Thanks to @WWE for a wonderful opportunity. The weekly travel along with my other jobs was a grind for me and my family. Am grateful to everyone with the company especially @WWEGraves and @ByronSaxton for being such fantastic teammates. https://t.co/lrP0fCAMXz
Virk was joined at the commentary desk by Bryon Saxton and Corey Graves. Filling in for Graves on SmackDown is Pat McAfee who is paired with Michael Cole.
I auditioned early February, got the job. Obviously had to get consent from MLB. It was probably wrapped up around late March and then I flew down under the cover of darkness in my fedora and trench coat to WrestleMania Saturday and then I think some reports came out Saturday so, at that point some people were texting me going, âWait, is this true?â And I had been told, âListen, you donât respond to anybody. Until Monday at 10 AM hits, nothing. I donât care who it is.â
Yeah, heâs great at what he does, but I donât think anyone is surprised at how rough of a start this was for Virk. Felt like he was starting to pick up stuff, but he needed far more time to play catch up at a job that never waits for anyone. Heâll be fine though.
All that said, Tom Phillips is really good at the job and as I said when Virk was hired, is really the ideal commentator WWE is always looking for. I know why they tried this and I somewhat understand the idea of always trying new looks, but itâs Raw, not a teaching ground like NXT. And if Raw is struggling, itâs hard to also be struggling in an area that can help make up for other flaws. They have a good, young group in Phillips/Graves/Saxton that work really well together and theoretically should be the #1 team down the line. Itâll be good for them to be solidified in that role now.
I think he was in an impossible situation. I give him credit for what he was able to do with zero experience, but he just didnt know wrestling. Based on that, I dont get why they are upset with him, I canât see how he could have been better.
Can they please just take Saxton off, replace Virk with Philips and just go with Phillips and Graves. Or just go with Saxton and Graves. Im so sick of the 3 man booth.
I was starting to come around on him a bit. The way he could introduce his colleagues and and welcome viewers back from a break by setting up a match really did feel like a lot more of a real sports broadcast than most commentators can achieve. Itâs just that small detail of actually knowing the wrestlers, their moves, and the ongoing storylines, and incorporating them into his broadcast where he fell short. If he had been given some time to hone his craft on 205 Live or something I think he could have been really good.
That sounds like much more of an indictment of the management who put him in such a position than Virk himself. Perhaps if WWE didnât shit-can every single person whom they donât have immediate plans for the next week, they could have eased him in a little more.
ExactlyâŚthatâs why Iâm a bit surprised. How can they be upset thatthe guy who knew nothing about wrestling knew nothing about wrestling. Maybe it was his decision.
