Michael Cole | |
|---|---|
 Cole in 2010 | |
| Born | Sean Michael Coulthard (1966-12-08)December 8, 1966 (age 58) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Employer(s) | CBS Radio (1988–1997) Titan Sports/WWE (1997–present) TKO Group Holdings (2023–present) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Michael Cole |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 176 lb (80 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Amenia, New York |
| Debut | 1997 |
Sean Michael Coulthard (born December 8, 1966), better known by hisring nameMichael Cole, is an Americanprofessional wrestling commentator and journalist. Since 1997, he has been signed toWWE, where he serves as theplay-by-play commentator for theSmackDown brand as the vice president of announcing since 2020.
Coulthard began his career injournalism in 1988 forCBS Radio before being hired by the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1997 (WWF was renamed WWE in 2002). He has performed multiple on-screen hosting and commentary roles across his two-decade-plus-long career.
Sean Michael Coulthard was born on December 8, 1966, inSyracuse, New York. He attended theS.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications atSyracuse University, graduating in 1988 with a B.A. inbroadcast journalism.[2][3]
Coulthard began his career in the media as a journalist, working forCBS Radio. His first high-profile assignment was to cover the1988 US presidential campaign ofDemocratic Party nomineeMichael Dukakis.[4] In 1992, he reported on thepresidential campaign ofBill Clinton.[4] He also covered the51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993, and the following year, spent nine months covering theYugoslavian civil war.[4] In 1995, he was also selected to cover the aftermath of theOklahoma City bombing.[4] He returned to thepresidential campaign trail in 1996 to cover the campaigns of RepublicansSteve Forbes (who lost in the primary election) andSen. Bob Dole (who lost in the general election).[4]
Coulthard came to the World Wrestling Federation in mid early-1997 after being recommended to company officials byTodd Pettengill, and started using the stage name "Michael Cole".[5] He provided voice-overs for promotional videos and later became the host of theLiveWire show. Cole first appeared on screen at the June 30, 1997 episode ofRaw is War, interviewingThe Legion of Doom and replaced Todd Pettengill as a backstage interviewer after SummerSlam.[4] In late 1997, Cole became one of the three announcers for the first hour ofMonday Night Raw, alongsideJim Ross andKevin Kelly. Eventually, Cole was permanently replaced byJerry Lawler in mid-1998. In December 1998, Cole became the regular play-by-play announcer forRaw is War, subbing for Jim Ross when Ross was ill withBell's palsy. He continued in this role untilWrestleMania XV in March 1999.[4]
When the WWF's newSmackDown! television program debuted later that year, Cole was chosen to be the show's play-by-play announcer. Lawler was his original broadcast partner, but when Lawler briefly left the WWF in 2001, he was replaced by Cole'sWWF Sunday Night Heat broadcast partnerTazz shortly before the WWF vs. WCW/ECWinvasion storyline.[4] After the WWE Brand Extension, Cole worked exclusively for theSmackDown! brand, cutting down to doing play-by-play on SmackDown!-only pay-per-views, whileRaw-only pay-per-views were announced by Raw's announce team.[4]
Cole was rarely involved in storylines; however, he has had minor roles in storylines involvingHeidenreich,Stephanie McMahon,Vito, andD-Generation X (Triple H,Shawn Michaels,Chyna, andRick Rude).[6] His 2004 angle with Heidenreich was infamous due to an implied scene where Heidenreich "Heidenraped" him in the arena restroom; in a 2008 interview, Heidenreich explained that the Cole rape angle was McMahon's idea and thatPulp Fiction came to mind when Stephanie McMahon approached him with the idea.[7] He called play-by-play at the2006 Royal Rumble match because Jim Ross, who had commentated the last two Royal Rumble matches with Tazz, had been (kayfabe) "fired" and replaced by former ECW play-by-play manJoey Styles, reuniting the originalSmackDown! team of Cole and Jerry Lawler. On February 3, 2006, it was announced that Cole and Tazz were starting a radio show on Howard Stern'sHoward 100 onSirius Satellite Radio, but the show was a trial run that only lasted a couple of weeks.[8]
On the June 9 episode ofSmackDown!, Cole's broadcast partner Tazz leftSmackDown! toECW, leaving Cole at that moment without a broadcast partner.[9] Two days later atECW One Night Stand,John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) announced he would replace Tazz as color commentator.[10] After JBL left the broadcast booth and returned to wrestling onRaw,Jonathan Coachman became Cole's new partner on the January 4, 2008 episode ofSmackDown!.[11] Coachman was then replaced byMick Foley, beginning atBacklash.[6]
As part of the2008 WWE Draft, Cole was drafted to theRaw brand asJim Ross was drafted to theSmackDown brand, ending Cole's nearly 10-year run as a play-by-play commentator onSmackDown.[12] On the July 7 episode ofRaw, Cole was attacked byKane, who repeatedly asked Cole "Is he alive or dead?" before Cole was saved by Jerry Lawler.[13] Cole made his in-ring debut on the July 28 episode ofRaw, teaming with Lawler againstCody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase for theWorld Tag Team Championship, but they lost after Cole inadvertently tagged himself in and was quickly pinned by Rhodes after alariat.[14]
Cole was the lead commentator forWWE NXT for its first three seasons, and during the first season in 2010, Cole began showing signs of arrogance and cockiness towards face wrestlers and WWE fans alike, turningheel for the first and only time in his WWE career. He also began to belittleDaniel Bryan and took a liking toThe Miz, leading to confrontations with Bryan throughout the season. Meanwhile, on the Raw brand, Cole was made the official spokesman for theAnonymous Raw General Manager on June 21.[15] On October 1, Cole returned toSmackDown to joinMatt Striker andTodd Grisham on commentary, and branded himself the "Voice of the WWE", stating that he should be on all WWE shows going forward.[16]
On the November 29, 2010 episode ofRaw, Cole interfered in aTables, Ladders, and Chairs match for theWWE Championship between Jerry Lawler and The Miz, costing Lawler the match and helping The Miz retain his title.[17] This began a feud with Lawler that built towards a match atWrestleMania XXVII. During this time, Cole revealedJack Swagger as his trainer and antagonized Lawler with antics such as making light of his mother's death and inviting his sonBrian Lawler to air family secrets.[18][19][20] At WrestleMania on April 3, special refereeStone Cold Steve Austin announced Lawler won the match, but the Anonymous Raw General Manager reversed the decision and declared Cole the winner by disqualification, due to Austin being involved in the match.[21] On May 1, atExtreme Rules, Cole teamed with Swagger to defeat Jim Ross and Lawler in a Country Whipping match.[22] Lawler and Cole had a final "Kiss My Foot" match atOver the Limit on May 22, which Cole lost; after the match,Bret Hart returned and put Cole in his signature submission move, the Sharpshooter, to help Lawler make Cole kiss his foot.[23] Cole apologized to Lawler the following night onRaw, ending their feud.[24]
Cole continued to wrestle sporadically after this and still favored most heels while questioning the actions of the faces to regain control in matches. On the July 25 episode ofRaw, Triple H placed Cole in a match againstZack Ryder, which Cole lost quickly.[25] Cole andAlberto Del Rio lost a tag team match toJohn Cena and Jim Ross on the October 17 episode ofRaw SuperShow, prompting Cole to challenge Ross to the "Michael Cole Challenge" (a series of three contests); Cole said that if Ross won each challenge, Cole would quit his job.[26] During the challenge on the November 14 episode ofRaw SuperShow, Ross won the first two challenges (arm wrestling and dancing), causing Cole to declare that the third contest was who weighed less, which Cole won. Ross was subsequently fired andCM Punk came out and attacked Cole; Cole vowed revenge and said he would sue Punk for injuring him.[27] On January 29, Cole was a surprise entrant in the2012 Royal Rumble match, but was quickly eliminated by Lawler,Booker T, and the returningKharma.[28] Cole was put in a match with John Cena on the June 4, 2012, episode ofRaw SuperShow, but lost and was forced to make an apology for all of his wrongdoings.[29]
On the July 9 episode ofRaw SuperShow, Cole wasbooked against Jerry Lawler in a WrestleMania XXVII rematch, which he quickly lost. The Anonymous Raw General Manager reversed the decision, making Cole the winner by disqualification following interference by Booker T, but thenSantino Marella then came out and pulled outHornswoggle from hiding underneath the ring, claiming that he was the Anonymous Raw General Manager.[30]
Cole was lauded for his handling of his fellow commentary partner Jerry Lawler'slegitimate on-air heart attack on the September 10, 2012 episode ofRaw. Despite being a heel commentator for two years, Cole provided updates to television viewers on Lawler's condition throughout the episode. He was praised for his handling of the emergency, turning face as he began favoring the face wrestlers and began receiving cheers.[31][32] Cole also joined in commentary duringRaw and pay-per-view events, includingNight of Champions andHell in a Cell by Jim Ross and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). On the November 12 episode ofRaw, Cole cemented his face turn when he hugged the returning Lawler in the ring.[33]
On the March 30, 2015, episode ofRaw, Cole, along with JBL and Booker T, was attacked byBrock Lesnar afterSeth Rollins refused Lesnar hisWWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch.[34] Cole did not appear on commentary the following week as part of a storyline injury.[35] On June 8, Cole welcomedByron Saxton as the color commentator forRaw, replacing Booker T.[36] On the January 15, 2018 episode ofRaw, Cole was attacked byBraun Strowman due to Strowman's anger at being fired by General ManagerKurt Angle and was subsequently replaced byTom Phillips for the remainder of the broadcast.[37]
On September 26, 2019, WWE announced as a part of their "WWE Premiere Week" that a new commentary team would be onSmackDown. Cole returned toSmackDown as a full-time commentator for the first time in six years, appearing alongside formerRaw commentatorsCorey Graves andRenee Young.[38] He was joined on commentary withPat McAfee on April 16, 2021.[39] McAfee eventually took a break to work for ESPN's College Gameday, and Cole would be joined byWade Barrett on commentary forSmackDown and for premium live events with Graves.
On August 5, 2023, WWE went with more on-air commentary changes as Cole returned toRaw on August 7, withWade Barrett joining him on commentary. He remained onSmackDown asCorey Graves would be returning on commentary withKevin Patrick joining in.[40] On January 1, 2024, Cole leftSmackDown again, leaving Patrick and Graves as the two-man commentary team and was rejoined by Pat McAfee onRaw later that month.[41]
WhenSmackDown returned to USA Network on September 13, 2024, Cole was replaced by the debutingJoe Tessitore onRaw on September 2, while McAfee was on hiatus due to his involvement onESPN College Gameday. However, Cole and McAfee returned toRaw upon its series premiere onNetflix, which acquired the rights toRaw in January 2024, starting January 6, 2025.[42]
From 2020 onwards, Cole has engaged in longstanding feuds on commentary againstBayley, with whom he has had issues in storyline over the past few years,[43]Top Dolla, whom Cole called out for a botched top rope spot on an episode ofSmackDown,[44] andDominik Mysterio, whom Cole sides against in Dominik's feud with his fatherRey Mysterio.[45]
In December 2013, Cole served as a special guest announcer for fellow WWE employee Booker T's professional wrestling promotionReality of Wrestling, along with Rich Brennan (formerly known as Anthony Pratt and Rich Bocchini).[46]
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Legendary professional wrestling commentator, WWE Hall of Famer and former broadcast partner colleagueJim Ross has praised Cole: "Michael works his ass off. He's a good family man, he's a company man, he works diligently to do his job. I respect him for all those things. I've always liked him, he's a good dude, and folks won't understand that. They only judge him for his television persona, rightly or wrongly. It's kind of frustrating".[47] PWInsider's Dave Scherer called Cole "The GOAT (Greatest of All Time)", praising his work under Vince McMahon's pressure.[48][49]Nigel McGuinness also praised Cole, pointing how many things he learned from him.[50]
Cole has appeared as a commentator in numerousWWE video games, providing his voice. He has also appeared as a non-playable character in several and is a playable character inWWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role,WWF No Mercy as an unlockable character andWWE '12 as adownloadable character.[51]
Cole has also appeared in Activision's Call of Duty Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty Warzone as Himself. He announced finish moves for the featured wrestler operator skins of Rhea Ripley, Rey Mysterio and Cody Rhodes, as well as other various voice lines in the game, including a variation of Team Deathmatch called "Slam Deathmatch".[52]
Cole appeared on the September 12, 2012, episode ofFox & Friends to address fellow WWE commentatorJerry Lawler's heart attack that occurred during the September 10 live broadcast ofRaw.[53]
Coulthard has been married to Yolanda since 1987 and together they have two sons which are adopted.[citation needed]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery | Himself | Voice performance;direct-to-video |
| 2016 | Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon | Himself | Voice performance; direct-to-video |
| 2017 | Surf's Up 2: WaveMania | Seagull, himself | Voice performance; direct-to-video |
| 2017 | The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! | Himself | Voice performance; direct-to-video |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2015 | The JBL & Cole Show | Himself | Series regular (2012–2014), recurring (2014–2015) |
| 2013–2016 | Michael Cole's Weekly Sit-Down Interviews | Himself | Host |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | WWE 24: Thank You Daniel | Himself | Guest |
| 2016 | WWE 24: WrestleMania Monday | Himself | Guest |
,Cagematch,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database| Preceded by | Raw Lead Announcer 1998–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Inaugural | SmackDown Lead Announcer 1999–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | SmackDown Lead Announcer 2010–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | SmackDown Lead Announcer 2013–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Raw Lead Announcer 2008–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Tom Phillips | SmackDown Lead Announcer 2015 | Succeeded by Tom Phillips |
| Preceded by Tom Phillips | SmackDown Lead Announcer 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Raw Lead Announcer 2023–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | SmackDown Lead Announcer 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Raw Lead Announcer 2025–present | Succeeded by current |