Joe Tessitore Makes WWE Debut at SummerSlam, Michael Cole to Move Shows

Joe Tessitore Makes WWE Debut at SummerSlam, Michael Cole to Move Shows

As a lifelong WWE fan who has watched countless matches from the Attitude Era to the modern day, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia with the recent announcements. The shifting of the commentary lineup and the home for SmackDown is reminiscent of the days when Raw moved from USA Network to NBC in 2005, and I can’t wait to see what this new chapter brings.


As a gamer, I’m hyped about the shake-up in WWE commentary! Fans got their first glimpse of the revamped crew at SummerSlam. Today, Michael Cole introduced the newest member, Joe Tessitore, and dropped a bombshell. Tessitore will make his TV debut on Monday Night Raw in September, but that’s not all – Cole also announced he’ll be transitioning to Friday Night SmackDown when it moves to USA Network later this year. In the video, Cole said, “Joe kicks off on Monday Night Raw, September 2nd, Denver Colorado will be Joey’s debut show, I’m switching over to Friday Night SmackDown on USA.”

A New Home for SmackDown

Commencing towards the end of this year, SmackDown will shift its base from FOX to USA Network. It will then share a platform with Monday Night Raw on USA Network until early 2025. Additionally, numerous special events are planned to air on NBC. WWE President Nick Khan is overjoyed about expanding WWE’s alliance with NBCUniversal. “NBCUniversal has been an exceptional partner for WWE for many years,” Khan stated. “We are eager to prolong this long-term relationship by broadcasting SmackDown on Friday nights via USA Network and look forward to premiering numerous WWE special events annually on NBC.”

As a gamer, I feel incredibly fortunate and exhilarated to carry on NBCU’s long-standing collaboration with WWE. This partnership has been instrumental in solidifying USA Network’s standing as the leading cable entertainment network when it comes to live viewership. Each Friday night on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we’re using the strength of our media resources to cater extensively to this dedicated fanbase.

raw is transitioning to Netflix starting from 2025, broadening its reach to a global audience. Meanwhile, NXT will air on The CW too. As a result, USA Network will no longer host Raw and NXT, but they’ll continue to be the home for WWE’s premium live events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, keeping their position as WWE’s primary venue.

SummerSlam Card

Undisputed WWE Championship Bloodline Rules Match: Cody Rhodes (C) vs. Solo Sikoa

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest (C) vs. Gunther

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (with Special Guest Referee Seth “Freakin” Rollins)

Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan (C) vs. Rhea Ripley

WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley (C) vs. Nia Jax

United States Championship Match: Logan Paul (C) vs. LA Knight

Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn (C) vs. Bron Breakker

Are you looking forward to SummerSlam? Feel free to discuss everything about wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter (@mattaguilarcb)!

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2024-08-04 02:40