Michael Cole filled in for Mauro Ranallo on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cole was the lead announcer while Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton were the color commentators.
Ranallo began being the lead announcer for the show in January when the show moved from the Syfy Network to the USA Network.
UPDATE: Dave Meltzer is reporting that Ranallo was backstage at the taping, but was sick with the flu and WWE made the decision to send him home. Cole is backstage at all TV tapings and WWE decided to use him instead. Ranallo is expected to be on next week’s show.
UPDATE 2x: Ranallo posted the following on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/700035042844618752
UPDATE 3x: Ranallo provided an update on Thursday via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/700375616646828032
https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/700376051952721920
