice guy, why not have me turn heel now?” The dynamic so far judging by the feedback is when the people of loved. I have to give credit to Michael Cole and his crew for what they have allowed us to do. I’m concentrating on the match and the wrestling action and the ring, Lawler is telling his story from his perspective and Byron is telling the story from another perspective. I think everyone was a sports entertainment fan gets what they want. That’s what I thrive to do with my team and we try to bring them a totally different dynamic than Monday night. I know a lot of people are quick to criticize the Monday night show in terms of the presentation and not realizing the amount of work it goes and put on a three-hour live telecast. Michael Cole not only has to play-by-play, but he has to be a traffic cop. The amount of features and promotional materials they have to deal with every week, but that’s a good thing. It shows the success of the company. I wonder myself if I was put into that position where I’m supposed to do everything else they want me to while still maintaining the call of the match, I don’t know how successful I would be at that right now. They have built me up to succeed, they brought me in to succeed and I’ve been warned prior by people that have had less than pleasant stays there. All I can say is that WWE and its entire machinery has been nothing but a joy to work with. I’m not just saying that because I’m paid to or that I’m a member of the company. I have criticized WWE in the past, but I am still a big fan of the product. We all want to see change, but at the end of the day we are playing in someone’s sandbox. There’s a reason there are 84,000 tickets sold for WrestleMania and that this genre of entertainment has lasted as long as it has. Vince McMahon is a billionaire for reason. It’s been an amazing ride, and it’s hard to believe that it’s just begun. It really is a dream come true.
Ring Rust Radio: There has been speculation and rumors about your role at WrestleMania 32. Can you shed some light on what your role will be and is calling WrestleMania your ultimate goal with WWE?
Mauro Ranallo: 100 percent that would be my ultimate goal. I would like to address the rumors and I know Jerry Lawler has said there has been some talk about a split announce crew and I get that. It’s a seven-hour show. Michael Cole and I travel together and talk about that. Michael Cole wants it for me whether it’s this year or next year, and that’s really the truth. I think he has been my biggest supporter and mentor, and I think sometimes people were confused about that. I wouldn’t be in WWE without Michael Cole. I will be there with my two brothers and I’m looking forward to my first WrestleMania. I’ve told him I would do whatever they want in whatever capacity, but obviously at the same time respecting the pecking order. Michael Cole, JBL, Byron Saxton and King call the PPVs, and I am supportive of that. If they ask, I am willing and able to go. Whether it’s the kickoff match or any other match on the card, I would be ready to go. I look forward to having my own selfish WrestleMania moment as it were.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
