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#42 - Jesse Ventura Nominated by: gravy

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Imagine if Corey Graves was actually good at putting someone over, and you'd have Jesse Ventura. While Bobby Heenan was probably funnier, Ventura was usually the more effective pro wrestling announcer. That's not to say Heenan wasn't effective at getting wrestlers, matches and angles over as much as Ventura was more focused. One key difference is that while Heenan declined in WCW due to the company's lack of structure, Ventura adjusted his style to the greater emphasis on in-ring wrestling and thrived. He still told jokes, he was still funny, but he settled into more of an "insight from a retired wrestler" role than he had in the WWF.

Ventura was also unique in that he didn't only cheer the heels. There were babyfaces that he regularly complimented, like the British Bulldogs. He was at his best, though, when he pointed out the hypocrisy of the babyfaces and his theoretically "neutral" announcing partners. The above embedded clip from SummerSlam '89 is possibly his greatest moment. If you've never seen it, I won't spoil where it goes, but it starts with Ventura complaining that the Ultimate Warrior wasn't disqualified for hitting Rick Rude with the belt outside the ring. It really demonstrates what Ventura would do week-in and week-out.
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