Eric Bischoff has heaped praise on AEW Collision’s commentary team.
The debut edition of Collision saw Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness take their positions at the announce desk for the first time in the company. The duo has received widespread praise from fans for their commentary, with Kelly providing play-by-play and McGuinness on colour.
The two had worked together previously as Kelly was the lead announcer for ROH when McGuiness retired from the ring in 2011 and switched his wrestling boots for a headset for a time before becoming an onscreen authority figure. Since then, Kelly has become the lead announcer for New Japan Pro Wrestling, while McGuiness went on to join WWE as an announcer for NXT.
#AEWCollision debuts TOMORROW NIGHT on @TNTdrama at 8pm ET/7pm CT at the @UnitedCenter in Chicago!
We're going to have a great announce team on Saturday Nights with your new weekly commentary team @realkevinkelly + @McGuinnessNigel, joined by expert analysis from legend @JRsBBQ!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 16, 2023
Eric Bischoff praises AEW Collision commentary team as a “significant improvement”
On a special Collision edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff heaped praise on Kelly and McGuiness, claiming their commentary to be the “freshest” improvement in overall production he’s seen in a decade.
“I thought it was the freshest, most significant improvement in any one element of an overall production than anything I’ve seen in probably 10 years.
“It was that good, and this is their first time out. I know, they both respectively have had plenty of experience doing this, but together on this show live. New show, pressure, live, first time really working together, I think.
The WWE Hall of Famer “can’t wait” to hear the pair a month from now when they have their “groove.”
“Here’s what I thought, ‘I can’t wait to hear them a month from now.’ If they were that good Saturday night, once they get their groove and their rhythm together after doing it a few times.
“Point me to another, potentially, not there, yet, point me to a better color and play-by-play team and I’ll tell you that you’re wrong.”
For the main event of the first episode, Kelly and McGuinness were joined by the legendary Jim Ross, who is slated to be the third man behind the headsets for the show. Unfortunately, though, JR has had to step away from AEW for the time being as he recovers from a recent fall.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the original source and give an H/T and link back to Inside The Ropes for the transcription.