There’s been a notable change at the WWE Raw commentary table in recent weeks, and while the voices behind the booth may have shifted, WWE appears confident in the direction things are heading.
Earlier this year, Pat McAfee made a high-profile return to WWE television, rejoining Michael Cole at the Raw announce desk. However, following Money in the Bank, McAfee quietly stepped away for what’s now being reported as a hiatus stemming from mental exhaustion. Wade Barrett initially filled in, but Corey Graves has since resumed a more permanent role on Raw alongside Cole.
According to Fightful Select, McAfee’s absence doesn’t signal any tension behind the scenes. WWE higher-ups continue to hold him in high regard and fully expect to continue working with him in the future. However, the frequency of McAfee’s WWE appearances remains uncertain due to his growing list of outside responsibilities.
McAfee is preparing for the upcoming return of ESPN’s College GameDay, where he serves as a key analyst — a commitment WWE was reportedly well aware of. In fact, the company anticipated McAfee stepping away around this time to focus on college football season duties, which officially kick off in late summer.
As for Corey Graves, his return to the Raw booth has been met with positive feedback internally. While Graves had been working commentary for WWE NXT earlier this year — a move he publicly expressed frustration over back in January — sources say the situation has since cooled off. WWE officials now see Graves as a reliable and adaptable voice across brands, and he’s recently been praised for his performances on events like WWE Worlds Collide.
One WWE source described Graves as “versatile,” adding that he’s someone the company can plug into any show with confidence. His reemergence on Raw wasn’t just a short-term fix; insiders suggest it was part of a longer-term plan tied to the company’s evolving commentary lineup.
With McAfee’s WWE future still open-ended and Graves once again at the forefront of Raw’s weekly presentation, it looks like WWE is leaning on proven voices to steer its broadcast as the road to Fall season programming ramps up.
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