WWE has announced that Michael Cole and Corey Graves will handle the commentary duties for both RAW and SmackDown moving forward. This decision was made recently and is expected to last at least for the upcoming months, marking a significant change in the WWE commentary lineup.
Previously, SmackDown featured commentary from Wade Barrett, real name Stu Bennett, alongside Joe Tessitore, while Cole and Graves provided commentary for RAW. Moving ahead, Cole and Graves will now cover WWE’s Friday night show in addition to RAW, unifying the commentary team across both flagship programs.
Background on Stu Bennett’s WWE Career and Recent Role
Stu Bennett, also known by his ring name Wade Barrett, has had a 15-year tenure in WWE. Originally making waves as a wrestler, Bennett debuted in 2010 as the leader of the Nexus, a faction that sparked intense storylines, including a notable year-long feud with John Cena. Opinions differ on whether this rivalry benefited or hindered his career progression.
Bennett continued wrestling until 2016, when WWE released him. After stepping away from in-ring competition, he transitioned to a commentary role, contributing to WWE’s NXT brand beginning in 2020 before moving on to the main roster shows as a color commentator.
Stu Bennett’s Current Status and Comments on Time Away
Recent reports from PWInsider indicate that Stu Bennett is no longer traveling for WWE and that his time as a main roster commentator appears to be paused. Joe Tessitore, his regular commentary partner on SmackDown, was also absent from recent broadcasts, though his future status remains unclear.
According to the current plan, Cole and Graves will remain the unified commentary voices on both shows. Fans who hoped for Bennett’s in-ring return—especially after his storyline interactions with Drew McIntyre—will be disappointed as no such return is scheduled at this time.
In response to speculation, Bennett took to X/Twitter to clarify that his absence is temporary and unrelated to any major changes. He stated,
“I usually ignore BS reports like this, but it’s causing needless hate to be spewed towards people I work with. WWE have kindly given me a couple of weeks off for personal time (booked nine months ago), and then I’m back to business as usual. A complete non-story. The end,”
—Stu Bennett, Commentator
Implications of the Commentary Change for WWE Programming
With Michael Cole and Corey Graves now set to cover both RAW and SmackDown, WWE‘s commentary approach will be more consistent across shows. This unification may impact how storylines and matches are presented, given the distinct styles of these commentators compared to their predecessors.
However, the situation remains fluid, as WWE could alter the setup at any point depending on creative direction or personnel availability. Fans and industry watchers will be paying close attention to how the Cole and Graves commentary duo performs with the added responsibility on both programs in the coming months.
