WWE made a change to its SmackDown commentary team in Chicago last night. Michael Cole announced at the start of the show that he and Corey Graves will be the duo calling the action on the blue brand for the next couple of months.
Cole has replaced Joe Tessitore over the last two editions of SmackDown as the latter is off TV due to College Football season beginning a week ago. He called last week’s SmackDown with Wade Barrett, but the British commentator was also replaced by Cole’s partner from RAW, Corey Graves this week.
It was expected that Barrett would move to RAW after Graves moved to SmackDown, but that will not be the case.
PWInsider is reporting that Wade Barrett will be “off the road” going forward. He will not be calling RAW. Some have asked if the change is due to Barrett’s comments about Nikki Bella at Clash in Paris, but it is not confirmed if that is the case.
The report also stated that the current plan is for Cole and Graves to be the voice of the main roster for the foreseeable future.
Earlier this week, Nikki Bella mentioned on her podcast with her sister Brie that she wasn’t thrilled about Barrett’s comments about her in France and that the former Intercontinental Champion avoided her on RAW the following night. However, Barrett denied doing so.
On Friday, Barrett took to X to reveal that he had smoothed things over with the former Divas Champion. He tweeted:
“Great news, fight fans.. Nikki Bella and I have spoken, we’ve smoothed things over, and I’ve graciously been allowed back into the Bella Army. Fully paid-up member since FCW 2008
A difference of perspective – to which we are all entitled – but to be clear, some of the personal abuse that gets sent to Nikki on here is reprehensible and completely out of line, so let’s cut that out immediately.”
The reason behind his sudden removal from TV is not clear yet.
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