10. “I still hear Vince McMahon’s voices in my head” – Josh Mathews

During a recent interview with Wrestle:List, former WWE commentator and current Impact Wrestling commentator Josh Mathews talked about his time in WWE and who helped him get better at his job. Below is what he said:

“There are quite a few people who helped me on the way. When I first started I was in the car with Michael Cole and Taz and learned a tremendous amount from them. I also learnt from Jim Ross and Paul Heyman had a tremendous influence on my career. When Paul Heyman was the lead writer for SmackDown, and SmackDown was produced on Tuesday, postproduction was done on a Wednesday, and the show was put out on Thursday, Paul would be there for the edit of the show.

We would be there; Michael Cole, Paul Heyman, Taz and myself would be in the studio until 5 o’clock in the morning and changing the call of the show. Those guys would be in the booth, and learning from Paul Heyman how to do this from a commentary standpoint.

When you sit down and do the main shows you’re working directly for the man who owns the company, Vince McMahon, and he’s listening to every word you say. He also had a tremendous effect on my career and still continues to to this day. I can hear him in my head when I call things, ‘Don’t scream at me’ and ‘Don’t over sell this’ I can hear it. That has molded me in to the play-by-play announcer I am today.”