Is it Finally Time to Get Off Of Michael Cole's Back?

As a proud member of the Internet wrestling community, I am fully aware of the three cardinal rules any self-respecting smark must abide by.

1.  Hulk Hogan is the devil.

2.  Triple H is the devil.

3.  Michael Cole can suck it. 

As much as I take pride in my smarkdom, I must admit that I only fully agree with #3. Michael Cole can suck it.  But wait a minute.  

After watching the first month or so of NXT, it was as if a bright yellow light bulb that mimicked the NXT Team colors, went off above my head.  Listening to Michael Cole sans the puppet strings, I was able to enjoy a form of artistic expression never before seen in this self proclaimed nerd. 

At first I fought it. I refused to give this tool the benefit of the doubt.  But it eventually got the point where I felt I was lying to myself if I didn't finally give this guy some measure of credit, so here it is.  

Michael Cole doesn't suck nor does he deserve to be told to suck it.  His overwhelming criticism this past year is the explainable product of Jim Ross's residual greatness, and his longevity is evidence of the fact that he deserves to be treated fairly as he attempts to embark on the unenviable task of filling Good Ole' JR's shoes.

Why do we think Michael Cole Sucks?

Because he's annoying?  Because he repeats himself?  Because he uses that dreaded and obnoxious "vintage" word time and time again?  As if 'Slobberknocker' isn't at the height of obnoxiousness.  I'd actually like to answer this question with another question: 

Why did Mike Adamle suck?  

I remember when Mike Adamle was paid a lucrative sum to sit behind a desk, and throw up all over himself for an hour every Tuesday night.  Like Michael Cole, Mike Adamle eventually earned a seat at the table of futility as King Smark Dave Meltzer branded him the worst announcer of 2008.  Personally, I feel like Adamle got off easy, as he was now on a list that included legendary names, such as Dusty Rhodes and Gorilla Monsoon (who weren't great announcers but remain legends nonetheless), as opposed to having an entirely new award in ineptitude created under his name. 

Mike Adamle only continued to implode from the moment he introduced the wrestling world to Jeff Harvey.  After Countless butchered names of wrestlers and wrestling maneuvers, and a handful of unwatchable episodes of ECW (and even RAW) later, Mike Adamle was eaten alive, and sent back to Chicago as he rode shotgun in the SS FAIL.  

Funny, Michael Cole receives similar criticism about how much he sucks.  However, not only has he been with the Fed for over a decade, but I can't remember Michael Cole ever developing a reputation for butchering names and wrestling maneuvers.  Many go as far as to lambaste Cole for living in The WWE bubble.  That's a good thing for a WWE announcer, wouldn't you think?  Would you rather him be an outsider like Adamle?

Michael Cole is an insider, and he's been one for about 13 years now.  This is a testament to his toughness.  Yes, his toughness.

Michael Cole:  Tough Guy?

Being an announcer is no easy task in pro wrestling. 

You have to worry about putting over this guy, while putting over that guy.  You can't put one guy over the other guy too much. 

You have to get in and out of commercial breaks.  You have to shout out to sponsors. Don't forget to plug the pay per view.

Be sure to remind the viewer why two (WWE) wrestlers are feuding. 

Know when to talk, know when not to talk.  Know when to shut the hell up!  Be prepared to come up for a reasonable excuse for a botch.  Hard camera, buddy, hard camera.  Did you put that guy over?  Well do it again...

These are the typical voices heard in the headsets of an announcer, a painstaking process known as 'producing', that is prevalent on both of The WWE's main shows (RAW, Smackdown).

Mick Foley once fell 16 feet off of a cage through a table.  He has been in an excessive amount of hardcore matches throughout his bloodied and beaten career.  Flaming tables, barbed wire ropes, bats, thumbtacks?  Fallen through em, strangled by em, whacked with em, fallen on em, respectively.  

So after a couple months of being 'produced' by Vince McMahon, how did this unquestionably tough, insane, hardcore warrior respond?  

"Screw this, I'm going to TNA." 

Taz once embodied the entire culture of hardcore that was ECW.  Taz was the innovator of submission offense in pro wrestling.  He was a man who wore the richest prize in the land of extreme, where routine finishes involved skyscraper spots for Christ sakes.  Taz would eventually become a longtime color commentator of WWE Smackdown. 

So after years of being 'produced' by Vince McMahon, how did this unquestionably tough, insane, hardcore, submission specialist respond? 

"Screw this, I'm going to TNA."

JBL was king of the tough guys backstage (or so they say).  Time was if you screwed up, you were taking a stiff clothesline from this corporate cowboy just to straighten you out.  He did a fine job as an announcer on Smackdown, but eventually:

"Screw this, I'm getting back into the ring. Bad back and all."

Remember Coach?

"Screw this, I'm going to ESPN."

There seems to be a future in being a commentator with puppet strings attached.  One gets so fed up with the constant restrictions, and ubiquitous voices in their heads that they find another passion, spread their wings, and fly away. 

But not Michael Cole. 

For every Mick Foley, JBL, Taz, Coach, you name it, there is only one Michael Cole.  A constant.  A rock. 

He has survived the screaming, the erratic work environment, the incessant instruction, and the producing.  He's braved the storm, with a goofy smile on his face, when others who could eat him for lunch stormed off with a WWE headset but a distant and unpleasant token of frustration.  What can I say, Michael Cole is a tough guy.  

Who Knew?  Cole Shines on NXT

Michael Cole's coming out party has been this past month on WWE NXT.  On the only show on WWE TV that gives credence to the Internet wrestling community, Michael Cole's anti-IWC sentiments are brilliant.  Instead of outsmarting himself, and arrogantly dismissing reasonable criticisms to his own detriment like a Vince Russo, Cole is delightfully petty in his art-imitating-life role as an anti-Internet heel. 

He has embraced this role with the journalistic freedom that raises questions as to whether or not he gets produced on Tuesday nights (when the show airs).  

Cole shutting down his WWE universe blog because he doesn't want to associate himself with the Internet community?  Awesome.  Cole calling the Internet fans nerds, and justifying this sentiment because he himself is the king of the nerds?  Self- deprecatingly awesome. 

With the help of the babyface foil in Josh Matthews, Michael Cole has shown the fans a whole new side of himself and a side that helped me realize that it may finally be about time to get off of this guy's back.   

Does Michael Cole Still Suck?

I hope I've somewhat convinced you to at least consider every implication of this question.  He's not my favorite commentator and I won't even go as far as to say that I like him.  But maybe, just maybe, I'll begrudgingly admit that I respect Michael Cole.  Is he Jim Ross?  No. 

But refusing to accept the next wave of talent based on the ridiculous standards set by that which came before it is detrimental to any industry.  There is a Michael Cole everywhere around us.  Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, who was the guy who replaced Brett Favre to the dismay of most Packer fans, is a Michael Cole.  John Cena, who is the posterboy for a post-attitude era brought on by necessity, is a Michael Cole.

You don't have to love Michael Cole.  You don't even have to like Michael Cole.  But how can you not respect this guy, and those who are called upon to carry out similar tasks of progression, when it is so obvious they are willingly performing these tasks to the best of their ability?  I know I do.