WWE News: New addition to SmackDown Live commentary team
WWE continue to follow the “more is more” approach, as SmackDown Live will have an addition to their commentary booth – Tom Phillips. Here is the WWE’s official statement regarding the matter:
“Smackdown Live has a new addition to its announce team. Tom Phillips. The announcer joins play-by-play commentators Mauro Ranallo and David Otunga, and color commentator JBL, giving Team Blue a four-man booth every Tuesday night at 8/7c on USA Network.
Phillips made his WWE debut in 2012 on NXT, where he announced NXT ArRIVAl, WWE Network's first live, in-ring broadcast.
Fear not, NXT Universe, in addition to joining Smackdown Live, Phillips will still call the action on NXT every week.”
Tom Phillips and Corey Graves have been calling the action on NXT, since the departure of Rich Brennan from the commentary team. It was a three-man booth till last year. However, Corey Graves and Tom Phillips have great chemistry and have been praised by the fans.
The four-man booth idea is likely to get some criticism, as fans tend to prefer the two-man booth system. For example, Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon, Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler, and more recently, Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan (for the Cruiserweight Classic).
Tom Phillips, made his appearance as part of the SmackDown Live commentary team, on Tuesday night’s episode but disappeared after a while. Phillips has been a backstage announcer as well, for a while now, and he is known for several comedic skits backstage, where the talent (usually heels) lash out or mock him.
He also has good chemistry with Chris Jericho, with whom he has had multiple backstage skits.
Are you excited to see Tom Phillips part of the Smackdown Live commentary team? Do you feel he should replace Otunga, Mauro, or JBL?
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