Corey Graves has become one of the most recognizable voices in WWE, despite once being confident he was going to lose his job at Christmas.
After his in-ring career ended due to injuries, Graves transitioned into a commentary role and has called the action on RAW, SmackDown, and WWE NXT.
Appearing on a recent edition of “The Kurt Angle Show,” Graves recalled Michael Cole using a line the Chairman didn’t like, which Graves feared he would be blamed for. He said,
“The first time I ever got ‘Vince’d,’ it was Chicago, Christmas night, we did Monday Night Raw live. This was probably four or five years ago. The Raw commentary desk was on top of the stage by the entranceway, and we would stand up and turn around and do these reverse on-cameras so that the ring and the crowd were in the back. It was a cool setup.
“Michael Cole and I were discussing beforehand. He said, ‘I’m going to do Welcome To Monday Night Raw. Happy Holidays, everybody. You can say Merry Christmas, here’s what we have on tap.’ Okay, great, we’ll throw into some graphics. Cole goes, ‘Welcome everyone to Monday Night Raw. Happy Holidays, everybody!’
“With the speed of lightning, the boss was on the all-call button, which means everybody listening can hear. ‘I SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS! NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS!’ Meanwhile, I’m going, ‘I was gonna say….’ I’m getting yelled at on camera. I’m like a deer in headlights. I’m going, this is it, I’m getting fired on Christmas night. Of course, we get done, he comes on and goes, ‘Aha, that was good. Thanks guys.’ I was terrified. My heart skips a few beats.”
Graves is currently a commentator for SmackDown alongside Cole & Kevin Patrick and was quietly cleared to wrestle in 2020, but only informed fans in 2022.
