WWE commentator Wade Barrett has publicly addressed swirling rumors about his current status with the company following recent changes to WWE’s commentary teams. After reports circulated suggesting Barrett would be “off the road” and removed from his WWE commentary duties, he took to social media to firmly deny such claims, confirming his absence is due to pre-approved personal time and not any form of dismissal or fallout[2][1].
The controversy began in early September 2025, when WWE announced a commentary shakeup on their Friday Night SmackDown broadcast. Michael Cole and Corey Graves were named the new SmackDown commentary team, replacing Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett. This shift sparked speculation about Barrett’s role, with reports from reputable sources such as PWInsider and WrestleZone claiming that Barrett would no longer be traveling for WWE shows nor calling Monday Night RAW moving forward[1][3].
Sources close to WWE indicated that the decision for Barrett to be “off the road” was official, but they left the exact reasons ambiguous. Rumors swirled linking Barrett’s hiatus to recent comments made about WWE star Nikki Bella during the Clash in Paris pre-show; however, these claims were unconfirmed, and Barrett himself later clarified that he and Bella had amicably resolved their differences[2][3].
In a direct response to the rumor mill and growing fan speculation, Barrett posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account:
“I usually ignore BS reports like this, but it’s causing needless hate to be spewed towards people I work with. WWE have kindly given me a couple of weeks off for personal time (booked nine months ago), and then I’m back to business as usual. A complete non-story. The end.”[2]
This statement effectively put to rest concerns that Barrett had been marginalized or fired from his commentator role. Multiple wrestling news outlets, including Wrestling News and WrestleZone, emphasized Barrett’s professionalism in addressing the misinformation and highlighted that his time off was planned well in advance[2][1].
Moreover, industry insiders revealed that the WWE commentary lineup for Monday Night RAW remains in flux. While Barrett is off the road, Michael Cole and Corey Graves are expected to cover both RAW and SmackDown broadcasts temporarily, reflecting WWE’s current strategy for its announcing teams[3]. Meanwhile, Joe Tessitore has also been reported to be off WWE TV commitments for the time being due to his college football commentary duties[1].
Throughout this period, Barrett has maintained a positive relationship with WWE, and his hiatus is understood to be temporary. According to sources familiar with WWE operations, Barrett is expected to return to commentary “business as usual” once his personal leave concludes[1][2].
Wade Barrett’s rise through WWE—from his in-ring career beginnings to his respected role as a commentator—has garnered significant fan admiration. His candidness in responding to baseless reports only further strengthens his reputation as a professional dedicated to his craft and colleagues. WWE.com and wrestling media are closely monitoring the situation and expect further announcements on Barrett’s long-term commentary status in the near future.
A WWE insider told Fightful Wrestling, “Wade is a valued part of the WWE broadcast team. This time off was planned and nothing to do with backstage drama or any issues with WWE talent. They want him back soon after this personal time.” This source reinforces that Barrett’s current absence is procedural rather than punitive.
Fans and wrestling journalists alike have lauded Barrett for confronting the rumors head-on, which helps prevent misinformation from damaging his or others’ reputations within WWE. As WWE continues to evolve its broadcast team, Barrett’s clarity on the situation provides welcome transparency in an environment often clouded by speculation.
For now, Wade Barrett’s commentary hiatus remains temporary and unrelated to controversy. WWE fans can expect to see and hear Barrett back at ringside soon, resuming his role as one of the company’s prominent commentators and analysts.
Stay tuned to official WWE platforms and trusted news sources for updates on Wade Barrett’s WWE commentary return schedule and any further developments in the announce team configuration.
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