Jonathan Coachman Drops His WWE-ESPN Coverage

Jonathan Coachman will no longer cover WWE related content on ESPN following a twitter exchange with The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer.

The issue stems from tweets that Meltzer put out claiming that ESPN's friendly relationship with WWE has stopped them from covering the recent news that Mauro Ranallo has taken time off from WWE to deal with bipolar disorder and recent claims that the WWE SmackDown Live commentator has been the subject of backstage bullying from JBL.

Coachman's tweet read: “After serious sole searching have decided that I will no longer be doing Off the Top Rope or WWE related content. Will leave to the pros.” It has since been deleted due to a typo but Coachman went on to clarify that he won't be covering WWE.

Coachman tweeted to Meltzer that ESPN doesn't report "rumor" for any sport or company as justification for not reporting the Mauro/JBL situation. 

There is a feeling that ESPN stays clear of anything that may paint WWE in a bad light.

ESPN gets chance after chance to show balls but this will be another time they're showing castration tendencies. https://t.co/nk9SREhSqi

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 7, 2017

2 things: we don't report on rumors for any sport or company. And you getting "heat" for anything is laughable. https://t.co/9s4VK0fqLd

— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachESPN) April 7, 2017

Zero? It was a leading topic of conversation from people in the industry all weekend long. Has been for weeks. https://t.co/C3ghB1n9Qt

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 8, 2017

Coachman claims he's done covering WWE. Exactly how a media figure should react when a legit story involving a fellow announcer breaks.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 8, 2017