WWE hires ESPN’s Joe Tessitore for play-by-play role (UPDATED)

Currently, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are WWE’s announce team on Monday nights for Raw, which Corey Graves and Wade Barrett have been calling the action Friday nights on SmackDown.

That look set to change soon, at least according to the New York Post. This morning (July 9), the Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel reports that WWE is hiring ESPN’s Joe Tessitore as an announcer. Tessitore will start later this summer and add WWE to his existing workload calling college football and Top Rank boxing, as sources told the Post the 53 year old will remain at ESPN and ABC.

Those sources were unable to say whether Tessitore will be doing play-by-play for Raw or SmackDown, however. They say he’ll lead a three-person booth with Graves (who only recently moved into play-by-play when WWE parted ways with Kevin Patrick) and Barrett, which would seem to indicate Tessitore is headed to SmackDown — but it’s possibly his hiring will lead to WWE’s announce teams switching nights.

McAfee’s status for the upcoming season of ESPN’s College GameDay is currently unconfirmed. If he were to go on hiatus from WWE again to work the traveling college football show, more changes could follow. Glasspiegel’s sources did tell him Cole & McAfee would remain together.

WWE’s track record of hiring announcers from the non-scripted sports world hasn’t been great. The dismissal of soccer announcer Patrick (real name Kevin Egan) puts him on an infamous list with names like Adnan Virk and Mike Adamle. The Post is bullish on Tessitore’s prospects, citing his “excitable broadcast voice” and familiarity with combat sports via his boxing work.

It’s also pointed out that Tessitore was the first media client of WWE President Nick Khan back during Khan’s days as an agent, and that the announcer has “a great relationship” with Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

A formal announcement of Tessitore’s hiring is expected soon.

UPDATE: That formal announcement came quickly after the Post report. Here it is…

Joe Tessitore joins WWE

STAMFORD, Conn., July 9, 2024 – WWE today announced that Joe Tessitore, one of the most versatile and veteran voices in sports television, will join the company as a play-by-play broadcaster beginning this summer.

In his role, Tessitore will work alongside analysts Wade Barrett and Corey Graves. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee will remain teamed up.

“Whether it’s a world title fight that’s got the globe buzzing or a college football rivalry that’s grabbed the nation’s attention, Joe’s voice provides that big event feel each time he is behind the microphone,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “We’re excited for Joe to join legendary WWE broadcaster Michael Cole and our esteemed announce team, bringing his signature energy and meticulous preparation to our WWE telecasts each week.”

“It’s an honor to be a part of WWE. The recent success and trajectory are undeniable,” said Tessitore. “Being there at WrestleMania XL, one could feel it – from Cody, Seth, Roman and The Rock, to creative and production, these are some of the very best storytellers in TV. Corey and Wade are absolute stars and it is my privilege to join their team. Pat and Cole are just magical together and Cole is the greatest to ever sit in that chair. As a lifelong viewer, I’m humbled to join this team and to serve our fans.”

With nearly three decades of broadcasting experience, Tessitore is widely considered one of the industry’s foremost play-callers. Tessitore will remain in his role at ESPN and ABC where, since 2002, he has been a key fixture on the network’s coverage of college football. He’s called ESPN and ABC Saturday Night primetime games, the College Football Playoff and more. Tessitore is well known as ESPN’s blow-by-blow commentator, having called memorable World Championship fights of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Terence Crawford, among many others. Additionally, he has led ESPN’s Monday Night Football, and has called the NFL Pro Bowl and Wildcard Playoff games on ABC. He has found success in entertainment as well, teaming with Rob Riggle and Stephen Curry on the comedy competition Holey Moley.