I go back and forth on Johnny Ace. WWE
programming ain't lying when they call the guy uncharismatic, dull
and irritating to watch. A significant part of me cringes as soon as
he picks up the microphone, delivering his stiff, wooden, sometimes
even nonsensical promos. In my more paranoid moments I even think
that it might all be a big gag - something to entertain the
60-something maniac watching it all unfold from Gorilla position. But
then I tend to stop for a minute, because maybe Laurinaitis is
actually just really incredible at his job.
The fact that I can't wait for
someone to interrupt Laurinaitis the moment he starts talking is
actually one of his biggest strengths. The guy is absolutely reviled
by the audience, but unlike Michael Cole, whose smarmy, unavoidable
nattering detracts from the viewing experience, Laurinaitis'
insufferability is central to one of the company's major
storylines. Then, after mostly coming around on Laurinaitis as a
decent heel authority figure, I'll realize that the entire time
I've been thinking about his role as a heel, he's been droning on
endlessly in that Funkhauser voice of his. Is this guy the worst or
the best? The fact that I can't tell has me leaning toward the
best.
