WWE is once again shaking up its announce teams for “Raw” and “SmackDown.”
Variety has learned that, beginning in September, “Raw” will be called by Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett, while Michael Cole and Corey Graves will handle the action on “SmackDown.”
It was announced in July that Tessitore would be joining WWE’s commentator lineup. Cole and Tessitore revealed at the recent “SummerSlam” premium live event that Tessitore would begin working on “Raw” on Sept. 2 and that Cole would be moving to “SmackDown.” Barrett and Graves have been the announce team for “SmackDown” since February.
Cole, meanwhile, has been working on “Raw” with Pat McAfee since the beginning of the year, but McAfee is taking time away from WWE to focus on college football coverage with ESPN. He will return in time to call the debut of “Raw” on Netflix with Cole.
Tessitore currently works for ABC and ESPN as part of the networks’ college football coverage, including ESPN and ABC Saturday Night primetime games as well as the College Football Playoff and more. As previously announced, he will remain in that role in addition to working for WWE.
The commentary team changeups come as WWE’s weekly shows prepare to change platforms with their current rights deals set to expire. Most notably, “Raw” will go to Netflix in January in a deal valued at $5 billion. “Raw” currently airs weekly on USA Network and will remain on the basic cabler through the end of the year thanks to an extension reached by the two companies that was disclosed in May.
Beginning in October, “SmackDown” will move from its current home at Fox back to USA Network. NXT, which features WWE’s developmental talent, is set to move to The CW in October from its current home at USA Network.
Source Agencies
