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WWE will begin airing SmackDown on Friday night’s beginning on October 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Yesterday it was revealed that the current plan was to have a two person team on both SmackDown and RAW. Michael Cole is scheduled to be the lead announcer on SmackDown, while Vic Joseph is expected to have that role on RAW. In an update from Wrestlevotes, Corey Graves is currently penciled in to join Michael Cole at the commentary desk for SmackDown Live.
Relaxing everyone, Corey Graves is not retiring. However, the plan as of this Tuesday was that he is moving to SmackDown on FOX along with Michael Cole. And he will only appear on SD. No more double duty for Graves.
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) September 12, 2019
Graves will no longer do double duty, and will only be working on one show once Smackdown debuts on FOX. Earlier today Graves responded to reports of WWE’s commentary shift by stating he is “retiring”. Graves was simply trolling when he made this statement.
Just to clear up all of the rumors I see swirling around about the commentary changes in @WWE–
I’m retiring.
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) September 12, 2019