Joe Tessitore joins Raw in September, Michael Cole moving to SmackDown

The official introduction of Tessitore came during the SummerSlam countdown show.

During WWE’s Countdown to SummerSlam, Michael Cole revealed imminent changes to the announce teams for Raw and SmackDown.

Cole introduced veteran play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore to fans during the pre-show. Cole said Tessitore will join the Raw announce team starting September 2, when WWE comes to Denver. Meanwhile, Cole will move back to SmackDown just in time for its return to the USA Network on September 13.

A lifelong wrestling fan, Tessitore expressed his excitement, saying he is “blessed and honored to be a part of this.” Alongside his new role on Raw, Tessitore will continue his work with ESPN and ABC, where he has covered college football, the NFL, and pro boxing since 2002. His addition to WWE’s programming is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its on-screen product.

After the departure of longtime production leader Kevin Dunn late last year, WWE hired veteran producer Lee Fitting. Known for his work on ESPN’s Monday Night Football and College GameDay, Fitting has been a game-changer for WWE. The improvements to the on-screen product under Fitting have been noticeable and well-received by fans.

The addition of Tessitore, who has also been the play-by-play voice for Holey Moley, a competitive golf reality show, was announced in a press release in July. At the time, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque also expressed his optimism about WWE’s newest hire.

“We’re excited for Joe to join legendary WWE broadcaster Michael Cole and our esteemed announce team, bringing his signature energy and meticulous preparation to our WWE telecasts each week,” said Levesque.