I’ve worked in media for 30 years. I’ll keep my comments just to the finals, because I watched Matcast for the other sessions.
First, no one tuned in to the finals Saturday night because DC or JB were on the mic. In very rare occurrences do announcers either draw or repel viewers. Casual sports fans will find our sport when there is a compelling on mat story or depending on what else is on TV. I will be curious what the ratings will be tomorrow given the multiple Penn State storylines.
I do like my sports telecasts pretty straightforward. From a production standpoint, I think the telecast should’ve had DC or JB, not both. Four in the booth is too many, and DC and JB were largely filling the same role. They crowded out Mike Couzens, who I think is really good at play by play, as well as Rock Harrison, who should have been allowed more time to speak to the rules, particularly during 133 and with the inconsistency of the stalling calls throughout the finals.
i do think DC and JB would have been really good by themselves on an alternate telecast where they could riff for hardcore fans without having to worry about “calling” the bouts, like the Mannings do for MNF. Maybe next year.