WWE: Byron Saxton doesn’t get the credit that he deserves

Byron Saxton was one of the unsung heroes of KofiMania with his stellar commentary throughout the storyline, and it’s time people pay him his proper respect as an announcer.

“11 years! 11 long years! Every hoop. Every barricade. Every hurdle. and Finally, Kofi Kingston, he’s done it, man.” Byron Saxton’s call of Kofi Kingston’s historic WWE Championship win will live in the minds of wrestling fans forever.

Announcing is an integral part of any wrestling storyline, but that especially rang true in the case of KofiMania.

Announcers are essential and they help color in the extra details that can take a story to the next level. Stone Cold might not have reached the same heights as he did if it wasn’t for Jim Ross pouring heart and soul into calling his matches and segments.

KofiMania wasn’t your average, run of them mill WWE storyline. It was a storyline that touched on racial elements, overcoming obstacles and brotherhood.

Kofi Kingston, Daniel Bryan, Big E, Xavier Woods, The Usos, and even Vince McMahon all played their roles perfectly and helped to create one of the most memorable storylines in WWE history, but the work of Byron Saxton during the storyline can not be praised enough.

Ever since he was thrust onto the Raw after Wrestlemania 31 to call the show by himself, Saxton has faced an uphill battle trying to gain credibility with fans.

The entire Raw announce team had been taken out by Brock Lesnar and it was up to Saxton, an NXT announcer who, at that point, was mostly known for having one of the most convoluted finishers of all time, was sent out to call the flagship broadcast by himself.

Saxton struggled. It was apparent to the audience almost immediately that Saxton was having trouble carrying the broadcast by himself, so Jerry Lawler was sent out to assist him. The reaction to Saxton during and after the show was brutal and thus began Saxton’s uphill battle to win over the fans.

People criticized everything about Saxton from his perpetually chipper attitude to the suits he wore. They even called him “Carlton,”  claiming he wasn’t black enough when he didn’t fit their rigid definitions of blackness. They called him a “token” due to most times being the only black announcer at the table.

Saxton took all of that criticism, but never changed who he was at his core, but he did continuously get better as an announcer.

Being a “heel” announcer allows more leeway for the announcer to show off their wit and humor. They get to play by fewer rules. Being a babyface announcer is not an easy job, it’s more restrictive, and often times they have to defend characters sometimes deemed uncool.

One of Corey Graves’s most popular catchphrases has been “Shut up Saxton.” Another role the babyface announcer occupies is as a punching bag for the heel.

As the years have gone on, the role of the babyface announcer has become something that Saxton has excelled at. Always passionately defending the babyfaces and condemning the heels for their dastardly deeds. Recently, even calling Randy Orton a “son of a bitch” for RKO’ing Beth Phoenix.

The culmination of the work that Saxton put in from his disastrous first impression was the KofiMania storyline.

Saxton was on top of his game during this storyline expertly weaving in his personal connections with Kofi Kingston and the New Day to elevate the drama and make everything hit close to home for the audience.

“Let me tell you something about Kofi Kingston. The first time I met this man was when I first signed my contract in 2007 for WWE’s Developmental system. This man was about to make his WWE TV debut, but he still had the humility, the kindness to show me the ropes. Now here we are in 2019, and Kofi is still that same man, and that’s why he has the respect of the WWE Universe. That’s why he still has the respect of his fellow Superstars.”

Saxton also didn’t shy away from acknowledging the racial aspects of the storyline.

“That is an impassioned man who has been screwed. Who has been toyed with. Who has been treated like a second class citizen, but this is reality. Kofi Kingston has a chance to write his championship story after 11 years and become WWE Champion at Wrestlemania.”

Saxton’s use of the phrase “second class citizen” let viewers know that Saxton what we were seeing: A black wrestler being held down solely due to the color of his skin.

Saxton put the cherry on top with his call after Kofi won the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 35.

“Daniel Bryan called his championship a symbol of excellence? I call this site right here a symbol of accomplishing your goals, achieving your dreams, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like if you believe you can make it happen.”

Saxton has gone through his career, and he’s remained himself through the ups and downs, and he’s come out the other side with respect.

Even in a segment with Stone Cold in an empty Performance Center that resembled an Eric Andre Show skit, Saxton still shined. He was his usual endearing, goofy self, and his reactions helped enhanced a segment with Stone Cold, something no one would have ever believed to be possible after watching Saxton on that Raw after Wrestlemania 31.

Byron Saxton doesn’t fit in any one neatly labeled box, and that’s ok. He’s uniquely Byron Saxton, and it’s time to give him his flowers.