Mauro Ranallo: ‘The ever busy announcer’

He has been called the voice of MMA but Mauro Ranallo doesn’t let those reviews of his work get to his head. Being around the sport for many years, Ranallo took the hosting job of Inside MMA. However, just six months ago he was in a dark place looking for answers on his own personal mental health. Now that he’s back to being his old self, he has become the WWE Smackdown announcer and still partakes in boxing on Showtime.

He took time to talk about his mental health, the WWE and how his new employment opportunities have kept him going strong both physically but more importantly mentally.

Recently, you have been announced as the new voice of “Inside MMA” alongside Bas Rutten. How did the discussions develop with AXSTV regarding you becoming the new host and making time in your busy schedule to allow this opportunity to happen?

It’s been a while since I’ve been part of the MMA scene and going back to the scene with my good friend Bas, it’s great. The people at AXSTV have been wonderful and accepting of my busy schedule. And don’t get me wrong I love the busy schedule and getting to go back to the sport I love is a great feeling. I am blessed with all these opportunities and I am going to work extremely hard to show that I am deserving.

The response from WWE fans has been more than positive on social media regarding your spot as the play-by-play announcer for Smackdown. How has the adjustment been for you going from combat sports to sports entertainment?

It fits like a glove, unlike OJ Simpson. I started my career in the wrestling business at the age of 16 and started watching it at the age of five. I always wanted to be a broadcaster in the sports entertainment business. I have to thank Michael Cole for contacting me about this job and letting me be me. Michael oversees the entire on-air talent and they have made me so at home. They wanted the guy that was doing the boxing and NJPW. They wanted a different direction and it’s kind of the old school feel with the names of Jim Ross and Joey Styles that ring a bell. At the same time, I’m me and being unique as I can be. I am a fan first and foremost and I love getting to know the individuals that enter the ring and their backstories. It’s been a life-long love affair.

The transition from me coming into the booth has been amazing. Working with Jerry Lawler and Brian Saxton has been great and they welcomed me. But I have to thank Michael Cole, Triple H, and Vince McMahon for allowing me to live out a childhood dream and allowed me to bring my style to the WWE.

The feedback I’ve been getting has been outstanding. I have been flattered and honored to do this job and hopefully, I can continue to have those positives remarks come in each and every day.

Many announcing teams have the face and heel personas during a broadcast and add to the storylines of the wrestlers or divas involved. Coming into this role as the play-by-play announcer, do you think there should always be a good or bad role between the team?

It’s all about the athletes in my opinion and I’m just a small part of that. I understand at the same time though we are a part of telling the story and getting people emotionally invested. For me, I’ve been doing this for 30 years, I’m on a plane more than I’m on the ground. Who scripted this for me? I am blessed and honored and I love broadcasting. There have been many sacrifices to get to do the things I do, but others have sacrificed things to have me in the spot. But yes, I understand that the fans want to be drawn into the storylines and we are the main provider of that.

There has been chatter of you possibly having a role at WrestleMania either during the broadcast or for the pre-show. Joining the company only a few months ago, what would it be like to join the biggest event of the year for the WWE?

It would be an incredible moment for me for sure. Honestly, at this point, I will be there along with my two brothers and I let the WWE know I am willing to do anything they need. I understand there is a pecking order involved and Michael Cole, JBL and Brian Saxton are the PPV team and deserve to be there.

If I’m not involved and only there to watch believe me, I would be grateful as anyone. I am looking forward to my first WrestleMania as a member of the WWE family and if I can call a match or two all the better. It’s up to them to decide and what do they say “what’s best for business.”

You revealed last year that you were diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder. And you have been a very strong advocate of defeating mental illnesses. How have your newest opportunities have kept the disorder from revealing its ugly head again?

For me, I need to work and I don’t like to have idle time. I am someone who needs to stay busy and even though I find things to do with my idle time, I like to work. Even if it wasn’t my job or what I was doing, I’d still do it. I have the love for people and storytelling. I love challenging myself saying things in certain ways. I knew at a young age I had issues but life is a battle. I was able to get help with my issues when I thought I couldn’t make it. It happened to me because I took the right steps to get better. I mean if it could happen to a simple Canadian like myself it can happen to others who are going through the same things I went through. Mental illness is not a weakness but a sickness. The more we can treat mental health as a health issue the better off we will be. We are losing too many people unnecessarily. If I can get on the soap box and save at least one person, I feel like my duty and legacy was fulfilled.