Mauro Ranallo not expected to return to WWE TV through remainder of contract

[cero2k]

Source: cbssports.com

Mauro Ranallo’s run as the voice of WWE’s “SmackDown Live” and “205 Live” shows appears to be be over.

Ranallo, a decorated combat sports analyst who is currently the lead play-by-play commentator for Showtime Championship Boxing, deleted mention of his WWE affiliation from his Twitter account on Friday, along with a noticeable amount of WWE related retweets.

A source close to the situation told CBS Sports that Ranallo, 47, is not expected to appear on camera for the remainder of his WWE contract, which he signed on Dec. 15, 2015.

WWE would not confirm this but did tell CBS Sports in a statement that Ranallo remains under contract with the company until Aug. 12, 2017.

Ranallo did not appear at WrestleMania 33 and has been absent from WWE television since it was announced on a March 14 episode of “SmackDown Live” that he would miss the show due to inclement weather on the East Coast. The following week, WWE announced that Ranallo was off television due to an illness.

Ranallo has been credited with injecting incredible energy into everything he broadcasts and was a big reason why many fans flocked to “SmackDown Live” following WWE’s brand split last last year. Tom Phillips has taken over main play-by-play duties for Ranallo, and WWE recently signed Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Ross to a two-year contract that will likely result in sporadic on-air appearances.

An advocate for mental health who has been outspoken about his lifelong battle, nicknaming himself “The Bipolar Rock and Roller,” Ranallo tweeted out the following message on March 24 that has since been deleted: “I’m deeply touched by your tweets of support. My doctor wants me to stay off social media for now but I wanted to thank you.”

Ranallo, who has previously worked as the voice of Glory kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotions Pride and Strikeforce, also removed a March 29 tweet in which he wished his “@WWE family another AMAZING #WrestleMania.” He has remained active on Twitter over the past week.

Ranallo, a native of British Columbia, Canada, began his pro wrestling broadcasting career in Vancouver at the age of 16 with NWA All-Star Wrestling. Before coming to WWE, he was the American voice of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV.

[XIV]

Despite this being a loss for WWE. It's not the end of the world.

They have got world class commentators in Graves, McGuiness and Phillips.

Get McGuiness calling 205 Live immediately.

[KILLdozer]

Well that's interesting.

[cero2k]

Despite this being a loss for WWE. It's not the end of the world.

They have got world class commentators in Graves, McGuiness and Phillips.

Get McGuiness calling 205 Live immediately.

considering the circumstances that drove Mauro out, I hope they all leave and they're left with Saxton, Otunga, and Percy calling RAW

[Big Red Machine]

The fact that JBL hasn't been fired by now is unbelievable.

[KILLdozer]

The biggest wrestling company in the world... Where no one gives a crap because they don't have to!

[KILLdozer]

I love it! -not.

[XIV]

The fact that JBL hasn't been fired by now is unbelievable.

This is true.

I'd claim the whole "legend status" thing.

But... you know.

JR and the revolving door that involved him.

Oh and Jerry Lawler.

[cero2k]

The fact that JBL hasn't been fired by now is unbelievable.

This is true.

I'd claim the whole "legend status" thing.

But... you know.

JR and the revolving door that involved him.

Oh and Jerry Lawler.

Bill DeMott got fired and he wasn't even an on-screen person

[KILLdozer]

I'm pretty sure I summed it up perfectly.

They don't really have any reason to give a crap about anything they don't want to.

[cero2k]

I'm pretty sure I summed it up perfectly.

They don't really have any reason to give a crap about anything they don't want to.

actually they're a publicly traded company, they'll give a crap as soon as BA Star stops looking the other way at this

[Big Red Machine]

I'm pretty sure I summed it up perfectly.

They don't really have any reason to give a crap about anything they don't want to.

actually they're a publicly traded company, they'll give a crap as soon as BA Star stops looking the other way at this

B A Star is a WWE-run organization. It's public outcry that will get this changed, just like with Demott.

[KILLdozer]

I don't see it happening but we'll see.

Publicly traded or not, they're not ever gonna be put in a situation or "change or die".

[cero2k]

well, no one is expecting them to die if they don't fire JBL, and even if they do, the bullying mentality comes all the way from Vince, so chances are another person could just end up taking the spot of lead bully. it's a shit company

[KILLdozer]

well, no one is expecting them to die if they don't fire JBL, and even if they do, the bullying mentality comes all the way from Vince, so chances are another person could just end up taking the spot of lead bully. it's a shit company

Exactly. Forgive my negativity, but that's what it all about boils down to.

[cero2k]

well, no one is expecting them to die if they don't fire JBL, and even if they do, the bullying mentality comes all the way from Vince, so chances are another person could just end up taking the spot of lead bully. it's a shit company

Exactly. Forgive my negativity, but that's what it all about boils down to.

but hey, if the cowboy gets fired, im all for it

[Serujuunin]

Just another example of the stigma mental illness still has in "civilised" societies in 2017. Does it take someone experiencing an illness like this themselves to understand? Because it sure doesn't seem like public programs are doing the trick.

[KILLdozer]

Just another example of the stigma mental illness still has in "civilised" societies in 2017. Does it take someone experiencing an illness like this themselves to understand? Because it sure doesn't seem like public programs are doing the trick.

Some people will always be as they are.

[cero2k]

Just another example of the stigma mental illness still has in "civilised" societies in 2017. Does it take someone experiencing an illness like this themselves to understand? Because it sure doesn't seem like public programs are doing the trick.

Some people will always be as they are.

not to take this conversation to the philosophical plane, but aren't we all always as we are? How are we not as we are?

[KILLdozer]

Just another example of the stigma mental illness still has in "civilised" societies in 2017. Does it take someone experiencing an illness like this themselves to understand? Because it sure doesn't seem like public programs are doing the trick.

Some people will always be as they are.

not to take this conversation to the philosophical plane, but aren't we all always as we are? How are we not as we are?

We are as we are, unless we change, then we are who we NOW are, and are NOT who we were.