Michael Cole

Michael Cole stands as an iconic figure in the realm of professional wrestling, renowned for his distinctive voice and commanding presence as the voice of WWE. Throughout his illustrious career, Cole has contributed to electrifying commentary that enhances the drama and excitement of WWE events. He is currently working as the lead play-by-play commentator on Friday Night SmackDown.

With his unparalleled ability to capture the essence of each match, his commentary has left an indelible mark on the sport, making him a beloved figure among fans worldwide. Beyond his commentary duties, Michael Cole's contributions extend to various roles within WWE, solidifying his status as a cornerstone of the industry.

Michael Cole, born Sean Michael Coulthard in 1966, hails from Syracuse, New York. He honed his broadcasting skills at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, graduating in 1988 with a degree in broadcast journalism.

WWE Career

Early Roles in WWE (1997 - 1999)

Michael Cole, then known as Sean Coulthard, entered the WWF in 1997 thanks to a recommendation. He started with behind-the-scenes work like voiceovers and interviews, eventually making on-screen appearances. After a brief stint as a commentator alongside Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly, he filled in for Ross as play-by-play announcer for Raw in late 1998. However, this role was temporary, and Cole moved on to other announcing duties within the company.

Commentator for SmackDown! (1999 - 2008)

After early announcing roles, Michael Cole landed the play-by-play announcer spot for WWE's new show SmackDown in 1999. He commentated alongside Jerry Lawler, with Tazz taking over briefly during Lawler's absence.

The Brand Extension led to Cole becoming exclusive to SmackDown, calling matches for the brand's specific pay-per-views. He rarely participated in storylines himself, although a few minor angles involved him. Cole's broadcast partners on SmackDown changed throughout the years, including Tazz, JBL, Jonathan Coachman, and Mick Foley.

RAW, In-Ring Action and Anonymous GM (2009-2012)

In 2008, the WWE Draft shuffled things up and Cole moved to Raw after almost a decade on SmackDown. His arrival wasn't smooth - he was attacked by Kane and even made his in-ring debut alongside Jerry Lawler (talk about a tag team!).

Cole also took on new announcing roles, leading commentary for the first three seasons of NXT and becoming the voice of the anonymous Raw General Manager. This period also marked a shift in Cole's on-air persona. He began displaying a more arrogant and biased attitude, favoring certain wrestlers and belittling others. This would eventually culminate in his first heel turn.

Michael Cole had a feud with Jerry Lawler that involved Cole interfering in Lawler's championship match, attacking Lawler verbally and with his trainer Jack Swagger, and even winning a match against Lawler by disqualification. The feud ended with Cole apologizing to Lawler.

Cole also had issues with Jim Ross where he challenged Ross to a series of contests. If Ross won, Cole would quit. Ross won two out of three contests, but Cole rigged the weight contest to win. CM Punk then attacked Cole. Cole's actions resulted in him being put in a match with John Cena where he was forced to apologize for his wrongdoings. He also lost a rematch against Lawler.

After the In-Ring Feud (2012 - 2019)

After a two-year stint as a heel commentator, Michael Cole received praise for his professional handling of Jerry Lawler's real-life heart attack on RAW. This incident marked a turning point as Cole transitioned back to being a face commentator. He even hugged Lawler upon his return, solidifying his shift in character.

Cole continued commentating alongside various partners including JBL and Booker T. He was occasionally written out of storylines due to kayfabe injuries and eventually replaced by Tom Phillips after an attack by Braun Strowman.

Commentator for SmackDown (2019 - 2023)

Michael Cole's commentary career has seen him bounce between Raw and SmackDown. In 2019, he returned to SmackDown after six years, commentating alongside Corey Graves and Renee Young, then later with Pat McAfee. Their team was well-received by fans.

In August 2023, WWE made big commentary changes. Cole went back to Raw with Wade Barrett, while Graves returned to SmackDown with Kevin Patrick. This shift was reportedly requested by WWE's future parent company to make Cole the face of the product across both shows.

Return to WWE RAW (2024)

In January 2024, Cole left WWE SmackDown with Corey Graves and Wade Barrett working as the commentator for the blue brand. He exclusively started working on RAW alongside Pat McAfee, who returned to WWE as a full-time commentator.

WWE SmackDown (2024 - Present)

In September 2024, it was announced that Michael Cole was moving to Friday Night SmackDown. ESPN legend Joe Tessitore stepped in to replace him on Monday Night RAW. In SmackDown, Cole calls the show alongside Corey Graves. Besides Cole and Graves, Byron Saxton and Alicia Taylor are also a part of the SmackDown announce team as a backstage interviewer and ring announcer respectively.

Michael Cole Wife

Michael Cole's wife is Yolanda. They have been married since 1987. Unlike Cole who is very involved in the on-screen drama of WWE, Yolanda stays out of the spotlight and prefers to keep their family life private. The couple is proud parents to two sons, Mark and Calvin.

Michael Cole's Net Worth 2024

Michael Cole is worth around $4 Million as per Celebrity Net Worth. He draws more than at least $650,000 from WWE under his contract.

Michael Cole Matches in WWE