WWE: Michael Cole & Corey Graves to be SmackDown Commentary Team for USA Network Return, Current Card for 8/27 NXT Show, Rikishi on Hoping WWE Improves Booking of Jey Uso

Aug 27, 2024

Michael Cole & Corey Graves Announced to be WWE SmackDown Commentary Team for USA Network Return

As noted before, RAW led commentator Michael Cole will be moving back to WWE’s SmackDown commentary team this Fall.

During Monday’s WWE RAW show in Providence, Rhode Island, Cole announced that himself and Corey Graves will be the official commentary team for WWE SmackDown for the show’s return to USA Network on September 13th.

Corey Graves and Michael Cole will be the Smackdown broadcast team on USA pic.twitter.com/jNpbZiBuoN
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) August 27, 2024

Joe Tessitore is currently scheduled to officially start his commentary duties for WWE for their RAW brand starting on September 2nd.

New Match & Two New Segments Announced for Tuesday’s NXT Show

WWE recently announced two new matches and two new segments for the card of tonight’s NXT show, which was taped last week at their Performance Center.

In regards to the new matches, the first new match announced was a singles match of Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Coffey.

After their heated conversation last week, @WWEJeVonEvans and @Joe_Coffey will go one-on-one TOMORROW on #WWENXT!

📺 8/7c on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/y35HjzESAZ
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 26, 2024

The second new match announced was a singles match of Kelani Jordan vs. mystery opponent.

Who will it be? 🤔

Ahead of their title match at #NXTNoMercy, NXT Women’s North American Champion @kelani_wwe faces an opponent of @therealestwendy‘s choosing TONIGHT on #WWENXT!

📺 8/7c on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/aJpSFN3mYr
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 27, 2024

In regards to the new segments, the first new segment announced was a Joe Hendry concert segment.

Ahead of his title match against @OfficialEGO at #NXTNoMercy, @joehendry will hold another concert TOMORROW on #WWENXT!

📺 8/7c on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/UorNXHLZvN
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 26, 2024

The second new segment announced was a face-to-face promo segment featuring Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz.

After @ZacharyWentz returned to attack @WesLee_WWE last week, the former tag team partners will meet face-to-face for the first time since Lee betrayed The Rascalz TOMORROW on #WWENXT!

📺 8/7c on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/yrpd4xWvHu
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 26, 2024

Current card for August 27th WWE NXT show:

No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey, Wren Sinclar, & Myles Borne) vs. The Family (Adriana Rizzo, Channing Lorenzo, & Luca Crusifino)
Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley) vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson
Izzi Dame vs. Karmen Petrovic
Je’Von Evans vs. Joe Coffey
Kelani Jordan vs. mystery opponent
Joe Hendry concert
Wes Lee & Zachary Wentz face-to-face promo segment

Rikishi Comments on “Hopefully WWE Turns It Around And Does The Right Thing By Jey Uso”

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer and co-host Rikishi has not been happy with WWE’s presentation of booking of his son Jey Uso in the company.

A recent episode of the Off The Top Rope podcast featured Rikishi giving his thoughts about him being hopeful that WWE will eventually turn it around and improve their booking of his son Jey Uso. This episode was believed to have been taped prior to WWE’s SummerSlam 2024 event earlier this month.

“It comes from the head of the corporate table. I like to call my son The Yeet Man. This is no favoritism to him or anyone. As a wrestler who has been there, put in work, and you can see the outpouring of love and support from the fans. Whether it be Jey Uso or somebody else. I want to know what this kid has to do. He’s probably the hottest intro when he’s coming out. You talk about fan engagement. We all see it. Yet, when it comes time to give this kid his flowers and ‘let’s do business,’ why wasn’t my son handled with Money in the Bank? Where is the guy who won Money in the Bank? What is he doing now? What business sense does that make for a company that let the most exciting guy, a guy that is not a liability, a guy that shows up and shows out, a guy who does his job. What does it hurt this company to even give this kid a shot? Once the Money in the Bank thing didn’t go through, I thought, let’s see what they do now. Maybe they will give him a shot. Maybe they’ll set him up for the Intercontinental belt. I think he deserves a shot to the World Championship.
I’m at this point where I want to call my son, ‘Go ahead and take a break. Obviously, the writers don’t know where to put you, or they can write something that is right for the character Jey Uso, The Yeet Man.’ Definitely, WWE is making money off The Yeet Man. The Yeet Man is making money himself. The only difference is, The Yeet Man is working for his money. You see it every week. There is new merchandise of Yeet coming out. The Yeet Man is out doing personal appearances. It’s not because he has to. It’s because that’s the demand of the fans. Of all the characters they picked, they picked The Yeet Man. Make no mistake about it. I am not in favoritism of my son. I’m speaking about what is happening. It could be any other wrestler. What is the case? Why aren’t you lighting this kid up and letting him do his thing? Let’s hope WWE gets it together and does the right thing.
It’s a concern. At the end of the day, these are our bodies and this is my flesh and blood. My flesh and blood is pounding his body day in and day out. He has a family and comes home aching, his body is hurting. He’ll never sell it because he’s not trained to quit. You sign that dotted line, I’m not talking about that contract, that dotted line for you and yours. That’s bigger than the purpose of WWE. The kid is so good, WWE ain’t the only spot. He could probably go to AEW if he wants to write his own ticket, maybe more than what WWE is making on him. Hopefully, they turn it around and do the right thing by The Yeet Man.”

Rikishi also thanked the fans for their support of his son Jey in WWE.

“I feel the Yeet Man is being put in a certain position. For whatever the reason is, it doesn’t make sense to me. Honestly, I thought, ‘My boy, just take a break.’ If you can’t figure this kid in where he needs to be, why have him on the show? He’s not there to be an enhancement talent for talent that is trying to enhance popularity. The Yeet Man already has popularity. If we’re talking business, WWE can do their business. The Yeet Man is self-employed. If you ask the father, I would say Rikishi would take care of the Rikishi brand and do what’s best for the Rikishi brand.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com