Mauro Ranallo Reacts To Fan Support Over SmackDown Announcing, WrestleMania 32

Mauro Ranallo spoke with Fansided about his role with WWE and more. Some highlights are below:

On the fan response to his role on Smackdown: “It fits like a glove, unlike OJ Simpson. I started my career in the wrestling business at the age of 16 and started watching it at the age of five. I always wanted to be a broadcaster in the sports entertainment business. I have to thank Michael Cole for contacting me about this job and letting me be me. Michael oversees the entire on-air talent and they have made me so at home. They wanted the guy that was doing the boxing and NJPW. They wanted a different direction and it’s kind of the old school feel with the names of Jim Ross and Joey Styles that ring a bell. At the same time, I’m me and being unique as I can be. I am a fan first and foremost and I love getting to know the individuals that enter the ring and their backstories. It’s been a life-long love affair. The transition from me coming into the booth has been amazing. Working with Jerry Lawler and Brian Saxton has been great and they welcomed me. But I have to thank Michael Cole, Triple H, and Vince McMahon for allowing me to live out a childhood dream and allowed me to bring my style to the WWE. The feedback I’ve been getting has been outstanding. I have been flattered and honored to do this job and hopefully, I can continue to have those positives remarks come in each and every day.”

On what it would be like to work WrestleMania as a commentator: “It would be an incredible moment for me for sure. Honestly, at this point, I will be there along with my two brothers and I let the WWE know I am willing to do anything they need. I understand there is a pecking order involved and Michael Cole, JBL and Brian Saxton are the PPV team and deserve to be there. If I’m not involved and only there to watch believe me, I would be grateful as anyone. I am looking forward to my first WrestleMania as a member of the WWE family and if I can call a match or two all the better. It’s up to them to decide and what do they say “what’s best for business.””

On being bipolar and being an advocate of defeating mental illnesses: “For me, I need to work and I don’t like to have idle time. I am someone who needs to stay busy and even though I find things to do with my idle time, I like to work. Even if it wasn’t my job or what I was doing, I’d still do it. I have the love for people and storytelling. I love challenging myself saying things in certain ways. I knew at a young age I had issues but life is a battle. I was able to get help with my issues when I thought I couldn’t make it. It happened to me because I took the right steps to get better. I mean if it could happen to a simple Canadian like myself it can happen to others who are going through the same things I went through. Mental illness is not a weakness but a sickness. The more we can treat mental health as a health issue the better off we will be. We are losing too many people unnecessarily. If I can get on the soap box and save at least one person, I feel like my duty and legacy was fulfilled.”

100% DIRECT LINK (PHOTOS): Kim Kardashian In Tight Spandex!