The story with Smackdown commentator Mauro Ranallo is turning into a complicated situation that not only involves his mental health, but might actually involve his broadcast partner JBL
It all started when it was stated that he missed the 3/14 edition of the show due to the weather, but it was reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason was actually not true, though no further details were given. This may not be related to his absence, but Ranallo has gone public in the past about his battle with bi-polar disorder and while he is usually also active on Twitter, he hasn’t tweeted anything in over a week. At that time, he tweeted about possibly missing Smackdown due to the weather.
WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo missed Smackdown LIVE again the next week, with the company claiming that his absence was due to an illness.
In an update on Smackdown commentator Mauro Ranallo, it seems his absence is indeed related to his mental health.
UFC Hall Of Famer “El Guapo” Bas Rutten recently provided an update on his former PRIDE Fighting Championships broadcast partner Mauro Ranallo’s recent absence from WWE television.
While appearing as a guest on MMA journalist Luke Thomas’ radio show, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion and multiple-time King Of Pancrase explained the latest regarding the mysterious disappearance of the WWE and Showtime Boxing announcer.
“Yeah, he’s doing okay, you know,” said Rutten. “As everybody knows, he’s very vocal about it, but Mauro is bi-polar. Sometimes – a couple of times a year, things [are] going too fast and he needs to just simply slow down and uh… but he’s doing good.”
Rutten continued, “I talked to him and he’s sent me funny video clips… it’s all in good spirits, I think he will be back to normal very soon.”
Amidst a lot of speculation and rumors fueled by social media, WWE SmackDown LIVE announcer Mauro Ranallo took to Twitter this week to address his status with WWE. After Tom Phillips was added as the fourth man to the announce team for WWE’s blue brand, rumors began regarding Ranallo’s status with WWE.
Ranallo addressed the rumors and the speculation about his contract with the company in the following tweets:
@mauroranallo is it true that you might be leaving @wwe
— Styles_clash (@Styles_clash__) December 5, 2016
@WHWnetwork @WWE Nope.
— Mauro Ranallo (@mauroranallo) December 5, 2016
I have YEARS left on my contract. ?? https://t.co/VT3ZQ9M5rO
— Mauro Ranallo (@mauroranallo) December 5, 2016
Mauro Ranallo posted the following update on his Twitter today. He has missed the last three editions of Smackdown as he deals with his bi-polar disorder and based on the tweet, doesn’t seem like he will be in attendance for WrestleMania 33 either:
Feeling love from everyone. I am stronger. I want to wish my @WWE family another AMAZING #WrestleMania #KeepUpTheGoodFight #MentalHealth
— Mauro Ranallo (@mauroranallo) March 29, 2017
The story goes that JBL reportedly went off on Ranallo for missing his first show on 3/14, suggesting that everyone else in the company made it to the arena despite the weather (which is the reason WWE gave at that time for Mauro’s absence). JBL then took the tweet down and hasn’t said anything about Ranallo since.
While Ranallo himself has kept his online presence limited except for a few tweets thanking everyone for the support, his friend Bas Rutten has made not-so-subtle hints about JBL’s role in all of this, at one point tweeting “JBL, please. I mean he was a pro wrestler, but please, you always take care of your broadcast partner. Always.”
Those in the know about the situation have indicated that tension has been building between the two, especially since Ranallo in early March tweeted the results of a WON Announcer of the Year awards, where he won for the second straight year.
JBL apparently did not like this at all, as there is a bit of an unwritten rule that you don’t acknowledge awards unless they are from your promotion. JBL had previously mocked Ranallo for being so active on Twitter and even said that he blocked him at one point. It is also possible that JBL said something further to Ranallo in private which caused Ranallo to then tweet that “jealousy is one hell of a drug.” While he did not specifically mention JBL, pretty much everyone figured that is who he was talking about.
JBL reportedly then continued his with his anger on the next edition of Smackdown on 3/7 after the initial Ranallo tweet about his awards win, criticizing some of Ranallo’s commentating and pop culture references. Most took it as “mean spirited” and “vicious” and given Ranallo’s ongoing battle with depression and bipolar disorder, it certainly sounds like it has at least contributed somewhat to his absence since.
WWE has made no comment on the matter and the situation is complicated because if and when Ranallo returns – he will be working in close quarters with JBL – and that puts the company in a no-win situation.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter