ESPN's Joe Tessitore. Joe Tessitore. (Matthew Hinton/USA Today Sports.)
By Ben Axelrod on

As WWE continues to embrace a sports-like presentation, the pro wrestling giant adds one of ESPN’s top voices.

As first reported by the New York Post‘s Ryan Glasspiegel, WWE has hired ESPN play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore, who will lead a three-man booth featuring color commentators Corey Graves and Wade Barrett. In addition to his WWE duties, sources tell Awful Announcing that the 53-year-old broadcaster is signing a contract extension with ESPN/ABC to continue calling college football and Top Rank boxing.

While Tessitore’s pairing with Graves and Barrett would seemingly indicate he’ll be calling SmackDown, the Friday show could potentially present conflicts with his college football duties. Graves currently serves as the play-by-play announcer on SmackDown alongside Barrett, while Michael Cole and Pat McAfee have been calling Raw since January. A release noted that Cole and McAfee will remain paired together moving forward, although it didn’t specify which show either team will call.

“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,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said in a release. “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.”

Tessitore is the latest figure from the sports world to move to WWE, which has leaned into a more sports-like presentation under the company’s president and former sports media power agent Nick Khan. In addition to McAfee being a full-time commentator (and occasional wrestler), former ESPN executive Lee Fitting oversees the company’s production. At the same time, TNT Sports NHL reporter Jackie Redmond is a backstage interviewer on the Raw brand.

The Post also noted that Tessitore was Khan’s first sports media client in the WWE president’s previous career.

While WWE’s new-look presentation has earned rave reviews from fans, not every crossover into the sports world has worked out for the company. Most notably, WWE hired former ESPN and current MLB Network and DAZN broadcaster Adnan Virk as the lead commentator for Raw in 2021, with his lackluster stint on the flagship show lasting just six weeks.

Following Virk’s premature departure from the company, WWE hired former UFC and Bellator broadcaster Jimmy Smith as the lead voice on Raw. Smith remained with the company until October 2022, when he was replaced by Kevin Patrick, who called Raw until being replaced by Cole in August 2023.

Considering Virk, Smith, and Patrick each have backgrounds in sports, that’s clearly something that appeals to WWE, and it will be interesting to see whether Tessitore finds more success in the pro wrestling world than his predecessors. While there are many similarities between pro wrestling and “real” sports, there are also several differences, some of which can be easier said than done to navigate, even for a broadcaster as talented as Tessitore.

[New York Post ,WWE]

About Ben Axelrod

Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.

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