Jeremy Borash as a color commentator

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

This guy is absolutely fantastic as a color analyst. The main event of Destination X was brilliantly wrestled, but it was also excellently announced - Borash's broadcasting background was on full display throughout the show, and he did a great job of capturing the drama of the bout...and then putting it into context within TNA's history. The tone of both announcers definitely was more fitting for a legitimate sporting event - not because they emphasized "Oh, look how real and stiff our action is!~!" but more because they hit on the essence of sport: we have no idea what's going to happen next, but this is exciting as shit and we're going to describe it as professionally as possible. Borash was giving relevant perspectives to the match - one of the biggest things that has pissed me off about TNA over the years is that Mike Tenay will talk about wrestlers (every single fucking week) as if the audience has never seen them before, and he'll provide introductions each time to TNA's apparently rock-eating Cro-Magnon, shit for brains audience. Fucking awful. Meanwhile, Borash was talking about the training regimes of wrestlers on the road - describing how they prepared for the match, where some of their inspirations come from, etc. It felt like something you'd see watching an NFL game...the wrestlers being presented as interesting human beings and not just soulless cyborgs.

Some people love flamboyantly corny and theatric wrestling announcers (I'll admit that Jim Ross's freak outs are fucking hilarious and Schiavone had his moments), but personally that shit grinds my gears. I thought Borash was a great foil to Tenay and was able to keep him grounded (where Tenay actually isn't a bad announcer at all) rather than encourage him to go off the deep end every single time something happened.

Honestly, wouldn't mind if JB just stuck around as the color commentator and Taz took over as an on-screen talent for interviews.

[zap]

And now for the completely opposite opinion.

I was a huge fan of Borash's commentary UNTIL Destination X. I thought he was horrid. Every five minutes, he had to tell us that he was just in [insert city] and [insert wrestler] was doing [insert situation]. I think if I had logged what he was telling me, I could've pieced together his 2012 travel schedule and who was on every house show. Also, he 'talked to' everyone backstage before their match. It just seemed like he was falling back on the same things because he didn't have the experience to fill the dead air. I admit, I'm more of a sports-entertainment guy, so pointing out the exact technical names for every single move grinds my gears as well, along with giving me such a detailed backstory of every wrestler's career. Even Tenay looked baffled at times, wondering when Borash would just shut up.

[SM]

He isn't great, but he is far better than Taz .

I would gladly have him replace Taz .

[BARCELONA]

His voice irritates me massively.

[HilaryFan]

I echo that hes not anything amazing, but Taz is just horrid so it would be a welcome permanent change.

[Bang Bang]

Yeah at first I thought he was doing great but then I realized it was in comparison to Taz. Tenay is terrible too. Every time he does his "Oh god" acting because it looks like something hurt I cringe at the horrible acting. TNA's product has been very good these past few months. A new announce team would make it even better

[BARCELONA]

Wish TNA could coax Schiavone back into commentating. I was one of the few who actually liked him in the booth. Get Bischoff in as a colour commentator heeling it up a bit... job's a goodun.

[Ed]

JB makes Tenay better and Taz look like shit.

[The Industry]

He did very well, that was the first time I heard him. Get rid of Tenay then go with JB/Tazz. Taz would be better if he didn't have to sit by something as shitty as Tenay

[Coco]

I like JB, but I enjoy Taz's sense of humour. Like Industry, put me down for JB and Taz.

[Ed]

At times Taz seems to being going though the motions.

[Falcone]

Taz given someone with a similar sense of humor to him, who isn't a soulless android, it could liven the guy up some.

Down for JB & Taz.

[Bang Bang]

JB Taz may work. Maybe I was wrong and Tenay is the real problem. I do hate Tenay

[X-zero]

Tenay has always been the problem in my opinion. Tenay and Taz just don't play off each other well. Give JB the play by play spot.

[Crippler]

I dunno. Yeah, JB's good, but is he really as great as some people are thinking, or are we just so used to shitty, blind-drunk Taz that any alternative is Godsend?

[X-zero]

I dunno. Yeah, JB's good, but is he really as great as some people are thinking, or are we just so used to shitty, blind-drunk Taz that any alternative is Godsend?

JB is entertaining and knows his stuff. I actually enjoyed Taz but like someone said he needs someone not Tenay to work with. Taz and Tenay are opposites with JB personality being somewhere in between the two which makes him relate to both of them better.

[southphillysean]

His voice irritates me massively.

+1 on that

[Falcone]

Better yet... How about JB & Don West?

[LS]

The commentary team should absolutely be Borash and Tenay. It was evident at this Destination X PPV, as well as last year's how much better the matches come across with JB commentating as opposed to Taz. Taz is too quick to turn things into a joke, and Tenay isn't good enough to make up for that. I'm not a huge fan of JB or anything (I hate his ring announcing) but the Tenay/JB team works much better than Tenay/Taz.

Hopefully they "promote" Taz to merchandise now that Don West is leaving.

With that said, I do miss the old TNA announce team. Don West and Tenay on commentary, Lauren doing interviews, and Penzer announcing.

[CM Punk'd]

Wish TNA could coax Schiavone back into commentating. I was one of the few who actually liked him in the booth. Get Bischoff in as a colour commentator heeling it up a bit... job's a goodun.

I agree. What's Tony doing now-a-days anyway?

[B-Mitch]

I am all for Borash replacing either Taz or Tenay. Preferably want him to replace Tenay. I rather have Don West come back and have him and Borash

[Finn]

Man Don West was the fucking greatest. He lost his shit for everything X and that was great. His heel run was hilariously awesome as well. Ah the good old days.

I feel like I would like JB on the announce team. I really like him, but I wouldn't like to replace Tenay because he is the voice of TNA for me, and for a lot of other people as well I'm sure. Although I would like a shot of JB and Taz to see how they get on.

[PB]

The commentary is one of the few things that is still glaringly obviously terrible. They have improved in almost all areas that it is astounding they still haven't done much about it. To be honest, although Borash/Tenay was a lot better than Borash/Taz, I still think neither partnership is the long term solution. I'd like to see Bischoff behind the headset myself. I think that's a good way to use him these days, but I'm not sure who to partner him with. Perhaps a three-way team of Bischoff/Borash/Taz? I don't know. They should just go hire Corino.