Updated: WWE is shaking up their commentary teams, Variety has learned exclusively.
Beginning with this week’s season premiere episode of “SmackDown,” the commentary team for the shows will be as follows:
On “SmackDown,” Michael Cole and Wade Barrett will be the main commentators, with Barrett moving over from the “Nxt” commentary team. Samantha Irvin will serve as the ring announcer, with Kayla Braxton and Megan Morant serving as backstage interviewers.
At “Monday Night Raw,” Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves will be the commentary team. Patrick has worked as a backstage correspondent, a play-by-play commentator for “WWE Main Event,” and the host of “Raw Talk.” Mike Rome will be the ring announcer. Cathy Kelley and Byron Saxton will conduct onscreen interviews. Kelley is returning to WWE after leaving the company in 2020. Saxton has been working on the “Raw” commentary desk along with Graves and Jimmy Smith of late.
Smith will be exiting WWE.
Beginning with this week’s season premiere episode of “SmackDown,” the commentary team for the shows will be as follows:
On “SmackDown,” Michael Cole and Wade Barrett will be the main commentators, with Barrett moving over from the “Nxt” commentary team. Samantha Irvin will serve as the ring announcer, with Kayla Braxton and Megan Morant serving as backstage interviewers.
At “Monday Night Raw,” Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves will be the commentary team. Patrick has worked as a backstage correspondent, a play-by-play commentator for “WWE Main Event,” and the host of “Raw Talk.” Mike Rome will be the ring announcer. Cathy Kelley and Byron Saxton will conduct onscreen interviews. Kelley is returning to WWE after leaving the company in 2020. Saxton has been working on the “Raw” commentary desk along with Graves and Jimmy Smith of late.
Smith will be exiting WWE.
- 10/6/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
When Cathy Kelley was hired by WWE to be their social media correspondent, their YouTube channel had only 8 million subscribers. However, the hardworking woman worked hard to improve the numbers, and today, the network can boast of over 40 million subscribers. Therefore, for someone who has dedicated four years into making such enormous strides, news of her leaving WWE has left the public wondering what happened. Before we get to her reason for quitting, let’s tell you a little bit more about her. 1. She never watched wrestling as a child Cathy’s mother was very strict and never allowed
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Cathy Kelley...
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Cathy Kelley...
- 3/10/2020
- by Dana Hanson-Firestone
- TVovermind.com
The Road to WrestleMania™ has a particularly dangerous stop for WWE Superstars: the “Elimination Chamber” pay-per-view. TheWrap can exclusively unveil the competitors in the women’s Elimination Chamber Match.
Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Ruby Riott, Natalya, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan will square off next month in the titular match at “WWE Elimination Chamber,” we’ve learned. Not only does that sound like a badass match, the stakes inside the perilous cage will be as high as they get: The winner faces Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 36 for her Raw Women’s Champion title.
The official announcement of the Chamber Match participants will take place tonight on “Raw.”
Also Read: Nxt Backstage Interviewer Cathy Kelley Says She's Leaving WWE
If Baszler wants to get back at Lynch, she’ll have to go through the disbanded Riott Squad to get there — oh yeah, and Asuka and Natalya too. At least Riott and Morgan...
Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Ruby Riott, Natalya, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan will square off next month in the titular match at “WWE Elimination Chamber,” we’ve learned. Not only does that sound like a badass match, the stakes inside the perilous cage will be as high as they get: The winner faces Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 36 for her Raw Women’s Champion title.
The official announcement of the Chamber Match participants will take place tonight on “Raw.”
Also Read: Nxt Backstage Interviewer Cathy Kelley Says She's Leaving WWE
If Baszler wants to get back at Lynch, she’ll have to go through the disbanded Riott Squad to get there — oh yeah, and Asuka and Natalya too. At least Riott and Morgan...
- 2/17/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Nxt backstage interviewer Cathy Kelley is leaving WWE, she said on Friday. The red carpet veteran stated that she is “not sure yet” where her “next chapter” will be.
Kelley posted the following on social media:
I’ve typed out and deleted this about 20 times over the past few days, still unsure what to write… I have come to the decision to leave WWE, with Sunday’s Nxt Takeover being my last day. If you know me, you know this was more than a job, you know how much I loved it and how difficult this decision was. But sometimes in order to have room for growth, you have to step away.
I am so thankful for getting to live out a crazy dream the past four years. Thank you to the WWE Digital team for being a platform that never stifled creativity. Thank you to Stephanie McMahon for being...
Kelley posted the following on social media:
I’ve typed out and deleted this about 20 times over the past few days, still unsure what to write… I have come to the decision to leave WWE, with Sunday’s Nxt Takeover being my last day. If you know me, you know this was more than a job, you know how much I loved it and how difficult this decision was. But sometimes in order to have room for growth, you have to step away.
I am so thankful for getting to live out a crazy dream the past four years. Thank you to the WWE Digital team for being a platform that never stifled creativity. Thank you to Stephanie McMahon for being...
- 2/14/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
WWE has named the announce team for its first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view event, “WWE Evolution.” As you might expect, the mic’d up lineup is also pretty much all-female — save one dude.
Michael Cole, who is considered the voice of WWE, will join Renee Young and Beth Phoenix at the announce table on Sunday. Young, Phoenix (left) and “SmackDown Live” general manager Paige (right) will handle the Kickoff Show festivities.
Charly Caruso and Kayla Braxton will tackle the evening’s red carpet, with Dasha Fuentes, Cathy Kelley and Sarah Schreiber grabbing one-on-one interviews backstage. Ring announcers at “Evolution” include Lilian Garcia, JoJo and Kayla Braxton.
Also Read: Rollercoaster 'Raw' Hits 5-Week Ratings High as Roman Reigns Reveals Cancer Battle
The historic PPV will feature a battle royale and two championship matches. For the red brand, “Raw” Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey will defend her title against Nikki Bella.
Michael Cole, who is considered the voice of WWE, will join Renee Young and Beth Phoenix at the announce table on Sunday. Young, Phoenix (left) and “SmackDown Live” general manager Paige (right) will handle the Kickoff Show festivities.
Charly Caruso and Kayla Braxton will tackle the evening’s red carpet, with Dasha Fuentes, Cathy Kelley and Sarah Schreiber grabbing one-on-one interviews backstage. Ring announcers at “Evolution” include Lilian Garcia, JoJo and Kayla Braxton.
Also Read: Rollercoaster 'Raw' Hits 5-Week Ratings High as Roman Reigns Reveals Cancer Battle
The historic PPV will feature a battle royale and two championship matches. For the red brand, “Raw” Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey will defend her title against Nikki Bella.
- 10/23/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
For WWE’s flagship WrestleMania 34 annual event on Sunday, April 8, the company is pumping out a range of new interactive digital content — designed to sweep fans into the hype before, during and after the festivities.
WWE’s orchestrated push to promote WrestleMania is aimed at driving new subscribers to its WWE Network service to watch the main event. But it’s just as much about super-serving fans with more original and exclusive material, said Jayar Donlan, executive VP of digital and social content.
“We’re always embracing new technologies to engage younger fans,” said Donlan, noting that WWE and its talent combined have more than 850 million social-media followers.
A big new element this year: an augmented-reality preview of the match between WWE’s Aj Styles (pictured above) and Shinsuke Nakamura, which will let users watch avatars of the grapplers go at it ahead of their WrestleMania meeting.
The content with...
WWE’s orchestrated push to promote WrestleMania is aimed at driving new subscribers to its WWE Network service to watch the main event. But it’s just as much about super-serving fans with more original and exclusive material, said Jayar Donlan, executive VP of digital and social content.
“We’re always embracing new technologies to engage younger fans,” said Donlan, noting that WWE and its talent combined have more than 850 million social-media followers.
A big new element this year: an augmented-reality preview of the match between WWE’s Aj Styles (pictured above) and Shinsuke Nakamura, which will let users watch avatars of the grapplers go at it ahead of their WrestleMania meeting.
The content with...
- 4/6/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Ronda Rousey might not be the only ass-kickin' legend at WrestleMania ... 'cause Mike Tyson says he's down to return to the WWE ring!!! Iron Mike dropped the bombshell at the 'Kids' Choice Awards' over the weekend ... telling WWE interviewer Cathy Kelley he'd be pumped to get a callback from Vince McMahon. "I'm always willing to come back. I love the WWE ... I'd love to be back," Tyson told Kelley on the orange carpet. You might...
- 3/26/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.