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It's simple, really. Tonight's Raw didn't prove that many things, but it did prove one very important thing: Jerry Lawler is completely unneeded, outdated and a drag on the product for which he announces, and most importantly, WWE has a completely ready man to take over the job, especially with Michael Cole continuing on as an obnoxious heel, and that is Josh Matthews.
Matthews brings a youthful vitality to the proceedings. If Vince is reaching out to the young audience, which obviously he is, there's no reason to keep Lawler around anymore. Lawler sounds bored most of the time, and his babyface act is shallow and irritating. To say that Lawler is like an old pitcher who's lost his fastball would be a dramatic understatement. He can't even keep up with Cole anymore, particularly with Cole playing this snarky, caustic heel character behind the table. Example: Cole berates The Hart Dynasty for being black holes of charisma and Lawler's response is, "Come on!" It's just sad. Then there's Lawler's physical appearance--he looks old--and Matthews's, and Matthews is more relatable to kids as well.
Lawler shouldn't be tossed aside like a used tissue, but he really ought to be phased out within the next year or so. Let him be MC for the Hall of Fame and make some appearances but they've just about squeezed about as much out of him as a weekly commentator as I think they can, without prolonged annoyance for many members of the audience. Tonight's Raw illustrated that there's a guy who's fully ready to take his seat for him, who will be able to engage with Cole as a face announcer without being embarrassing in doing so and who would ultimately be more agreeable to the audience Vince is trying to attract.
Matthews brings a youthful vitality to the proceedings. If Vince is reaching out to the young audience, which obviously he is, there's no reason to keep Lawler around anymore. Lawler sounds bored most of the time, and his babyface act is shallow and irritating. To say that Lawler is like an old pitcher who's lost his fastball would be a dramatic understatement. He can't even keep up with Cole anymore, particularly with Cole playing this snarky, caustic heel character behind the table. Example: Cole berates The Hart Dynasty for being black holes of charisma and Lawler's response is, "Come on!" It's just sad. Then there's Lawler's physical appearance--he looks old--and Matthews's, and Matthews is more relatable to kids as well.
Lawler shouldn't be tossed aside like a used tissue, but he really ought to be phased out within the next year or so. Let him be MC for the Hall of Fame and make some appearances but they've just about squeezed about as much out of him as a weekly commentator as I think they can, without prolonged annoyance for many members of the audience. Tonight's Raw illustrated that there's a guy who's fully ready to take his seat for him, who will be able to engage with Cole as a face announcer without being embarrassing in doing so and who would ultimately be more agreeable to the audience Vince is trying to attract.