Michael Cole Addresses Comparisons To Jim Ross

On a recent episode of her podcast, “What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon,” Michael Cole spoke at length about the years he spent labeled as Jim Ross’ replacement, the decade it took him to find his own voice behind the announce desk, and what he believes separated Ross from everyone else. He also sent well wishes to Ross amid his ongoing health issues. You can check out his comments below:

On being JR’s replacement:

“When I started here, for many years it was always ‘Jim Ross’ replacement, Jim Ross’ replacement, Jim Ross’ replacement.’ I heard it ad nauseam, and those are massive, massive shoes to fill. And by the way, shout out to JR, because I know he’s going through some health issues. I wish JR the best in his surgery and everything else. But listen, they were tough shoes to fill, because JR was a lifer in this business. He started out as a teenager. I came into this at 30 years old, didn’t know what I was getting into, and they were pretty mighty shoes to fill. And for many years, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do that. Vince believed in me. Kevin Dunn believed in me. I’m not sure I believed in myself until one day the light bulb went on and I said, ‘I think I may belong here.'”

On his struggle:

“It was a struggle for a decade, Steph, of trying to figure out what my voice was and how that voice was different from Jim Ross’. Early on in my career — you go back and hear some stuff, it’s all over YouTube, it’s embarrassing — but you’ll hear me screaming, ‘stomping a mudhole in him the size of Texas.’ You know, doing the stuff that Jimmy was doing, and I’m saying to myself, God, this is embarrassing. What can I do to differentiate?”

On the difference with him and JR:

“I could never understand early on what the difference between me and Jim Ross was, because I would sit back and listen to tapes and go, I’m telling a story, Jim’s telling a story. I’m explaining to you guys who these characters are. Jim’s doing the same thing. Why is Jim the greatest of all time? Because Jim had emotion. You could feel even the simplest of calls out of Jim Ross. You could feel it come from here, and that’s why people believed in him. I hope, over the number of years I’ve been here, that at least I’ve been able to emulate that just a little bit and be able to show the audience some emotion from what I do.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit the What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon podcast with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.