The WWE announced that it has hired ESPN play-by-play broadcaster, Joe Tessitore. The longtime football announcer is expected to join analysts Corey Graves and Wade Barrett as part of WWE’s Smackdown brand programming.
Tessitore, 53, will continue to call college football and boxing matches for ESPN. He has been with ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’ since 2002.
Now, he will join the largest professional company in the world, under the umbrella of the rapidly-expanding TKO Sports. As World Wrestling Entertainment continues to grow its global footprint, it’s clear that they are weaving their way more and more into the professional sports culture. Tessitore’s hiring is likely another step in that process.
Joe Tessitore is an accomplished sportscaster
BREAKING NEWS: Welcome to WWE, @JoeTessESPN!https://t.co/NzDnwqDRpJ pic.twitter.com/LGZUlH0Qxb
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2024
Joe Tessitore has made several memorable calls in both football and boxing, but he had many other duties at ESPN. He has taken part in multiple Sportscenter specials and is a huge part of the network’s presentation of the Heisman Trophy.
Tessitore has mentioned on the air on multiple occasions that doing play-by-play for WWE was his “dream job”. Now, that dream has come true. It appears he will be the ‘straight man’ for Graves and Barrett. Most likely, he will call the match in much the way he handles his other announcing duties. That will open up his cohorts to throw plenty of barbs.
Joe Tessitore said in a statement, according to CBS Sports:
It’s an honor to be a part of WWE,”The recent success and trajectory are undeniable. Being there at WrestleMania XL, one could feel it… from Cody [Rhodes], Seth [Rollins], Roman [Reigns], and The Rock, to creative and production, these are some of the very best storytellers in TV.”
Tessitore than mentioned some of his new colleagues and further complimented them on their work:
Corey and Wade are absolute stars and it is my privilege to join their team. Pat and Cole are just magical together and Cole is the greatest to ever sit in that chair. As a lifelong viewer, I’m humbled to join this team and to serve our fans.
WWE: ‘Hit or Miss’ with mainstream broadcasters
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Triple H weighed in on Tessitore’s hiring as well:
Whether it’s a world title fight that’s got the globe buzzing or a college football rivalry that’s grabbed the nation’s attention, Joe’s voice provides that big event feel each time he is behind the microphone.
WWE has certainly extended its hand to mainstream sportscasters like Joe Tessitore in the past. From the goofball antics of the totally miscast Art Donovan at King of the Ring 1994 to the failed experiment of hiring UFC announcer Mike Goldberg… there have been a lot of duds.
Of course, the biggest home run the promotion has hit when it comes to hiring outside the wrestling bubble is Pat McAfee. He’s re-energized broadcast partner, Michael Cole, he brings plenty of genuine excitement to the broadcast, and he’s even mixed it up in the ring when he had to. Without a doubt, he has made the transition from NFL Player to sports show host to perhaps the most entertaining voice in pro wrestling today. His chemistry with Cole is as good as any two-man team ever.
If Joe Tessitore brings anywhere near the same amount of magic to WWE that Pat McAfee has? Then this is a genius move by the company. And, considering he’s a lifelong fan of the promotion who is now living his dream, odds are Tessitore will fit in quite nicely in the world of sports entertainment.
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