WWE Hires Mauro Ranallo For Smackdown Commentary Team

– According to SI.com, WWE will announce on Monday that Showtime boxing announced Mauro Ranallo as the new lead commentator on WWE Smackdown when the show moves to USA Network next month. The site reports that Ranallo, told them in a Friday interview that he was emailed by Michael Cole about a month ago to see if he would be interested. Ranallo then came in and called a mock fight between Warren Buffett and Floyd Mayweather via a video directed by John Landis, which got him the job.

“This was an opportunity I did not think I would get at this point of my career and I jumped on it,” Ranallo said. “I have been a lifelong fan of the product. Michael said that when Vince saw the Warren Buffet video, it seemed to cinch it. They believed I could sell the entertainment part.”

Ranallo will still call boxing for Showtime as well as GLORY kickboxing as part of his WWE deal. He has previously worked as an announcer for PRIDE Fighting Championships and Invicta Fighting Championships, and did commentary alongside Josh Barnett for NJPW’s US broadcasts.