According to PWInsider.com, via Fightful.com, WWE plans to rearrange the commentary teams for RAW and SmackDown at the start of 2026. As part of these changes, Michael Cole and Corey Graves will return to Monday Night RAW, while the SmackDown team will consist of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett.
This change follows Cole and Graves’ move to SmackDown last September, where they replaced Tessitore and Barrett. In 2025, Cole and Graves also called the majority of the company's premium live events. Additionally, it has been reported that WWE SmackDown will return to a three-hour format, starting with the first live broadcast of 2026 on January 2nd.
Meanwhile, WWE RAW will kick off its first show of 2026 with a major championship match featuring CM Punk defending his title against The Vision's Bron Breakker. This event will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, January 5th, 2026, and will stream live on Netflix.
