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Tag: Corey Graves

  • Corey Graves on WrestleMania 42 Celebrity Backlash: ‘It Was The Timing’

    Corey Graves on WrestleMania 42 Celebrity Backlash: ‘It Was The Timing’

    WWE commentator Corey Graves believes the backlash surrounding Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll at WrestleMania 42 stemmed from their “inorganic” use on the show.

    Both men played key roles in the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes feud, despite the wrestlers having extensive history WWE could have utilized instead.

    Speaking with Bill Apter, Graves explained that timing was crucial to how fans received their involvement. He noted that WrestleMania and celebrities have been connected since the beginning, but McAfee and Jelly Roll “caught a few strays” in this instance.

    “I truly believe it was the timing of it. I think if there had been a little bit more time to work with… I think if there had been a little bit more time and maybe if it had been in a different match,” Graves said.

    “I mean, obviously, WrestleMania and celebrities have been synonymous since the beginning. I think Pat and Jelly Roll caught a few strays. I think it was just a matter of people have been waiting for Cody and Randy for so long and they wanted to see that story told and unfold organically.”

    Square Pegs in Round Holes

    Graves further described the situation as an example of “square pegs in round holes,” noting that the use of McAfee and Jelly Roll simply didn’t fit what fans wanted to see.

    Rhodes defeated Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night One, though Orton attacked him after the match. As per the stipulation, Pat McAfee will reportedly never appear on WWE programming again, though the permanence of such stipulations in wrestling remains to be seen.

  • Corey Graves Addresses Getting ‘Bounced’ From Main Roster Last Year

    Corey Graves Addresses Getting ‘Bounced’ From Main Roster Last Year

    Corey Graves has commented on the Pat McAfee controversy.

    The WWE commentator recently had an interview with TVInsider. He talked about things such as his wife Carmella not being re-signed by the company, his thoughts on the WrestleMania card this year, his previous match with CM Punk and more.

    During the talk, the Savior of Misbehavior was also asked about being reassigned to NXT last year and if the time away from the main roster added a chip on his shoulder. Corey Graves admitted that it made him want to prove his worth to the top brass:

    “Definitely. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t. If anything else, that whole period in my career I looked at it and thought, ‘This isn’t where I want to be. This isn’t what I want to be doing. I’m going to show them.’”

    Very Much Chip On My Shoulder: Corey Graves

    Corey Graves had publicly voiced his frustrations on being moved to NXT to make room for Pat McAfee on the main roster broadcast team at the start of 2025. This led to Graves being kept off TV for a week before he returned to the development brand. He has slowly been able to make his way back up to the main roster since then, however, being helped by his well-received work with AAA.

    The former NXT star explained that he has a mentality of be the hardest worker in the room. This leads to him saying yes to things others would hesitate over even if it sometimes gets him in trouble with his wife:

    “At the end of the day, this is what I have done with my life. This is my life’s work. Yeah, when I got bounced so to speak, from that very first time, I intended to say, ‘I’m coming into NXT and will reinvent myself and show you guys I’m the best in the world at this.’

    I kind of approached this with that mentality. It was very much a chip on my shoulder situation. I like to think I still have some of that chip on my shoulder because I’m still not quite back to where I want to be. “

    Apart from this, Corey Graves also talked about a potential in-ring return, saying that he does not see it happening in the foreseeable future even if he has been cleared for action.