Joe Tessitore is a great addition to WWE Raw

The September 2 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw opened with a familiar face in Wade Barrett welcoming in a new voice to the show, Joe Tessitore. It’s a voice that sports fans around the world will know, but wrestling fans will have to get accustomed to as he steps into the position of Play-By-Play for WWE Raw. Tessitore is an amazing commentary professional and this should be a big moment for the future of the flagship show. 

WWE recently announced new pairings for both main roster shows. Tessitore and Barrett will work Monday Night Raw while Michael Cole and Corey Graves are set to take over WWE SmackDown. This is Tessitore’s first attempt in professional wrestling and as he transitions into his position, Cole will assist him in the adjustment. 

But wrestling fans need to recognize that Tessitore is a “pro’s pro” when it comes to sports commentary. He brings more than thirty years of experience, which is invaluable at this level. His voice is recognizable for those that have long watched ESPN College Football, ESPN Horse Racing, ESPN College Basketball, Monday Night Football, and many other staples in professional sports. Even beyond sports television, Tessitore has experience in other areas such as being the famed voice behind the popular Fight NIght boxing video game series by EA Sports. 

What Tessitore will bring to the table is an ability to deliver the importance in the moment-to-moment in a calm, interesting, and concise fashion that is easily understandable to the viewer. Will the transition be smooth? It will take some time as this is Tessitore’s first time calling professional wrestling, but with the resources the organization has available it’s one that should work. Of course, there will be some uninformed hot takes in the wrestling community, but as with most instances, those should be ignored in place of actual criticism that doesn’t delve into personal attacks. 

Fans should be excited that Joe Tessitore is a part of the WWE Raw commentary team. He brings a level of experience and professionalism that will help the entire promotion. As WWE moves toward a more sports-based presentation, this is a development that will help everyone involved.