Pat McAfee’s return to WWE last week created a game of musical chairs among the company’s broadcasters. And while Corey Graves still has a seat, he’s now sitting at a different — and undeniably lower profile — table.
After spending the previous year-plus as the lead analyst on WWE SmackDown and the better part of the past decade as a commentator on WWE’s main roster, Graves was back on the company’s quasi-developmental brand for last week’s episode of WWE NXT. While NXT is broadcast nationally on The CW, the move was an irrefutable demotion for Graves, who previously performed as a wrestler on the brand before suffering a career-ending injury in 2014.
Taking to X late Monday night, Graves seemingly addressed his demotion from WWE’s main roster. And in doing so, the Pittsburgh native claimed that it was his fame — or lack thereof — that played in a role in his return to NXT.
“Imagine chasing your dream. Then being TOLD (not deciding) that you’re no longer physically able to pursue your dream,” Graves said in an apparent reference to the end of his in-ring career. “Then you dedicate your life to something ‘dream adjacent’ and being pretty fucking awesome at it. And then, when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, being told you’re not famous enough for your own job.
“Just in case you’ve wondered where I’ve been.”
Imagine chasing your dream.
Then being TOLD (not deciding) that you’re no longer physically able to pursue your dream.
Then you dedicate your life to something “dream adjacent” and being pretty fucking awesome at it.
And then, when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor,…
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) January 14, 2025
Graves’ reference to fame is notable, as his demotion comes four months after ESPN’s Joe Tessitore joined WWE as a broadcaster and in the same week that McAfee returned to the pro wrestling giant following his annual football season hiatus. With McAfee joining Michael Cole as the announce team for WWE Raw on Netflix, Tessitore moved to SmackDown alongside former WWE star Wade Barrett, with Graves ultimately becoming the odd man out on the main roster.
As is the case with anything in the world of pro wrestling, it’s always possible that this is merely the start of a storyline. And it’s also worth noting that Graves has recently hinted at a possible return to the ring, in which case, an angle and eventual match with McAfee would certainly make sense.
Ultimately, time will tell whether Graves’ gripe is more work or shoot. And it appears we won’t have to wait long to find our answer, with the 40-year-old teasing that he’ll address his comments on Tuesday night’s episode of NXT.
“I’ve got a lot to say,” Graves wrote in a subsequent social media post on Tuesday morning. “Don’t miss #WWENXT tonight on @TheCW TONIGHT.”