Jim Ross Expects Joe Tessitore to Take a Year to Find His Groove with WWE RAW Commentary

WWE has brought in a few big names to join their commentary team, and Joe Tessitore really shocked a lot of people when he took a role on the RAW announce team. The ESPN broadcaster will continue with those duties, but he started on RAW last week in a much-hyped debut.

During his Grilling JR podcast, former WWE announcer Jim Ross shared his thoughts on Joe Tessitore being named the new play-by-play announcer for WWE RAW. Tessitore, known for his work in sports broadcasting, has made a name for himself with his professionalism and extensive experience. However, Ross pointed out that transitioning into the world of professional wrestling commentary might present unique challenges for Tessitore.

“Tessitore is a solid hand. He’s a good announcer. My only question will be, how much product knowledge can he acquire in a short length of time? Wrestling fans are picky with their announcing. They know what they like and what they don’t like. When you mispronounce somebody’s name, or you say the wrong name, whatever, we act like it’s a federal crime. It isn’t. It’s human error, and this game is done by humans.”

Ross’s concerns primarily revolve around how quickly Tessitore can adapt to the nuances of wrestling commentary. While Tessitore has plenty of experience in the sports world, the unique demands of pro wrestling may require more time for him to get fully comfortable.

“Tessitore has got great experience. He’ll do a good job. Again, the one thing that I’m waiting on is to see how much product knowledge he has acquired since he made his deal with WWE, but he is a good addition. No doubt he’s a good addition to their team.”

Tessitore kept inserting history into his commentary during RAW, so we will have to see if he keeps doing his homework. Jim Ross also touched on the importance of timing in commentary, noting that it can take time for even experienced broadcasters to find their rhythm in a new setting.

“I think it’s going to take him a year to get his feet on the ground and to get comfortable in his setting. That’s what I think. And I might be overstating it; he may be a quick study, and it’s six months or three months. But it’s going to take some time to get in a groove and find your timing.”

For Ross, commentary is an art form that requires precision and collaboration between partners. He added that “announcing is all about timing,” which is something he worked for years to perfect.

“Announcing is all about timing, in my opinion. I have said this to my partners over the years, and it sounds egocentric: just listen to me, and I’ll bring you to your point. I’ll get you to where we want to go, and then you take over from there with your part of the — your part of the broadcast.”

While Ross acknowledged that Tessitore’s transition might take some time, he expressed confidence in Tessitore’s ability to eventually excel in his new role. We will have to keep an open mind and not judge anyone prematurely, which is very hard to do in a day when instant gratification is the way of life.

We will keep an eye open for more responses to this story, and so many more. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need here at Ringside News.

What’s your take on Joe Tessitore’s WWE RAW debut? Do you think he will find a good rhythm of things? Let us know what you think in the comments section!