Jimmy Smith, who served as the WWE RAW commentator is no longer with the company. WWE commentary teams have been officially shuffled. WWE announced that RAW, SmackDown, NXT and Premium Live Events will all have updated announce booths starting with this week’s season premieres. It turns out Triple H accidentally revealed to him about his release from the company.
Jimmy Smith recalls the backstage conversation with Triple H
While speaking on his Unlocking the Cage show, Jimmy Smith revealed that Triple H messed up and accidentally told him about his imminent WWE departure.
“Triple H accidentally told me before the show Monday. He screwed up and told me [about the commentary changes]. He didn’t mean to… I go, ‘Hey, I just talked to Riddle and he gave me this line about how he out-wrestled Jon Jones twice’ and Triple H goes, ‘Okay, cool. Give that note to Cole’ and I went, why would I have to give that note to Cole if I’m calling the match on Saturday? Oh. I’m not calling the match on Saturday. Oh, I’m probably fired. In about two seconds, my brain went, that’s so — okay… and I was like, all right. So I knew basically the whole show on Monday night that I wasn’t coming back so when I got the call Tuesday, I was not particularly surprised.”
On Monday Night RAW, Corey Graves will still be providing his colorful insights and will be joined by Kevin Patrick on play-by-play. Mike Rome will continue to announce from the ring, and Byron Saxton will transition from the commentary booth to backstage interviews. Also joining Saxton in backstage interviews is none other than Cathy Kelley in her return to WWE.
Meanwhile, it has been noted that on Friday Night SmackDown, the commentary table will be headed by Michael Cole with Wade Barrett doing color commentary. It has been noted that Samantha Irvin will be the ring announcer, and interviews will be conducted by Kayla Braxton and Megan Morant.
Over on NXT, Vic Joseph will be assisted by six-time World Champion and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. Alicia Taylor will still provide her exceptional voice to ring announcing, and McKenzie Mitchell will once again be conducting interviews.
On the Premium Live Event side, Michael Cole and Corey Graves will come together again to announce from the booth. It was previously announced that Pat McAfee will return to the WWE announce booth following his commitments to ESPN’s College GameDay.
