Michael Cole Reveals Why He Struggled Early In WWE Career

Michael Cole struggled during his early WWE career.

Michael Cole has been working for the WWE for several years. He started off as a backstage interviewer and then replaced Jim Ross in the commentary booth.

Michael is considered one of the best commentators in WWE history. He has almost never missed a show in his career, which showcases his dedication. Although Cole is a well-established color commentator now, this wasn’t always the case as he struggled during his early WWE career.

Michael Cole explains how his early WWE career was a struggle

During an appearance on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Michael Cole said that when he first started in WWE, it was reiterated to him that he was Jim Ross’ replacement. This put some pressure on him.

“When I started here, for many years it was always, you’re Jim Ross’s replacement. Jim Ross’s 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.”

Cole further said that Jim Ross was a lifer in this business while he was coming into it at 30 years old. Hence, he felt he had some big shoes to fill. However, Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn believed in him. The WWE legend said that he struggled to find his own voice for a decade.

“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.”

“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’s. 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 mud hole in him the size of Texas, doing the stuff that Jimmy was doing, and I’m saying to myself, God, this is embarrassing. What can I do to differentiate?”

Michael Cole never understood the difference between him and Jim Ross. However, he later understood that JR had emotion, which is why people believed in him.

“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 who these characters are. Jim’s doing the same thing. Why is Jim the greatest of all time? Because Jim had emotion, and you could feel even the simplest of calls out of Jim Ross. That’s why people believed in him. And 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.” [H/T F4Wonline]

Michael Cole has now been with the WWE for 29 years.

Also read: WWE Legend Admits Being Part Of “The Worst Storyline Ever Attempted”

Make TJR Wrestling your preferred choice of news by clicking here.