The news that Tazz and WWE have parted ways may have come as a surprise to some, but according to one person in the company I spoke to today, the former ECW champion did not part the company on bad terms and it was not being seen as a huge shock.

There’s no doubting that in Tazz, WWE had a top quality colour guy to work alongside Jim Ross. Prior to the two working together on Smackdown, Tazz was doing a great job in his role on the ECW brand.

And before that, his partnership with Michael Cole resulted in Cole’s best work as an announcer.

While WWE will no doubt already have an idea of who replaces Tazz alongside Ross on Friday nights (or possibly a Monday or Tuesday depending on what happens during the post-WrestleMania draft), I think the wrestler-turned-commentator will be badly missed by the company.

His departure comes just weeks before WWE launch the new Superstars show on WGN. Working on the assumption that WWE won’t have a current announce team call two shows, WWE are in need of two new colour guys to work their weekly TV schedule.

JBL I think is almost a certainty to return to the announce table after Mania. For me, Bradshaw was outstanding as a colour guy, so that is a good move for WWE.

On ECW, Matt Striker may not be the finished product yet, but I’m a big fan of his insight and style and can see him in his role for a number of years.

But there’s still a lack of depth, and Tazz’s departure makes WWE’s recent release of Colt Cabana even more puzzling given that as Scotty Goldman he had made a great impression as a colour guy in WWE’s developmental territory.

As for WrestleMania, at time of writing this it remains a case of “wait and see.” But with no ECW title match on the card, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Grisham reverting to a backstage role, with Matt Striker perhaps joining Jim Ross, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler at ringside on Sunday night in Houston.

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com