In a move that’s shaking up the WWE universe harder than a Stone Cold Stunner, veteran broadcaster Joe Tessitore is trading touchdowns for takedowns as he joins the “WWE Raw” announce team. Meanwhile, the iconic Michael Cole, known for his iron lungs and undying patience with Corey Graves, is packing his bags for “WWE SmackDown.”
The big reveal came during the “Countdown to SummerSlam” kickoff show when Cole, in his infinite wisdom, introduced Tessitore to a crowd so electrified it could’ve powered the entire Las Vegas Strip. “You haven’t lived,” Tessitore declared, eyes wide with the excitement of a man who just discovered suplexes are real, “until you’ve come out through the entryway with Michael Cole at SummerSlam. The place goes crazy already. You are a living legend,” he gushed, solidifying his new role as Cole’s biggest fan.
Now, originally, WWE’s press release had everyone believing Tessitore would be rubbing elbows with Corey Graves and Wade Barrett on “SmackDown.” But plot twist! He’s making his grand entrance on “Raw” come September 2nd, just as Cole shuffles over to Friday nights ahead of “SmackDown’s” big move to USA on September 13th.
Rumor has it—thanks to the ever-nosy Pro Wrestling Insider—that Cole and Pat McAfee will be tag-teaming the “Raw” commentary booth when the show cartwheels onto Netflix in 2025. So, keep your popcorn handy, folks. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Tessitore, a spry 53, will be juggling his WWE duties with his ongoing gig as a college football analyst for ESPN and ABC. This isn’t his first rodeo in the world of sports commentary; he’s called the shots for boxing matches, NFL games on Monday Night Football, and even narrated the epic adventures of competitive mini-golf on “Holey Moley.”