Mauro Ranallo returns to the broadcast booth but not for WWE

While all is still quiet on the WWE front, Rizin, a mixed martial arts organization, announced on Facebook that Mauro Ranallo would return to the broadcast booth to call an upcoming show:

Veteran combat sports announcer Mauro Ranallo and legendary MMA pioneer and former middleweight champion, Frank Shamrock reunite for the PPV broadcast of Rizin - live from Yokohama Japan.

The event will air on FITETV on April 16th (Sun) 2:00 am ET / April 15th (Sat) 11:00 pm PT with a 1 month replay.

This is notable because it makes clear Ranallo is healthy enough to return to work and he’s still not returning to WWE, where he had been the lead announcer on SmackDown Live. Why he’s gone has been the subject of various rumors and reports, with most coming down on bullying from JBL. Mauro hasn’t commented publicly outside of vague tweets that seemed to all but confirm said rumors and reports. The Wrestling Observer is now reporting there are contract settlement talks with WWE that would preclude Ranallo from speaking publicly about the situation.

All together, it looks like Ranallo is done with the company, which may be best for all involved, especially if he’s happier to be getting back to working outside the company.