WWE is set to shake up its commentary teams for the new year. According to a report from PWInsiderElite.com, the company will shuffle the main roster, announcing responsibilities when live broadcasts resume in 2026. The changes will affect both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
Starting with the Raw episode on January 5, 2026, the broadcast team will consist of Michael Cole and Corey Graves. This episode will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and serves as the “Netflix Raw anniversary show,” marking one year since the flagship program moved to the streaming service.
Meanwhile, Friday Night SmackDown will see a new duo calling the action. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett will handle commentary duties starting with the January 2, 2026 episode. This show will also mark SmackDown’s return to a three-hour format, a change previously implemented.
Cole and Graves have long been the voices of SmackDown and Premium Live Events, known for their strong chemistry. Their move to Monday nights gives the brand a familiar feel as it enters its second year on Netflix. Tessitore, a veteran ESPN commentator, joined WWE to fill various roles and will now take the lead play-by-play spot on Friday nights alongside Barrett.
These changes come as WWE prepares for a busy start to 2026, with the road to the Royal Rumble kicking off immediately in the new year.
