WWE and Mauro Ranallo are parting ways with the broadcaster focusing on his work with Showtime and Bellator MMA as he concludes his time at WWE that began in 2016.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed that Ranallo was leaving the company. The following statement was released by Ranallo:
I appreciate the opportunity I had to realize my childhood dream of working in sports entertainment, and I wish WWE well in the future. Now I want to direct my focus and devote my time to my other projects and to my mental health charitable activities and the well-being of my mother and myself.
POST Wrestling can confirm that Ranallo has left the company and he told us on the record that it was “amicable”.
WWE has since confirmed the departure and issued the following:
WWE and Mauro Ranallo have mutually and amicably agreed to part ways. Mauro’s passion and enthusiasm left an indelible and exciting mark with WWE and its fans, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.
Ranallo missed the NXT TakeOver: XXX event last weekend after going back to British Columbia to be with his family including his mother, who had been ill.
Ranallo joined WWE in late 2015 after serving as the play-by-play broadcaster for New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV along with his work with Showtime Championship Boxing.
Ranallo was introduced as the new announcer for SmackDown alongside Jerry Lawler to coincide with the show moving to the USA Network in January 2016 He called SmackDown for over a year before leaving the show in early 2017 prior to that year’s WrestleMania. It was thought that Ranallo would be done with the company due to a variety of factors that led to his decision. He did return in June, although moved to NXT to work under Paul Levesque.
During the pandemic, Ranallo has been calling NXT from his home in Santa Monica, California.
At TakeOver, Corey Graves was the third voice on the broadcast alongside Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix. Last week’s NXT tapings featured Stu Bennett calling the show with Joseph and Phoenix.
