WWE announced today that Justin Roberts was fired. First thing I said? GOOD.
I know the Internet is majorly butthurt over Justin Roberts being fired. I saw one guy even say that he was the “greatest WWE announcer ever” – even arguing that he was better than Howard Finkel. This statement would never have been made before Justin got fired, but afterward, the emotions made it acceptable. Fact is, he is not the greatest announcer in WWE history. I wouldn’t put him in the top 5. (Mike McGuirk was ahead of him). Roberts was MAJORLY annoying. Here is why I think the firing was a great choice.
1. The way he spoke was awful.
Think about how Howard Finkel or Michael Buffer would announce names. Sentence, Sentence, Sentence, Name. Justin Roberts was more like SentenceSen, tenceSen, tence Name. For example:
“Coming down the aisle he….is the WWE Champion…” “Making her way to the ring SHE…is the DIVAS Champion….” – He mashed sentences together. I didn’t like it.
2. He said some names in the most annoying fashion, namely John Cena.
Someone pulled Roberts aside and made him cut back on this, by the way. For years, he would just scream Cena’s name like a giant fanboy. JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN CEEEEEEEENUHHHHHH. More recently, he would just do “JOHNNNN….CEEENAAAAAA.” I can almost hear someone say to him, “Dude…you’re not a superstar. Stop drawing so much attention to yourself by screaming names like a tool.”
3. He looks like a clown
Roberts looks like a clown, not just when he’s getting choked by Daniel Bryan and costing him his job. He looks like a clown in general. Silly looking smile, goofy faces and half the time, he doesn’t even shave before getting on camera.
4. His guttural-scream of match types, championships or stipulations are an attempt to be the center of attention by someone who should be in the background
Justin would announce different match quirks or stipulations and truly shout for attention, like that everyone should be noticing him. It got on my nerves because frankly, ring announcers aren’t stars. They’re a tool. Really always annoyed me that he would howl “WWE CHAMPION-CHIP” or “DIV-UHS…CHAMPION-CHIP.”
It genuinely made me happy to see WWE cut this guy loose. He may be the biggest fan ever or the nicest person ever (he’s alright but seemed really cocky in encounters I’ve had with him), but I’m not interested in those things. I want an announcer who will sound good, do good and not be the most annoying person ever. This is a positive step, even if WWE Internet fans are crying about it.
And if you guys start chanting his name, we’re gonna fight.
