Michael Cole has worked with many of the greatest commentators in history throughout his career with WWE, including Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, and JBL. However, he has now revealed that his favorite ever broadcast partner was ECW legend Taz, whom he spent several years working alongside on WWE SmackDown.
The partnership between Cole and Taz was certainly a memorable one for fans of that era, with the two of them showcasing excellent chemistry. However, hearing Cole officially reveal that the former ECW Champion was his personal favorite partner was interesting. He has often put over other people he’s worked alongside, but Cole giving some love to Taz, despite him being in AEW, was a refreshing twist.
Michael Cole Reveals The Importance Of Paul Heyman
- Paul Heyman was working behind the scenes at the time
- Heyman was providing advice to both men on commentary
- Heyman is notorious for helping talents backstage
Cole has been working for WWE since 1997 as a backstage interviewer and then a commentator, which has allowed him to work with numerous different people in the broadcast booth. Some of his partners, such as David Otunga and Matt Striker, have ended up being rather forgettable, but he’s also been involved in some iconic commentary partnerships as well.
Fans often remember his time working with Jerry Lawler, which became a notable period of his career due to WWE turning it into such a high-profile feud. While he also had the chance to work with Corey Graves for a long time, which proved to be another brilliant commentary team. However, when speaking to WFAN, he made it clear that Taz is the one man who stands out above the rest.
“For me, I’ve had a lot of great partners over the years. JBL was a great one, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee, but to me, my favorite partner of all time was Taz. Taz and I really took over SmackDown under the tutelage of Paul Heyman, and to me, we became the best announce team in the business there for a few years, so Taz has always been my number one favorite.”
Taz being chosen might be particularly surprising due to how publicly Cole has spoken about his love of Pat McAfee over the years. He’s been open about how McAfee is one of his best friends and has brought out a new side of him, but evidently, the time working with Taz was special. Having Heyman teach them both at the same time may have been a factor, as he’s someone who many people respect within the industry.
What Made Michael Cole’s Partnership With Taz Special?
- JBL ended up replacing Taz
- They worked together from 2002 – 2006
- Both men were learning and adapting as commentators at the time
The partnership between Cole and Taz was a memorable one, so it’s no surprise that he thinks so fondly of it. They had brilliant chemistry together when calling matches, with both men adding a lot of charisma and personality to everything they did each week, which allowed their work to be so entertaining.
The pair would happily argue with each other when needed without it becoming overbearing, while also delivering lots of comedic moments, all while ensuring the focus was on the talent and what was happening on television each week. It’s something that many partnerships struggle with, but that was never the case with these two men.
Taz Feels The Same Way About Michael Cole
Interestingly, the feeling is a mutual one with Taz, as he responded to Cole’s comments on social media by saying that he felt the same way. That shows how special the dynamic was between them, as they both felt the chemistry was that strong, and that the work they were doing was special at the time.
- He has been open about feeling like McMahon’s puppet
- Cole ran all of WWE’s broadcasting team for a while
- WWE fans now speak positively about him
There has been a significant upswing in positivity surrounding Cole and the work he has done in recent years, which has been refreshing to see. While fans often talk about JR as being the greatest commentator in WWE history, the length of service that Cole has put in certainly puts him into contention.
Cole has been able to showcase a lot more personality in recent times, especially during Triple H’s time in charge. He has been given more freedom in this era, and that’s something that has led to brilliant work by the veteran commentator, who has proven that he isn’t slowing down despite his long tenure on television.
Cole’s loyalty and commitment to the role is truly unmatched in terms of how few shows he has missed over the years, and he has been gaining a lot of respect from fans because of that. The WWE Universe had grown tired of Cole toward the end of Vince McMahon’s tenure, as they felt it was just him being Vince’s voice. However, that has now changed; Cole has been receiving a lot of praise from fans, which is something he has earned.
