WWE commentary shakeup

[Chris]

So confirmed that Pat will be back on Raw for Netflix with Cole, but the Fall announce teams and the rest of next year seem a bit more up in the air.

For fall they've confirmed Joe Tessitore for Raw and Michael Cole for SmackDown, but those two will switch when Raw goes to Netflix with Pat coming back. For now both Wade and Corey will just partner with one of them I'm sure but come January idk if they'll do a 3 man booths with Joe or one gets left off.

Maybe in a perfect world they Take Booker off NXT for Wade

 

[Deadd2009]

Something I don't understand with Pat's schedule. He stopped doing Smackdown because of College GameDay being the next day and the travel was kinda shitty. But he's currently doing Raw, which is a full 2 days AFTER college football airs...and he still has to stop doing it? Me thinks this is a ESPN thing where they told him he couldn't do both.

 

[Crocker]

I’m guessing as the more experienced one that Corey will move to Raw for these few months.


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[Storm Trooper]

Something I don't understand with Pat's schedule. He stopped doing Smackdown because of College GameDay being the next day and the travel was kinda shitty. But he's currently doing Raw, which is a full 2 days AFTER college football airs...and he still has to stop doing it? Me thinks this is a ESPN thing where they told him he couldn't do both.

His primary job is hosting a daily sports talk show that's main focus is the National Football League on ESPN from noon-2 Eastern. Kinda hard to talk about the NFL is you're literally missing Monday Night Football every week.

Also, man has a wife and young child. Dude can't burn the candle at both ends forever. 1 road trip a week is enough for the guy.

I'm thinking they'll have Wade work with Cole and Graves with Tessitore. Next week I'm guessing Cole for both shows.

 

[Deadd2009]

His primary job is hosting a daily sports talk show that's main focus is the National Football League on ESPN from noon-2 Eastern. Kinda hard to talk about the NFL is you're literally missing Monday Night Football every week.

Also, man has a wife and young child. Dude can't burn the candle at both ends forever. 1 road trip a week is enough for the guy.

I'm thinking they'll have Wade work with Cole and Graves with Tessitore. Next week I'm guessing Cole for both shows.

He talks more than just the NFL, but the job thats causing him to leave Raw is the one thats on saturday mornings. He also has a crew of tv guys that can also watch the game and catch him up to speed on it. Not every sports radio personality has the time to watch every game that comes on, sadly.

 

[Chris]

It was confirmed last night that Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be the USA Network SmackDown team, at least until Netflix Raw.

 

[Dale]

Really thought they would have had Corey's experience over on Raw with the new guy.

 

[Chris]

WWE sets on-air talent lineup for 'SmackDown,' 'Raw'

Raw on USA Network will feature Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. Tessitore. SmackDown on USA Network will feature Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

WWE has confirmed its on-air talent lineup for "SmackDown" and "Raw" starting in September.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 2, "Raw" on USA Network will feature Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. Tessitore, a veteran play-by-play announcer for ESPN, announced his alignment with WWE in July. Starting Friday, Sept. 13, with its move from Fox to USA Network, "SmackDown" will feature Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

"Raw" will move to Netflix in January under WWE's 10-year, $5B media rights deal, replacing USA Network, which has carried the program since 2005. Pat McAfee, who had been calling "Raw” episodes, recently announced his decision to shift his focus to college football, including as an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay." However, McAfee plans to reunite with Cole on "Raw" once it moves to Netflix (SBJ).

 

[Dale]

You know what this means?



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[Storm Trooper]

Wade and Tessitore will be a good combo. Cole and Graves have some chemistry from working together for years.

Graves handled the PBP job solidly while he had it but he's a natural color guy so this is a good move for all parties.