WWE Is A “Storytelling Entity” According to Veteran

WWE is trying to distance itself further from the descriptor “professional wrestling.”

While he’s become one of the more beloved figures on WWE television in recent years, Michael Cole’s career is a study in perseverance.

After beginning his career covering stories such as the Waco Massacre and Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign for CBS Radio, Cole joined WWE in 1996. He started out as a backstage interviewer, and eventually found a home at the announce desk despite not coming from a sports or wrestling background.

However, the less said about his WrestleMania match with Jerry Lawler the better.

During his time with WWE, Cole was often scorned by fans or his silted commentary, but he found himself reborn when Vince McMahon finally left the company. Free from McMahon yelling in his ear during broadcasts, the veteran has taken on a much more relaxed persona, and his stock with viewers has increased tenfold.

While Cole is far from the stereotypical ‘wrestling man’ in the style of someone such as Jim Ross, he believes that’s worked to his advantage, especially as WWE has tried to move away from being branded “professional wrestling.”

During an appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Cole said that part of WWE’s appeal to Netflix is that the company doesn’t deal in professional wrestling, instead it’s a “storytelling entity.”

“That’s why Netflix wanted us. Netflix understands that we’re a storytelling entity first. We’re not professional wrestling anymore. We haven’t been for many years. We’re an entertainment product.”

Michael Cole Explains WWE Role

Later in the interview, Cole denied that he’s a professional wrestling announcer, suggesting he’s more of a narrator and storyteller.

“I’ve never pretended in 28 years to be a professional wrestling announcer. I’m a narrator, I’m a storyteller, I’m a pitchman, and I’m somewhat of a play-by-play announcer. I embellish stories. I create characters.

I’m a jack of all trades, and I think that’s the one thing that when I first started my career here one of the reasons the fans hated me because I wasn’t a professional wrestling announcer. But I just think over the years, they’ve come to respect the work ethic, and they also understand that.

To your point, I’ve been a soundtrack for a couple of different generations now, not only within the business but also the fans watching at home.”

During the conversation, Michael Cole opened up about the “strange situation” between WWE and Corey Graves. While giving little away Cole said Graves and the company are working out their issues, adding that he doesn’t fully understand the dynamics of the situation.

H/t to WrestlingNews.Co