Wade Barrett says he will be at the SmackDown commentary table for the foreseeable future.
The 42-year-old told The Daily Star recently that his role on Friday nights is "as permanent as you can ever be in a role in WWE."
Barrett was moved from the NXT broadcast team to SmackDown last October after Pat McAfee left for ESPN College GameDay. WWE stated at the time that McAfee would return to the position once the college football season was over. McAfee made a surprise return to the commentary desk at the Royal Rumble but has not resumed his previous duties on SmackDown.
Barrett says that it will be him and Michael Cole at the SmackDown commentary position going forward.
Barrett said:
It’s as permanent as you can ever be in a role in WWE!
Historically things have always been switched around and teams have been moved from here to there, and I’m not saying I’m going to be in the SmackDown hot seat for the next ten years or anything like that.
But in terms of the foreseeable, it’s going to be me and Cole going forward.
Pat McAfee is always going to be a friend of WWE. He’s an incredibly talented guy and we’re all fans of his, too, but he has a lot on his plate.
A social media post by McAfee in February cast doubt on the 35-year-old's WWE future.
McAfee wrote:
Baby girl on the way… what’s that mean for my future with @WWE? I LOVE it but, they’re allegedly gonna be sold, who’s buying them? Do I want to work/make money for those people?
Barrett was under contract to WWE as an in-ring performer from 2006 until 2015. He is a former King of the Ring winner and five-time Intercontinental Champion. Barrett joined the NXT broadcast team in 2020.
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