When it comes to commentators within the WWE, you have to get your selection 100% correct or else you could be left with an extremely unhappy WWE Universe for many years to come.
If you need an example, just look at the combination of Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield that fans had to sit through week in and week out before the brand split came along.
But never fear because there's a new man in town, and that man's name is Corey Graves. Ever since being signed to an announcers contract by Triple H a few years ago, Graves has been on fire with his pin-point analysis and phenomenal work both on commentary and the pre-show panels.
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It seems as if there's nothing this guy can't do, and that most certainly bodes well for the future. There's just something so different and unique about Graves that makes him an instant fan favourite when you ask the WWE Universe who their favourite commentator is.
You have to have that “it” factor to succeed in a position like that, and with so many years ahead of him, there's only one way for Graves to go and that's up towards the top.
With that being said, let's take a look at five reasons why Corey Graves will be WWE's greatest secondary announcer ever.
#1 He’s trendy
It sounds like a cliche, but Corey Graves represents everything great about the new era.
He's up to date with all the latest trends, has a unique look with his tattoos and provides a fascinating perspective on the world of pop culture. Hell, his show “Culture Shock” on the WWE Network pretty much defines that and it represents how much relevance he has.
Also read: WWE News: Corey Graves leaving NXT announce team, replacement named at NXT TakeOver
When being paired up with people like Michael Cole and Byron Saxton, you have to have a certain edge, because the two of them are quite by the book.
Graves is able to pull certain aspects of relevant media and insert them into the product, whilst also being able to pull himself back when necessary and connect with fans on a deeper level. Essentially, he just gets it.
Onto a topic that may still be a sore subject for the former NXT star.
#2 Former wrestler
Before being offered the two-year deal as an announcer, Corey Graves was an impressive wrestler down in the NXT developmental system.
Unfortunately, a string of concussions forced him into early retirement, and he's now pursuing a different dream within the company. Whilst it was sad to see, it was also extremely promising for his broadcast future because he had the experience of being in the ring at a successful level.
He can draw past experiences from his time down in FCW and NXT, and you can tell that he knows what he's talking about because his character work was exceptional in addition to his in-ring style.
If you need an example of why being a former wrestler is so important in this role then just look towards Jerry Lawler, also known as one of the most successful men in the history of that position.
We stay around this topic with another plus point for Graves.
#3 Age
At the age of 32, Graves still has so much more to learn within this business.
His early retirement from in-ring wrestling could well end up being a blessing in disguise, as he could have at least a decade or more left in the business as a commentator if that is the direction that he chooses to go down.
With more years under his belt, he will continue to grow. Considering that commentators don't usually hit their prime until much later in their careers, we should all be very excited about Graves' future.
You can tell how consistently fresh and vibrant Graves is feeling on a week to week basis, and it's good for someone like Cole who is approaching 50, to be able to bounce off someone like Corey.
The two work well together and can learn from one another as their partnership rolls on, meanwhile, Graves can also continue to use the 35-year-old Saxton as something of a test dummy for future broadcast colleagues.
Speaking of being vibrant, this next point is crucial to his development.
#4 Passion
Nobody can deny that Corey Graves has a passion for this industry. Years before he even picked up his first concussion the guy was talking about ceasing his WrestleMania moment, and even after learning that he had to retire, he got straight back to work and stayed focus on the end goal.
You can feel his enthusiasm whenever he's talking about the business and that just resonates through his work on the commentary table.
You can't manufacture that kind of natural charisma, as much as Vince McMahon would love to be able to.
Being a fan of the WWE instantly makes you more accessible to the fans and considering that 98% of them will be listening to the commentary week in and week out, that already boosts Graves to a level much higher than someone like Saxton.
We conclude with a simple yet effective fact.
#5 Perfect role
As the cocky heel who chips in with insightful and frustratingly accurate statements, Graves is absolutely perfect.
He works so well alongside Saxton and Cole and is awarded enough freedom to the point where everything he does feels smooth and unforced. He doesn't need to over-do it and never feels the need to force his opinion down your throat, and that can only mean good things.
The saying goes that there are some who lead and others who follow, and you can quite clearly tell that Graves isn't content with doing the latter.
Graves continuing to improve in a role that he clearly loves doing will only improve Raw's dominance over SmackDown in terms of commentary, and it makes Graves one of the hottest commodities outside of the ring for WWE.
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