Ross has never been one of my favorites, but he is tolerable. I rank him above say, Sean Mooney or Rod Trongard, but not really any of the 'big names' I've mentioned.  Ross to me, has the 'Brent Musberger' disease to pretty much overhype everything.  But he's probably ordered to do that, Vince did that in his latter years as well.
 
I didn't mind JR in the color role when Schiavone (or Vince) was on PXP.   I didn't think Schiavone was that bad in his short WWF stint, and I really preferred him in WCW to Eric Bischoff, was glad when Eric finally took himself off Nitro commentary. In late 91 though, I didn't think Schiavone was the right guy to have on color w/ JR before Jesse Ventura came over the next year (why did Dusty quit calling em w/ JR?)
 
Paul E. Dangerously not one of my favorites----I agree with Roddy Piper was very good--a shame he didn't last long, I guess he wanted to get back in the ring.
 
I think a good color man that nobody mentioned (at least I don't think anybody mentioned) is Jim Cornette.  I havent heard much of his NWA/WCW stuff, but when he did Superstars w/ JR after Hennig left, thought that was a pretty good team.
 
 
edited to add: One thing I did not understand was Roddy Piper's fascination with Power and Glory----"the greatest tag team of the 90s" (in 1990.)

Quote from tjguitar on Jun 1^st, 2007, 11:55pm:

 
Piper was probably told by Vince to say that repeatedly as Power & Glory's original tag team name was going to be "The Tag Team of the 90's" since they were created in the summer of 1990, but it was later decided to call them P&G.
 
As for Cornette's commentar, he was actually really great on WCW on TBS during 89...he was so good, there was talk of Herd wanting him out of managing and commentating full time, something Cornette disagreed with.

Jim Ross. He had this award clinched in my eyes well before he ever went to the WWF.  
 
I can't think of anyone else who is even a close second. Lance Russell was great for Memphis, but his actual ability didn't compare. He's a legend in that market though. I don't think Solie compared either, I think he was overrated. Ditto Tenay. I think Tony Schiavone was underrated, at least in the 1980's, but he was not in Ross' league either. Joey Styles was good in ECW, but was much better in the heavily edited television show, than he was in live PPV I felt. Some guys like Styles and Tenay could say all of the right things, but annoy people in the process.

Rich Landrum has my vote!!!!!!  Great announcer...plus he also gave us "behind the scenes data" (ie Blackjack Mulligan's favorite "food"...Lone Star Beer!)...Mr. Landrum...your work, along side "the Dean" Johnny Weaver....is a pattern no 2 teams together can touch!!!

Quote from The Hammer on Jun 17^th, 2007, 4:17am:

 
I have to agree that Solie seems to be getting too much credit.
 
Having grown up on Mid-Atlantic Wrestling I know my opinion is biase.
 
1. Bob Caudle ( I especially enjoyed the years he teamed with David Crockett, Bob was a calming influence on David.
2. Jim Ross (Easily one of the best ever, can work with anyone but just overused at this point, maybe too much of a company man to get the best commentary now.)
3. Rich Landrum (Just a smooth delivery, should have been kept on by the Crocketts)
4. Les Thatcher
5. Gordon Solie (Not sure if I could take him on a weekly basis for a whole hour)
6. Gorilla Monsoon with Bobby Heenan was always enjoyable
 
Les Thatcher, Chris Cruise and Rick Stewart were good on commentary. Tony Schiavone was good for many years but burned out before WCW ended. Too much of Tony by the time Thunder came on.
 
Color men come and go. It was good to have Cornette and Dangerously fill in for a while. Bobby Heenan was good for many years. Most wrestlers and managers that have the gift of gab would have worked well for short periods of time. Switching color men keeps the shows & play by play men fresh.

hard to say....... I like Monsoon best, followed by Heenan, Vince, and Caudle

Quote from lotrpromoter on Jun 14^th, 2007, 7:36am:

 
I think JR is over rated.  

Lance Russell

Lance Russell was very good, Jim Ross is a shell of himself (but prolly made that way by Vince) but Ross was very very good back in the UWF NWA days.

Quote from drjimtastic on Aug 21^st, 2007, 8:44pm:

 
  All good, for sure, but how can you not have Gordon Solie up there?
 
Fred, atl...

Quote from fjhs3 on Aug 21^st, 2007, 11:12pm:

 
 
Oh yea i forgot Gordon my bad he is honorary #1
 
as for Don west my goodness he sounds like he is posessed as does mike tenay