So Long For Now: Remembering Bob Caudle

Brian Damage

Bob Caudle affectionately known as ‘The Voice of Mid Atlantic Wrestling’ passed away at age 95. He was truly one of the last of a great generation of true pro wrestling announcers.

Growing up in the northeast of the United States, my first experience with listening to pro wrestling announcers came with the WWF in the early 1980’s. I was conditioned to listen to the loud, boisterous voice of Vince McMahon doing play by play (What a maneuver!) or the equally loud and excitable Gorilla Monsoon (Stick a fork in him! He’s done!). Granted, I am not criticizing their work, it was just different from what I would eventually hear from the one and only Bob Caudle. That time would come when my family finally got cable TV in the late 80’s.

It was then that I got to hear Caudle’s very monotone, straight forward voice calling the action for the National Wrestling Alliance. While McMahon and Monsoon outwardly favored the babyfaces and put down the heels…Caudle called it right down the middle for every match. Sure, he would be a bit critical if he witnessed a heel break the rules, but otherwise Caudle called matches as a legitimate sport. He let his broadcast colleagues like David Crockett or Jim Ross be the opinionated ones.

It was completely understandable considering Caudle’s background in broadcasting. When not calling wrestling shows, he worked in the news reporting on sports and weather in the North Carolina area. It was that experience he brought to the microphone calling Ric Flair and Midnight Express matches. Caudle began working for Jim Crockett Sr in 1954 and continued working for his son Jim Crockett Jr, where he became”the voice of Mid Atlantic Wrestling’ throughout the 60’s and 70’s. Caudle remained employed by the NWA/WCW up until 1991.

When Jim Cornette started his promotion, he went straight to Bob Caudle to be the voice of Smoky Mountain Wrestling and add legitimacy to their shows. Caudle worked with Smoky Mountain until the end of its existence in 1995. Aside from calling wrestling matches on shows like Clash of the Champions, NWA Wide World Wrestling, Starrcade and a bevy of others, Caudle worked in politics. He worked with North Carolina senator Jesse Helms up until Caudle officially retired in 1996. 

Ric Flair said this about his longtime friend…​Bob Caudle Was A Great Friend, And Someone Who Helped Me Develop My Interview Skills. You Were A Great Man Bob, And You Will Be Remembered Forever As One Of The Greatest Announcers Of All Time. I Cherish All The Time That I Got To Spend With You. Rest In Peace My Dear Friend!

His broadcast colleague Jim Ross said…Working with Bob was one of the joys of my life. He was a hell of an announcer… he should be in any hall of fame that exists. Jim Cornette posted on social media...I haven’t “tweeted” about anyone passing in a long time, it just seems trivial for something like this. But Bob Caudle was one of the best men in wrestling and I want to say that.

Bob Caudle’s wife of 76 years passed away in April of 2025 and Bob died just seven months later. He is survived by ​three children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Bob Caudle died peacefully in his sleep at 95 years old. His death signals one of the very last remnants of a great generation of professional wrestling announcers. As Bob Caudle used to say every time he signed off…”So Long For Now.”