WWE Rumors: Backstage reason Corey Graves made controversial remarks targeting top name

The former NXT Tag Team Champion and current commentator on SmackDown, Corey Graves, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons as of late.

Graves had made a remark on Twitter targetting NXT announcer Mauro Ranallo stating that more focus should be given to Nigel McGuiness and Beth Phoenix, who are also part of the NXT commentary team.

Just for the record guys, I know you wouldn’t know it, but there’s actually a WWE Hall of Famer AND a former Ring of Honor Champion on commentary.I’d imagine they have a lot to offer.🤷‍♂️#NXTTakeoverWarGames

— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) November 24, 2019

Mauro Ranallo was not part of the NXT episode this week giving rise to further speculation regarding his future with the company. Ranallo was replaced by Tom Phillips this week on NXT.

Here is what Cagesideseats have stated as the reason behind Graves' harsh remarks:

"According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, Corey Graves saw his tweets criticizing Mauro Ranallo as part of the Survivor Series “brand warfare” and was going to bring them up “in a joking manner” while working with Ranallo on the PPV."

Conspicuous by his absence at Survivor Series, Ranallo raised a lot of eyebrows with rumours of him parting ways with WWE because of Corey Graves doing the round. However, Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated that Ranallo has not left the company.

Corey Graves' apology

Corey Graves had given an apology to Mauro Ranallo on his podcast After the Bell, saying that his comments did not mean to hurt anyone or cause undue stress. With Ranallo having deleted his Twitter account after the episode, there is no word on what Ranallo's next move may be.

Here is what Corey Graves had said:

“Before we go any further, on a personal note, I need to address something. This past Saturday, during the TakeOver: WarGames event, I sent out a tweet. It was an unpopular opinion, as I often do, with the intention of just stirring up a little controversy, maybe something fun to talk about on TV or here on the show. It was maybe not the most professional way to go about things and it was never meant to offend or disrespect or disparage anybody. That was never my intention. If it was taken as such, I apologise deeply. That was not my intention. I would never intentionally cause anybody any undue stress, especially a co-worker, so I apologise.”