Logan Paul may be one of the most hated WWE Superstars, but he doesn’t see it that way. On Impaulsive, the United States Champion insisted that fans actually love him—despite the chorus of boos he receives at every event.

“I feel loved and revered,” Logan said confidently.

WWE commentator Michael Cole immediately shot that down.

“Yeah… no.”

The exchange continued as Logan defended his connection with the WWE Universe, even citing his mom’s opinion. “My mom said the people who boo me are simply wrong,” he added.

Cole, a 28-year WWE veteran, explained why Logan draws so much heat.

“Why do they hate Logan Paul? Because he’s a cocky prick,” Cole said bluntly.

Despite the fan reaction, Logan has proven his toughness inside the ring. He revealed that during his high-profile match against Roman Reigns, he suffered a torn MCL—but still finished the bout.

“I tore my MCL in my third match against Roman, but I had to keep going,” Logan said.

“In WWE, if you’re hurt, you can’t show it unless it’s part of the story. You have to do the opposite of what’s true.”

Cole agreed, pointing out that WWE stars work through injuries in a way that other athletes don’t. “A football player tears his MCL, he’s out of the game. You guys? You keep going.”

Between his undeniable athleticism and natural ability to generate reactions, Logan Paul is proving to be one of WWE’s most compelling figures—whether fans love him or not.

Michael Cole’s dedication to WWE is legendary, but on Impaulsive, he revealed just how rare it is for him to miss a show—only three times in 28 years.

“The first was in 2001 when my wife had a kidney transplant,” Cole said. “The second was my son’s wedding, and the third? A family vacation last year—our first real one in decades.”

One of those absences came under extraordinary circumstances. Cole’s wife was originally scheduled for surgery on September 11, 2001.

“We were in the hospital that morning when everything happened,” he recalled. “Obviously, everything shut down, and her procedure got delayed by three weeks.”

Despite his near-perfect attendance record, Cole’s family has never pressured him to step back.

“My wife’s always known me as a guy who travels. She’s been with me through all of it.”

The longtime announcer also credits his marriage’s longevity—30 years and counting—to his frequent travel.

“That’s why we’re still together,” he joked. “When I am home, I’m not trying to start arguments. Those days are too valuable.”

His dedication to WWE remains unwavering.

“I love this business. I signed a new contract, and I’ll be here for a while. I don’t know how to do anything else!”

With nearly three decades under his belt, Michael Cole’s commitment to WWE is unmatched.

Veteran WWE announcer Michael Cole recently discussed Corey Graves’ controversial demotion during an appearance on Impaulsive, admitting that he still doesn’t fully understand the circumstances surrounding the decision.

“I love Corey,” Cole said. “Beside McAfee, he’s probably the best partner I’ve ever had. But I still don’t understand all the dynamics of what happened.”

Graves was reportedly removed from a key commentary position after making critical remarks about WWE on social media. According to Cole, the intent behind Graves’ comments may have been misunderstood.

“He put something out there,” Cole explained. “He said he was just trying to generate interest in a storyline, but I don’t think the company saw it that way.”

Endorsement and Uncertainty

Cole did not confirm whether Graves’ demotion was permanent but hinted that ongoing discussions might be taking place.

“I think he and the company are working it out,” Cole said.

While WWE has embraced more personality and creative freedom among its announcers, Cole acknowledged that boundaries still exist.

“We’re given more freedom now, but that doesn’t mean you can say anything you want,” he noted.

Despite the situation, Cole remains a strong supporter of Graves’ work.

“He’s an unbelievable commentator,” he said. “I hope he stays with us, because he’s one of the best.”

For now, Graves’ future with WWE remains uncertain, but Cole’s remarks confirm that the situation was not part of a scripted storyline.

Watch Michael Cole’s full interview on Impaulsive with Logan Paul:

Veteran WWE announcer Michael Cole recently shared his thoughts on WWE’s leadership transition during an appearance on Impaulsive, revealing to Logan Paul that under Vince McMahon, he never had the freedom to fully express himself.

Cole explained that during McMahon’s tenure, every aspect of WWE’s presentation adhered strictly to his vision.

“I was never really able to break out,” he admitted. “Vince was very hands-on, and everything had to fit his vision. It was his sandbox.”

Now, with Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan at the helm, Cole says the culture has shifted dramatically.

“We’re allowed to have bigger personalities now,” he noted. “You’re seeing the real Michael Cole—the guy who crowd surfs, who gets on tables, who jokes around. That would’ve never happened under Vince.”

Feeling Valued Like Never Before

Beyond creative freedom, Cole emphasized that WWE’s new leadership has made him feel truly appreciated.

“For the first time in my career, I really felt like I was important to this place,” he shared.

“The paycheck was part of it, but the way the new regime treats us… it’s night and day.”

This shift in philosophy extends across WWE, with talent now enjoying greater creative control.

“Before, Vince controlled everything,” Cole said. “Now, wrestlers are delivering promos in their own voices, and it’s making the product better.”

Cole also revealed that the company’s evolution played a key role in his decision to continue his career.

“I was considering stepping away, but my wife told me, ‘This is your legacy.’ And she was right.”

With nearly three decades in WWE, Cole is embracing this new chapter, proving that even a longtime voice of the company can still evolve alongside it.

Watch Michael Cole’s full interview on Impaulsive with Logan Paul:

Veteran WWE announcer Michael Cole revealed on Impaulsive that having PRIME’s logo on the WWE ring mat would have been unimaginable under Vince McMahon’s leadership.

“Vince thought the mat was sacred,” Cole explained. “But it’s 2025 now, and the world has changed.”

Logan Paul, whose PRIME brand is now a WWE sponsor, responded enthusiastically. “For me, it’s fantastic. It’s the future,” he said.

Cole noted that WWE’s business strategy, particularly under Triple H and Nick Khan, has shifted significantly from McMahon’s traditional approach.

“We always used to say, ‘Oh, the mat has to be clean,’ but now? You’ve got multiple logos on there.”

The discussion highlighted WWE’s evolving approach to revenue generation and brand partnerships. Paul, who has leveraged his influencer status to merge social media and professional wrestling, pointed out how this shift benefits both sides.

“It’s gotta be the right brands,” Paul added. “But let’s be real, you’re gonna get your head smashed in over a Wingstop logo? That’s amazing.”

Cole agreed that WWE’s mindset has evolved dramatically, creating new opportunities for crossover branding.

“This would’ve been unheard of five, ten years ago,” he said. “But it makes sense—this is a multi-billion-dollar entertainment business now.”

With PRIME’s growing presence in WWE, it’s clear the company’s leadership is embracing modern marketing strategies in ways McMahon never did.

Watch Michael Cole’s full interview on Impaulsive with Logan Paul:

The October 18, edition of WWE SmackDown featured some huge names appear including Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax, and the debuting Motor City Machine Guns. Michael Cole was not part of the broadcast in a rare absence for the voice of WWE and now more has come to light about his hiatus.

Without Cole around, Monday Night Raw’s Wade Barrett filled in behind the announce desk alongside Corey Graves. While speaking to Sal Licata of WFAN recently, Cole shared that he was taking a 10-day vacation in Cozumel, Mexico with his family.

“I’m actually leaving tomorrow for Cozumel, Mexico, for a 10-day family vacation with the entire family and grandkids.“

On SmackDown, Graves explained Cole’s absence by saying he was away on a ‘special assignment.’ After filling in for Cole, Barrett shared that he’s curious as to what this assignment was for the veteran broadcaster.

This week marks the third time Michael Cole has missed an episode of WWE programming throughout his 27-year career with the company. Cole missed Monday Night Raw’s season premiere in October 2023 due to a personal commitment. Before that, he missed a show back in September 2017 to attend his son’s wedding.

Michael Cole’s WWE Future

With Cole signing a new contract with WWE earlier this year, fans can expect much more of him in the future, despite his absence this week. Cole is set to reunite with Pat McAfee in January 2025 once the popular sports broadcaster returns to WWE after hosting College GameDay. That same month, WWE Raw will move to Netflix, marking a new era in broadcasting for the red brand, one that Michael Cole will be a part of.

WWE has announced significant shakeups to the commentary teams of its two flagship shows, WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown. The changes take effect over the next couple weeks, starting with next week’s Raw and completing the following Friday, when SmackDown returns to the USA Network after a 5-year run on FOX.

Michael Cole Shifts to SmackDown

Corey Graves filled in for Pat McAfee at the commentary booth for this week’s WWE Raw. McAfee is on hiatus and is returning to his other gig hosting ESPN College GameDay. Graves and Cole will reunite on September 13 for WWE SmackDown’s big homecoming on the USA Network. The duo has worked extensively together over the years and is regarded as one of WWE’s strongest teams.

Enter Joe Tessitore

With today’s “Voice of WWE” changing brands, WWE has tapped veteran broadcaster Joe Tessitore to serve as the new lead announcer for Raw starting next Monday, September 2, 2024. Tessitore has decades of experience in broadcasting, including working with ESPN doing play-by-play for Monday Night Football and coincidentally College Game Day.

Wade Barrett joins Tessitore on Monday nights. Former Nexus leader has proven himself to be an asset in recent years; calling action on Raw, SmackDown and NXT.

WWE has announced yet another shake-up to their commentary teams and confirmed that Michael Cole will be leaving Raw for SmackDown in the near future.

The company had announced earlier last month that famed ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore will be joining their ranks this Summer.

The newest WWE broadcast signee made an appearance on the Countdown to WWE SummerSlam pre-show and spoke with Michael Cole.

The longtime WWE announcer welcomed Tessitore, before confirming that the ESPN personality would be starting with the company on September 2 and be part of the Raw crew from Denver Colorado.

Cole then confirmed that he would be leaving his current position at the Red Branded Show at the same time and moving to the SmackDown booth instead.

Joe Tessitore currently appears on ABC and ESPN as a broadcaster for college football and Top Rank boxing. He is expected to continue his current roles alongside his new WWE duties.

• Michael Cole Inks New Contract With WWE

The belief is that the current SmackDown broadcast team of Corey Graves and Wade Barrett will be moving to Raw to join Tessitore.

As for Michael Cole, his partnership with Pat McAfee will likely continue with this change. Though the former NFL star’s move to the Blue Branded Show has not been confirmed officially.

These commentary shake-ups come in light of WWE new TV deals. The new deals will see SmackDown returning to the USA Network on September 13, while Raw moves to Netflix in an unprecedented change at the start of next year.

• WWE SummerSlam Results: Multiple Title Changes

Don’t expect to see Michael Cole leave WWE anytime soon as he has signed a new deal with the company.

Bryan Curtis of The Ringer reported that Cole penned a fresh contract in the spring which will keep him with the company for the foreseeable future. However, the tenure of the contract was not mentioned.

Michael Cole is arguably one of the greatest commentators of all time. Cole, a former news reporter, has lent his legendary voice to iconic moments in the company. In the company, he even had a short heel run and even scored a win at WrestleMania 27.

It was back in 1997 that Cole joined WWE and he is still going strong. He started doing backstage interviews at the time during the Attitude Era. In the next couple of years, he became a play-by-play commentator and served Smackdown in the 2000s. Over the years he has cemented his legendary status as the ‘Voice of WWE.’ 

In the past, Vince McMahon gave various talking points to Michael Cole in his headset during the shows which was uncomfortable for the veteran. This is something several other announcers have also criticized. Now that Vince is not in charge anymore, Michael Cole has freedom as he uses more stats and shares real-life backstories on the wrestlers. Cole shared his experience and also recalled how he confronted Vince McMahon. During the interview with The Ringer, he said:

“I’m not going to lie. There have been times where he has said things to me that were inappropriate. I would go back to Gorilla after the show and get in his face and tell him, ‘That was bullshit.’ He respected that I did that. Over the next few years, people still didn’t accept me because they looked at me as being a puppet for Vince. And I think some of that probably was true. Listen, I’m not a rebel. I’m here to make money and take care of my family and provide myself a good living. And when your boss asks you to do something, you do it. I still think, at that time, I was a hell of a good announcer.”

Currently, Michael Cole serves as the commentator for Raw alongside his broadcast partner Pat McAfee.

• Michael Cole Encourages WWE Broadcasters to Find Their Own Voice

WWE picks their announcers carefully, as they are responsible for providing a soundtrack for the action in the ring. Everyone has their own voice, and Michael Cold has helped the company in significant ways.

Michael Cole entered WWE in 1997, and he has remained a part of the company since then. First as a backstage interviewer, he eventually made his way to the commentary table, where he never left.

WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph spoke with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV insider, where he revealed that Michael Cole wants to help each WWE commentary team member discover who they really are.

“Michael Cole is the greatest of all time. I’ll say it again. He is the greatest of all time. I’ve learned so much from him. Here’s the thing about Michael Cole. He doesn’t want me to be Michael Cole. He doesn’t want Corey Graves to be Michael Cole. We all have our own distinct voices. It’s how you as a listener hear it.”

“When I went to NXT, I didn’t want to be Mauro [Ranallo]. I don’t want to be Michael Cole. I want to be myself. But if you’re the greatest of all time why would you not want to pick a few things from them? There is no quarterback in the world that’s not looking at Tom Brady’s mechanics or Patrick Mahomes’ footwork. If you don’t study people who are the greatest, I think it’s foolish if you don’t. I will take as much as I can from Michael Cole and Corey Graves, for that matter, and mold it into my own. Then hopefully get to their level.”

WWE Commentary Teams

The company has several television shows, with different commentary teams on each program.

• WWE’s RAW: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. 
• WWE SmackDown: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett  
• NXT: Vic Joseph and Booker T 
• NXT Level Up: Blake Howard and Byron Saxton 
• Main Event: Blake Howard and ‘Road Dogg’ Brian James

WWE will switch around their commentary teams occasionally. The last change came when Kevin Patrick was fired, and that caused the change to what we have today.

The WWE Draft is coming on the April 26th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The draft will then continue on the April 29th episode of Monday Night Raw. We will have to see how the commentary teams look when the next roster shake-up goes down, but each show has a strong team already.

A new trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire has a WWE feel to it, thanks to the promotion’s commentary duo of Corey Graves and Michael Cole. 

Taking to Instagram, Graves shared the new trailer that features himself and Cole providing a voiceover for the action. In the caption, Graves said that it’s an “amazing thrill” to have his voice in the trailer considering that he grew up obsessed with monster movies. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C4-oZktudww

Godzilla X Kong: The New Frontier

The new film is a sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise that began with 2014’s stand-alone Godzilla film. While the two behemoths were adversaries in the previous film. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire sees the pair forced to team up to defeat a powerful, climate-changing Titan from destroying the Earth’s surface. 

Graves & Cole in the Movies

While neither Corey Graves nor Michael Cole appear in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, the pair have featured in films in the past. Graves played Gunnar in 2011‘s Kingdom of Gladiators and played himself in 2020’s The Main Event, a WWE Studios production. 

Cole has been in four films from WWE Studios which were all animated features. He made his acting debut in 2014’s Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery as himself. He would appear in the film’s sequel ‘Curse of the Speed Demon‘ as well as Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania and The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania!

WWE television is usually live, so you never know what will happen during a broadcast. Michael Cole can attest to that 100%, and sometimes it results in an impromptu amazing segment.

Michael Cole wore Valhalla’s antlers during the March 3 episode of WWE RAW, and he had an experience of ecstasy. Those antlers had been absent for weeks, but Cole fulfilled a childhood dream by wearing them. Valhalla later revealed in an interview that Cole was unaware of the moment before it occurred on the show.

Cole & The Antlers

Michael Cole has shown a particular interest in Valhalla’s antlers. After their absence for several weeks, he started to become a sad commentator, and he called out how the former Sarah Logan was missing her headgear. Then, things took a turn during a recent episode of RAW in San Antonio.

Valhalla made a dramatic entrance with her antlers, and in a memorable moment, she placed them on Cole. This overjoyed Michael as he proclaimed that a boyhood dream was achieved. Pat McAfee was thrilled to have witnessed this firsthand.

The crowd chanting Michael Cole's name after he got the antlers

My god he deserves this and Cole is having the time of his damm life #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/v30luXAdPx

— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) March 5, 2024

Cole continued his commentary seamlessly while wearing the antlers, and even mentioned that it fulfilled a childhood dream. He might not have been able to hear anyone in his ear during the match, but Triple H has been much more hands-off when it comes to commentary, contrary to Vince McMahon’s overwhelming edicts.

During an interview with Steve Fall, Valhalla talked about Michael Cole wearing her antlers on Monday Night RAW. Valhalla disclosed that Michael Cole was unaware of the spot before it happened on the show.

“No one knew I was doing that, especially not Michael Cole. That reaction of his was 100% organic and he had no idea that was happening. He just really loves those stinking antlers so I’m just gonna keep trying to integrate them as best I can.”

What’s next for Valhalla’s Antlers

We will have to see how WWE books Valhalla at WrestleMania 40. If she makes an appearance at the show of shows, you better believe she will break out her best set of antlers.

Michael Cole has given a lot to WWE, and he continues to be an anchor for their commentary team. We can only hope that he finds this much elation in the future, but he might be chasing that dragon in search of something to give him the same high that Valhalla’s antler experience put him though.

SEScoops will have more on this story and so much more as things break. Keep checking back throughout the day, because you never know what headlines will pop up next.

Fans should get used to hearing Michael Cole on commentary for years to come, at least if Michael Cole is to be believed. 

Cole has been with WWE for close to three decades after joining the promotion in 1997 on the recommendation of Todd Pettengill. A former war correspondent, Cole’s career in WWE has seen him call the action at countless events, enjoy a brief heel run, and even get a win at WrestleMania 27. 

The Heir Apparent

With decades in the industry, Cole has developed a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t at the commentary table. In a recent interview with Awful Announcing, the veteran spoke about Corey Graves’ journey in WWE thus far and teaching him the proverbial ropes. 

“[It was] a matter of giving him the opportunity to sit side by side for many years, to watch, learn, study, and see how I do things.”

Cole added that he is pleased that Graves was given the opportunity and sees a very bright future for the SmackDown commentator.

“And at the end of the day, when we gave him the shot? He’s been killing it. I believe he’s the heir apparent.”

Corey Graves

While Cole sees Graves as his heir, the 40-year-old is hardly a newbie to the commentary desk. After his in-ring retirement in 2014, Graves joined the NXT commentary team before being moved to the Raw desk in 2016. Graves current calls the action on SmackDown alongside Wade Barrett.

With WWE 2K24 around the corner, excitement for the new game is at a fever pitch, with top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins all confirmed. 

While these three will have some of the highest ratings in the game, not everyone can have great stats, and there’ll always be somebody with the outright worst ranking in the game. In this feature, we look at some of the worst-ranked playable characters in WWE video games. 

Eric Bischoff – 52 – SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain

Perhaps it was a battle for brand supremacy that led to then-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff having the lowest ranking in SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain. Bischoff’s martial arts prowess and all-black gi helped little whenever you played as him in the game. 

Ribbie – 60 – WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 was a disaster of a game but it did give fans their first-ever playable anthropomorphic rack of ribs. Ribbie is the mascot of the Memphis Sliders, a minor baseball team, according to Byron Saxton, and with his BBQ sauce haircut, we imagine wrestlers weren’t eager to face him. 

Curt Hawkins – 64 – WWE 2K19

The master of the losing streak, Curt Hawkins’ unfortunate record was replicated with his woeful score in WWE 2K19. Nowadays, Hawkins is faring much better in TNA Wrestling as Brian Myers. 

Jimmy Hart – 67 – SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008

It makes sense that the Mouth of the South’s rating would be so low, given he very rarely wrestled. This ranking shows that in SVR ’08, Jimmy was best being kept at ringside. 

Bo Dallas – 67- WWE 2K17

All the Bo-lieving in the world couldn’t save Bo Dallas from this dreadful score in WWE 2K17. Good luck winning any titles as the third-generation wrestler! His brother Bray would be well ahead of Bo in the game with a score of 87. 

Sawyer Fulton – 69 – WWE 2K18

The forgotten member of Sanity, Sawyer Fulton’s 69 is the worst in the entire WWE 2K18 game. What makes this worse is that this would mark Fulton’s first and only time in a video game. 

Eric Bischoff (again) – 69 – WWE 2K22

Things clearly picked up for Easy-E between Here Comes The Pain and WWE 2K22, but that wasn’t enough to save him from having the worst rating once again. Sorry Eric!

Michael Cole & Jim Ross – 71 – WWE ’12

These WWE commentators shared the same woeful rating in WWE ’12, so it’s only fair we lump them together. Frankly though, why anyone would play as either man, especially Cole, is anyone’s guess. 

WWE provided Michael Cole with a fantastic life where he can experience some incredible things. It seems that this week’s episode of RAW included a moment that he’s been dreaming about since his childhood.

Valhalla from the Viking Raiders is known for her fierce energy, face paint, and antlers. Whenever she doesn’t have the antlers, Cole is a sad man. This week on RAW, the former Sarah Logan placed those antlers on Michael’s head, and it was a joyous experience, to say the least.

The crowd chanting Michael Cole's name after he got the antlers

My god he deserves this and Cole is having the time of his damm life #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/v30luXAdPx

— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) March 5, 2024

Michael Cole Living The Dream

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee have incredible chemistry on commentary, and there is no debating that. So, when Cole gets excited, Pat gets hyped as well. This all added up to an incredible moment during the February 4th episode of RAW.

During the latest episode of RAW in San Antonio, Michael Cole experienced a memorable moment when Valhalla showed up with her antlers after several weeks without the presence of her headgear. Every time she showed up without antlers, Cole it out and he was noticeably bummed about it.

In an unexpected turn, she adorned Cole with the antlers, who seamlessly continued his commentary while wearing them. Michael even held his headset in his hand, only speaking into the microphone to accommodate his new Viking drip. He was very happy to make this change, as he obviously had nobody in his ear giving direction during that match.

Michael Cole whenever he sees antlers: pic.twitter.com/ASEyHjXqZq

— MUKARRAM (@mukarram_mania) March 5, 2024

While taking to Twitter, Michael Cole uploaded a photo of himself alongside Pat McAfee, with Cole wearing the antlers. Cole expressed that his boyhood dream had finally come true. It might have been the antlers, or fans chanting his name, but it was still an incredible moment. 

”A boyhood dream has come true.”

A boyhood dream has come true. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/G5NGYPBV8X

— Michael Cole (@MichaelCole) March 5, 2024

What’s Next For Michael Cole

Michael Cole has dedicated 27 years to his tenure in the company, and he has been able to separate his home life and career in WWE. Only time will tell when he steps away from commentary, but bringing McAfee back to join him on the RAW announce team has arguably revived the seasoned play-by-play announcer.

SEScoops will have more on this story, just in case there are further developments with Michael Cole and Valhalla’s antlers.

Pat McAfee’s music surprised fans in Tropicana Field as he kicked off the Royal Rumble event. He joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves to call every match on the show, even the Men’s Royal Rumble, where McAfee had an impromptu appearance in the match. Now, he is back on WWE television on a weekly basis.

Pat McAfee Is Back on WWE Television

McAfee’s “Let’s Goooo!” music kicked off WWE RAW this week. This appearance was more than Royal Rumble fallout, because Cole and McAfee are back together.

Michael Cole was happy to announce that McAfee is now back on WWE RAW as a full-time announcer for the red brand. He will be joined by Cole on the show every week, and they were very happy about this reunion.

BREAKING: @PatMcAfeeShow & @MichaelCole are the brand new commentary team on #WWERaw every Monday! pic.twitter.com/y8cOEpDigv

— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2024

Cole and McAfee work together very well, because they are legit good friends. Cole has spoken on many occasions how close he is with McAfee, and now the two real-life friends get to talk about pro wrestling on RAW for three hours every week.

Thrilled to have @PatMcAfeeShow every week on #WWERaw. Welcome home, Pat! pic.twitter.com/mRbQTUxV7D

— Triple H (@TripleH) January 30, 2024

Pat McAfee’s Previous WWE Experience

McAfee cut his teeth in WWE on the NXT brand. He not only got some commentary experience in, but he also had one impressive feud with Adam Cole, which resulted in a legit match. He later went on to become SmackDown announcer.

Austin Theory stepped up to face Pat McAfee at WrestleMania 38, in a match that was first thought to be Vince McMahon vs McAfee. That match was quite interesting, as it saw McMahon make his final WrestleMania appearance (probably ever) as he sold a Stone Cold Stunner like a lead balloon.

WWE Shaking Up Announce Teams

I broke the news that Kevin Patrick is off the SmackDown announce team.

SmackDown set for a change.
Kevin Patrick is out.
No replacement named yet.
Reason I was given: “It just wasn’t working out.”

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 23, 2024

Since then, we’ve learned the new SmackDown announce team has been finalized:

Endeavor instituted two-man announce teams with their new set-up. It appears that three-man teams are out now, which is what helped lead to Michael Cole and Pat McAfee’s reunion on the red brand. 

Kevin Patrick was just moved onto the SmackDown announce team a short time ago. That tenure did not last long, and now the Irish announcer is off that show. 

Kevin Patrick’s Replacement

I broke the news that Kevin Patrick is off the SmackDown announce team. Now, we know who will fill in for that role, if only in a temporary status. 

Kevin Patrick was part of the WWE SmackDown commentary team alongside Corey Graves. This change for the blue brand will come into effect starting this week.

PW Insider reports that Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be the new two-man team for SmackDown, but this might not be a long-term solution. The future of this change remains uncertain, leaving us to question whether it will be a long-term or short-term adjustment.

Sources are telling PWInsiderElite.com that Michael Cole will call Smackdown on Friday, which makes sense since he will be in town for The Royal Rumble anyway. So, it will be Cole and Corey Graves.

Kevin Patrick’s Time In WWE

Kevin Patrick was on Raw from October 2022 before transitioning to Smackdown in 2023. Now, he is no longer on the blue brand. I reported last night that Patrick was removed from SmackDown.

At this time, it is unknown if Kevin Patrick will take on a different role within WWE. He will no longer be heard on SmackDown.

WWE is starting out a new year, and that will come with a change to commentary. Some WWE fans don’t remember a day when Michael Cole wasn’t a full-time announcer for the company, but he may be moving out of that role.

WWE Changing Commentary Team

Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Kevin Patrick have made up the SmackDown commentary team for some time. Now, that may change as WWE enters into 2024.

According to a recent report from PW Insider, WWE is making a change to their commentary teams, with two-man teams starting this week. That means that Michael Cole is no longer on SmackDown.

The word making the rounds in WWE is that starting in the new year, the announce teams will all consist of two men booths.

That means that Michael Cole’s time on Smackdown ended last month.

WWE’s Future In 2024 Could See More Changes

With Kevin Dunn’s departure from WWE, some are wondering who will leave next. Vince McMahon’s old guard may be exiting, but this report did not indicate that Michael Cole will be totally leaving WWE with this move.

Michael Cole holds other backstage responsibilities, and he has hinted in the past about leaving the commentary table eventually. This new development could open the door for Michael Cole to pursue other opportunities as SmackDown becomes a two-man team.

Michael Cole may have bitten off more than he can chew with a recent remark he made about Rhea Ripley.

The 26-year-old grappler from Adelaide, Australia is one of the most feared Superstars in WWE – and we’re not just talking about the women’s division. Ripley’s career was growing stagnant earlier this year, and she even spoke about the need to get herself back on track. She did just that earlier this year when she joined the Judgment Day faction, which also includes Finn Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio.

The group has been feuding with AJ Styles and The OC. The Judgment Day has gotten the upper hand in this gang warfare so far, with OC leader stating that Ripley is the reason the group has been so dominant.

At WWE’s recent Crown Jewel premium live event, announcer Michael Cole said that someone needs to kick Ripley’s ass. That didn’t go over so well with Ripley. She’s letting Cole know comments like that won’t be tolerated and has since challenge him to a fight.

On Saturday morning, Ripley wrote on Twitter, “Fight me @Michael Cole”

Doin’t expect to see Cole take her up on this challenge. However, one thing is for sure. You can’t just run your mouth about the Judgment Day’s toughest member.

The OC recently brought in Mia Yim to feud with Ripley as part of this ongoing feud.

Vince McMahon made resigned from WWE in July. The 77-year-old made the announcement on Twitter as the company launched an investigation into alleged hush money payments to former female employees. John Laurinaitis was also involved in the scandal and was dismissed as the company’s EVP of Talent Relations.

Following Vince McMahon’s departure, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were named co-CEOs. Triple H took over as EVP of Talent Relations and was also given the title of Chief Content Officer. The reported sentiment backstage within WWE is that it would be a step back for the company if the former CEO were to return.

Michael Cole on WWE without Vince McMahon

Michael Cole joined his SmackDown commentary partner Pat McAfee on his show today. McAfee is currently not on the SmackDown broadcast after signing a full-time deal with ESPN for College Gameday. He presumably will return to the blue brand after the college football season.

Speaking on the Pat McAfee show, Michael Cole said that everything has been great following Vince’s exit and the show must go on.

H/T: Fightful

The landscape of WWE has changed dramatically across all three of the company’s brands, at least at the commentary desk.

This week, WWE will begin their ‘season premiere’ week of programming, starting with tomorrow night’s SmackDown on FOX. Next week’s Raw and NXT will also serve as the season premieres of the red and gold brand.

The following three shows of WWE programming will be stacked for the season premieres and will feature brand-new commentary teams.

Wrestle Votes were the first to report that changes were expected to Raw’s commentary team before more information was provided by Variety. Their report, later confirmed by WWE, announced that the company is returning to two-person commentary teams across all three of its brands.

Smackdown

For tomorrow night’s SmackDown, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett will be calling the action, with the former Intercontinental Champion moving from NXT.

Raw

Next week’s Raw will see Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves behind the table, with Patrick being promoted as a full-time member of the Raw commentary team.

The Irish announcer had previously served as a backstage interviewer and provided commentary on the July 24, 2022, Raw.

Byron Saxton, who had been on commentary for Raw, has been moved to a role as an onscreen interviewer.

NXT

For NXT, the new commentary team will see Vic Joseph returning to the role, now working with Booker T.

The two-time WWE Hall of Famer has previously served as a commentator for Raw and SmackDown, and regularly makes appearances on kick-off show panels.

Premium Live Events

For major WWE events such as WWE Premium Live Events, Cole and Graves will be the commentary team.

When you think of all the big moments in WWE history over the last quarter of the century, chances are Michael Cole was ringside.

The longtime broadcaster transitioned from hard news to the wacky world of pro wrestling/sports entertainment in the midst of the “Monday Night War.” Cole learned early on this meant more than calling matches. He was tested on every level, even feeling the sophomoric brunt of DX complete with wedgies.

No matter what assignment, Cole always maintained the utmost professionalism and did his job. It was that consistency that saw him step into the lead announcer seat while Jim Ross battled Bell’s palsy.  

This was no easy task as JR had been the beloved voice of WWE for so many years and fans aren’t the best with change. Still, Cole took on the challenge, which included calling Mick Foley’s first WWE championship win, the 1999 Royal Rumble, and everything besides the main event of WrestleMania 15. Talk about trial by fire.

When Ross returned, Cole’s work ethic and preparedness shined through, taking the ball while sitting along Taz on SmackDown. He built a solid friendship and rapport with John “Bradshaw” Layfield no matter what brand they were assigned. 

One of the most valuable traits Cole carries is being able to cancel out the outside noise and remain the voice of the company. That’s no small task when you have a very demanding audience coupled with an even more demanding boss to please.

At times WWE seemed to be pitting Ross against Cole, even in front of the camera. Their “feud” led to a match with the leader of the “Cole Miners” facing Ross’ broadcast partner and friend Jerry “The King” Lawler at WrestleMania 27. A match Cole technically won. Yes, he is undefeated at the biggest show of the year. 

During the often revolving door at the broadcast position, Cole keeps on as the reliable constant. The familiar. Looking at all the episodes and hours of programming produced, it’s pretty incredible that he rarely missed a day on the job. A son’s wedding or the like. Think about all the sacrifices required for the position. To be depended on that much comes with immense pressure. Yet he always looks cool as a cucumber. As Ross exited, Cole became even more crucial to WWE TV.

He has also played an important part in grooming the next generation as vice president of announcing. You see the evolution and growth of Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves each week, as well as new faces like a recruit from the combat sports world in Jimmy Smith.

Cole encourages talent to step outside of their comfort zones as he did with a Lita or Beth Phoenix for the Mae Young Classic or NXT or another show. Or giving his support to Renee Young trying her hand in the proverbial booth. In 2018, he went as far as to tweet Young’s first trailblazing night on Raw was a Top 5 highlight in his WWE career. He thanked Young and Graves for making him feel young again. 

Fast forward to today and it seems Cole shares the same sentiment with Pat McAfee. Their chemistry on SmackDown is undeniable. Not surprisingly WWE signed the former football player for a multi-year extension. Cole came on Twitter for the first time in almost six years just to comment on the news. He said McAfee is the highlight of each week, complimenting his contagious excitement and revitalizing his love for the business. Often showing Cole respect on the air, you have to believe those words meant a lot to McAfee. 

For Cole to not only last but thrive in WWE for more than 25 years and counting is a massive accomplishment. And the fact nobody has ever talked ill about him, at least in public, makes the run even more impressive. I for one look forward to the day Cole writes a book about his experience in WWE. Although that could probably be an anthology or weekly podcast. I’m sure Conrad Thompson has thought about the potential of that. Until then during the next SmackDown, think about Cole’s journey. You’ll certainly feel an appreciation for the man himself.

WWE Raw commentator Jimmy Smith has come to the defense of his broadcast colleagues for the backlash some have received over Sasha Banks and Naomi’s walkout.

Last week, Banks and Naomi walked out during a Raw taping, forcing WWE to scrap plans for the advertised six-pack challenge main event.

The pair’s walkout has also forced WWE to change plans for the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, which both Banks and Naomi were scheduled to compete for.

After the walkout, Corey Graves said the pair had acted “unprofessionally” while Michael Cole said the Superstars “let us all down” when announcing their suspension on last Friday’s SmackDown.

Speaking on his Unlocking The Cage with Jimmy Smith Podcast, Smith said that the two are just doing the job asked of them.

“Michael Cole and Corey Graves aren’t making this stuff up. People are getting mad at them like they’re freestyling stuff, they’re not. They’re broadcasters, if Vince [McMahon] had said, ‘Here, read this,’ I would’ve done exactly what Michael Cole did. Vince could’ve said, ‘Hey, Jimmy, I want you to read that,’ and I would’ve went, ‘Ah, okay! Sasha Banks and Naomi let us all down.’ I would’ve read the same thing.

“It’s this weird thing where like, in my sense, on Monday Night Raw, Corey Graves is getting all this sh*t. Corey Graves didn’t make up that statement, he’s a broadcaster and he was told to read it and he read it. So, I understand maybe the ire of the fans but the misdirection of that ire is weird. People getting upset at me or Corey Graves, you’re just getting mad at the wrong people. I don’t get that. Graves was told to say what he said and he said it.”

“People are getting mad at them like they’re freestyling stuff, they’re not. They’re broadcasters.”

Jimmy Smith, responding to criticism of Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

Both Banks and Naomi have been indefinitely suspended and had their merchandise pulled from WWEShop.com.

The contracts of both women are expected to expire later this year, though there is the possibility WWE could freeze their current deals.

• Sasha Banks and Naomi Situation Expected to get Worse (May 2022)

Thanks to WrestlingInc for the transcription.

Michael Cole usually gets heat from fans for not focusing on the action inside the ring while calling the matches. Turns out, the longtime WWE announcer is aware of this criticism but he doesn’t have any problem with it, because he considers himself to be a ‘sports entertainment announcer.’

The veteran commentator explained his point of view during his most recent appearance on The Press Box podcast. He explained that WWE is not a wrestling company. It is mainly an entertainment company and so the style that he utilises is sports entertainment announcing:

“We’re not a wrestling company. WWE is an entertainment company. So the style that I utilize and the style that many people that work for me here in WWE utilize, is what I like to call sports entertainment announcing. A lot of people laugh at me about that. They’ll make jokes about it. But what we do here is much different than what they may do in other companies.”

• Pat McAfee On Working With Michael Cole: “He’s The GOAT”

‘We Just Happen To Use A Wrestling Ring’

Michael Cole gave the example of a 70s TV show called Taxi. He explained that people liked the show because they could connect with the characters in it, not because they were cab drivers in a garage. The same thing is true for WWE, where the wrestling ring is used as a focal point to resolve the conflicts. Though their main focus is on the stories and getting people interested in the characters:

“We just happen to use a wrestling ring as our focal point of where our conflicts are resolved. But in order for our business to be successful, you have to become emotionally invested in the characters and what we are selling. The majority of the people that watch our product, they enjoy wrestling of course, but they also get really into the soap opera style of what we do.”

Cole mentioned how there are other companies that strictly do wrestling. He explained that you are going to call a wrestling match differently than you are going to call a sport entertainment match. In WWE, they focus more on stories. According to him, the WWE commentators are storytellers, more than being the play-by-play guys.

Quotes via WrestlingNews

Pat McAfee has heaped major praise on Michael Cole.

McAfee serves as the color commentator of WWE’s SmackDown brand. The former NFL punter has been lauded for his work on WWE TV. It’s led to him receiving a match against Austin Theory on night two (April 3) of WrestleMania 38.

Pat McAfee Has Kind Words For Michael Cole

During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio, Pat McAfee responded to the notion that he’s seemingly picked up on wrestling commentary in no time.

McAfee said it’s a combination of preparation and the help of an experienced veteran such as Michael Cole.

“There’s been others that have done it in a different fashion and better than me in my eyes but I kinda do my own thing, and I feel like I have slotted my own role as commentator there in the history of the business, which is not easy to do cause there’s so many greats.

“Everybody’s trying to be somebody else it feels like but you gotta remember Cole was the one who called me and gave me the kickoff panel opportunity for NXT like four years ago.

“So, Cole and I have known each other for four years at this point. People say, ‘Hey, you’re a natural,’ which I appreciate. I’ve been watching wrestling, listening to the commentators for like 25 years now at this point.

“So, I don’t wanna say that I was just able to drop in and do it. I feel like I’ve been preparing for a lot of these things for a long time.”

McAfee went on to say that Cole simply knows his stuff at the commentary table.

“Michael Cole is the GOAT, by the way. He could do that show with anybody. He could do that show with a bag if he had to, and he proved that after I got escorted out after beating the hell out of Austin Theory. He was able to call his own match.

“He’s coming up on 25 years doing that job, he’s only missed two shows. You’re talking about one of the most experienced, one of the best workers, and a man who is an actual journalist who has the professionalism to go through some bullshit.

“There’s some bullshit segments that he has to lay out and do and it’s just part of the job.”

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