Veteran MMA commentator Jimmy Smith has been hired to be the lead play-by-play announcer for WWE Raw. Smith replaces Adnan Virk, who was released earlier this week. WWE has confirmed he will debut this Monday.
He previously appeared as a guest on WWE Kickoff show panels. He worked with the UFC from 2018-19 and with Bellator MMA from 2010-17 before that. Additionally, he was the host of American Ninja Warrior from 2010-11. He is currently the voice of the Invicta Fighting Championships which is owned by Anthem Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of Impact Wrestling.
Smith was a pro-MMA fighter from 2003-2006. His career finished with a 5-1 record. He was reported as having auditioned for WWE back in March and began appearing on panel shows the following month.
Smith’s predecessor at the RAW commentary booth, Adnan Virk, lasted just 43 days on the job. His hiring was announced on April 12th, 2021 and he was released yesterday.
In addition to his play-by-play work in combat sports, Smith has his own show on SiriusXM’s Fight Nation Radio. The show is titled “Unlocking the Cage.”
