During tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, a significant change to WWE’s broadcast teams was announced. Lead announcer Michael Cole revealed that he and Corey Graves will now be the official commentary team for the SmackDown brand for the next couple of months. The on-air announcement did not include an explanation for the change.
A Shift for Both Brands
This move represents a major shakeup for both of WWE’s main roster shows. Michael Cole has been the lead voice of Monday Night Raw for the majority of the last two decades, and this move marks his return to the blue brand’s announce desk. For Corey Graves, it’s unclear if he will continue calling both Raw and SmackDown or if he will be exclusive to the blue brand for now.
Recent Commentary Roles
For the past several weeks, Corey Graves had been appearing on Monday Night Raw, filling in for the absent Pat McAfee alongside Michael Cole. Graves has received praise for his commentary work on the red brand during that time. McAfee’s absence from Raw coincides with the start of the college football season, where he is a key member of ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast team.
Questions Regarding Barrett and McAfee
The announcement of the new two-man booth on SmackDown leaves the immediate futures of two commentators uncertain. Wade Barrett, who had been serving as the lead analyst on SmackDown alongside Graves, was not mentioned during the announcement. With Cole taking over play-by-play duties, Barrett’s new role, if any, has not been revealed. Similarly, with Cole moving to SmackDown and Graves now officially on the blue brand, the commentary team for Monday Night Raw going forward is also currently unannounced.
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