I’m afraid I’ve got some GOOD news for Wade Barrett fans.
According to a new report from PWInsider.com, Wade Barrett will be joining Corey Graves on SmackDown. Graves will be the lead announcer, while Barrett will serve as color commentator.
The new commentary team was made possible due to Pat McAfee joining Michael Cole on RAW. McAfee started his latest run with WWE on Monday and replaced Barrett on RAW. Kevin Patrick was also released last week by WWE, which left a spot open for Barrett on SmackDown.
Barrett returned to WWE in 2020 and started on NXT commentary. McAfee left SmackDown in September 2022 to join ESPN College Gameday, which fittingly enough led to Barrett’s SmackDown move.
WWE shifted commentary teams in October 2022 and moved Barrett to SmackDown to work with Michael Cole. Barrett was moved again to RAW in August 2023, where he’s been the color commentator. McAfee’s return on Monday night prompted Barrett to head back to Friday nights.
An in-ring return?
Wade Barrett hasn’t wrestled since WWE released him in 2016. The five-time WWE Intercontinental Champion told Alistair McGeorge of Metro that he wouldn’t rule out a return to the ring. Despite that, he’s not looking at a full-time run.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out going forward,” Barrett said. “It’s incredibly unlikely that I would ever come back to an in-ring role full time and do that weekly grind, four or five matches a week, tours, no chance to recover. I just don’t think I have that in me anymore. There’s always the element of maybe a surprise spot in a Royal Rumble, or maybe even a special match.”
Barrett referenced the WrestleMania match between Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler as an example of a commentator competing in the ring. He said gimmicks might allow him to compete one day. However, he’s focused on commentary now.
“There’s always gimmicky matches like that which could potentially crop up and if the situation was right, it’d be something I’d look at,” Barrett said. “Currently there’s no focus for me on doing that, I’m purely focused on doing commentary on SmackDown and having as good as a time as I can doing that, which is something I enjoy.”
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