Mauro Ranallo Comments On Being The New Voice Of WWE SmackDown

We mentioned earlier that highly regarded MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and kickboxing play-by-play commentator Mauro Ranallo will be calling Smackdown when the show moves to the USA Network in January. Ranallo spoke to Yahoo's Kevin Iole about the move.

"People have called me a pro wrestling announcer and I think at times they weren't intending to be compimentary in calling me that," Ranallo said. "But I'd always thank them for that because at the end of the day, I am a pro wrestling announcer in terms of my passion and enthusiasm and telling stories. I love to paint word pictures with the incredible warriors who step into the ring or the cage with boxing, kick boxing and even the New Japan [wrestling show] with Josh Barnett I did. ... Everyone knows my quirky sense of humor, my shtick, and I can be a ham as a performer. WWE said they want me to be who I am with a little tweaking."

See Also: NJPW On AXS Announcer Heading Up WWE SmackDown Announce Team In January

Ranallo has been calling New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS throughout 2015. There's no word on his possible replacement, but he'll remain in his role as GLORY Kickboxing and Showtime boxing announcer.

JC Twenty contributed to this article.