WWE Set to Shake Up Commentary Teams – WWE is preparing to overhaul its commentary teams as the company heads into 2026. According to a new report from PWInsider, the main roster broadcast booths for both Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown will undergo significant changes once live programming resumes in the new year.
Beginning with the January 5, 2026 episode of RAW, the commentary team will feature Michael Cole and Corey Graves. The show will air live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and will double as the “Netflix RAW anniversary show,” marking one full year since WWE’s flagship program officially moved to the streaming platform. Cole and Graves have been the primary voices of SmackDown and WWE Premium Live Events for years, and their move to Monday nights brings a familiar dynamic to RAW as it enters its second year on Netflix.
SmackDown will also see a refreshed booth. Starting with the January 2, 2026 broadcast, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett will take over commentary duties. This episode will also mark SmackDown’s return to a three‑hour format, a shift WWE previously tested and is now reinstating full‑time. Tessitore, a veteran ESPN broadcaster who joined WWE to take on various on‑air roles, will now step into the lead play‑by‑play position on Friday nights, with Barrett continuing as color commentator.
The reshuffling reflects WWE’s broader strategy as it gears up for a packed start to 2026. With the road to the Royal Rumble beginning immediately in January, the company is positioning its commentary teams to bring renewed energy and identity to both brands.
These changes signal WWE’s intent to refresh its presentation while maintaining continuity with established voices, setting the stage for a busy and storyline‑heavy start to the new year.
WWE Set to Shake Up Commentary Teams
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