The WWE commentary team changes for 2025 have once again altered the broadcasts of Raw and SmackDown, reflecting ongoing adjustments throughout the year. These shifts are driven by scheduling conflicts and personal decisions involving key commentators, affecting the viewing experience of WWE fans nationwide.
Frequent Shifts in WWE’s Commentary Teams Throughout the Year
WWE regularly modifies its commentary teams for key shows such as Raw, SmackDown, and occasionally NXT, sometimes multiple times within a single year. At the start of 2025, Raw’s commentary booth featured the experienced Michael Cole, with nearly three decades at WWE, alongside Pat McAfee, a former NFL punter and ESPN personality. McAfee remained alongside Cole for six months until he stepped away in June due to mental exhaustion, leaving his future as a regular WWE announcer uncertain.
Pat McAfee’s priorities likely lie elsewhere, as he hosts a popular weekday sports show on ESPN and joins College Gameday in the fall. Triple H revealed that McAfee will still appear at WWE Wrestlepalooza on September 20th in Indianapolis, his hometown, even though he has stepped back from commentary duties.
Temporary and Ongoing Replacements Across Programs
After McAfee’s departure from Raw’s commentary, Corey Graves filled in for three months but has since moved on. Meanwhile, on SmackDown in Chicago, Michael Cole and Corey Graves have taken over the commentary responsibilities for the foreseeable future. This follows Joe Tessitore’s departure from the SmackDown booth, mainly due to his college football commitments as an ESPN announcer.
Tessitore had worked SmackDown with Wade Barrett from January through August before his fall schedule with college football games on Saturdays made his continued involvement difficult. These sports broadcasting conflicts have heavily influenced WWE’s ongoing changes in commentary lineups.
Return to Familiar Commentary Teams for WWE NXT
Corey Graves was reassigned to NXT commentary in January, a move he initially viewed as a demotion but later adapted to as part of a trio alongside Vic Joseph and Booker T. WWE commentary lineups for the remainder of 2025 now appear stable with the following arrangements:
Raw will feature Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett, SmackDown is calling action with Michael Cole and Corey Graves, and NXT’s booth includes Vic Joseph and Booker T. For premium live events (PLEs), Michael Cole pairs with Wade Barrett, maintaining a consistent presence for significant WWE shows.
Future Changes Expected When College Football Season Ends
Most changes in commentary teams stem from external broadcasting commitments, particularly for Joe Tessitore. Once his college football duties conclude in December, WWE is likely to reorganize again, potentially returning Michael Cole to calling Raw on Netflix. Cole recently signed a new WWE deal and looks set to extend his illustrious 30+ year run with the company.
These continued shifts in commentary crews, prompted by scheduling conflicts, personal decisions, and network demands, underline WWE’s ongoing struggle to stabilize its announcing lineups. The constant reshuffling has left fans and insiders anxious about the impact on broadcast quality and continuity.
