Report: Corey Graves & Wade Barrett to be new WWE SmackDown commentary team

The new WWE SmackDown commentary team has reportedly been revealed. 

Corey Graves and Wade Barrett will serve as the show's announcers moving forward, according to a report from PWInsider. Graves is expected to move into the lead announcer/play-by-play role and Barrett will work the color commentary position.

The shakeup comes just five days after WWE released Kevin Patrick, who had been part of a three-man booth with Cole and Graves since August on SmackDown. The hope at the time was that Patrick would benefit from working with Cole. 

Barrett had been working with Cole on Raw since August 2023. Prior to that, Cole and Barrett had been the SmackDown commentary team since October 2022. 

Graves has bounced between Raw and SmackDown dating back to 2016 but this will be his first time working the lead announcing position. 

On Raw last night, it was announced that Pat McAfee is returning to a WWE commentary role and will work with Cole on Monday nights.