SEScoops

Tag: Vic Joseph

  • Vic Joseph Discusses Reuniting With Corey Graves After Recent Controversy

    Vic Joseph believes the chemistry between him, Booker T, and Corey Graves is only going to get better with time.

    The Saviour of Misbehaviour made some headlines earlier this year when he was taken off the SmackDown commentary team and re-assigned to NXT. Graves saw the move as a demotion and vented frustration at being replaced by Pat McAfee on the main roster in a social media outburst. Things seem to have settled down since then, however, and Corey is now focusing on making the most out of this new opportunity.

    During a recent interview with Getting Over podcast, Vic Joseph was asked about the Corey Graves situation and how big of a personal hill he thinks Graves needed to overcome to accept his new reality. Joseph explained that Corey needed to look at the whole thing from a different angle:

    “I think he had to have a new set of eyes and you know, take a deep breath. [It\’s] something we’ve always talked about…we used to travel in the car together. [It] was [like], ‘Hey man, it’d be cool to call the shows together one day.’ I think once he and I had the talk, like, ‘Dude, this is what we’ve always talked about.’ He was kind of like, ‘Yeah, you’re right.’\”

    Now He Can Take a Deep Breath: Vic Joseph

    Vic Joseph then detailed an incident highlighting his long-term friendship with the fellow announcer. Speaking on the transition of going from a two-men booth on SmackDown to a three-men booth in NXT, the broadcast personality explained that it took a while for Corey Graves to get comfortable in the new dynamic:

    \”I always wore a bow tie, every WrestleMania. It\’s a velour bow tie, people forget. I think I\’ve told this story one time but Corey Graves gave me that as a gift at my very first WrestleMania. So we have that personal connection.

    I think the difficulty [is] for Corey, and I think this is where you start to see that seamless transition. Now, he doesn’t have to do as much. Now he can take a deep breath. Now he can take a step back and understand that it is three of us, three unique individuals, three distinct personalities for one goal for one show. So it\’s been getting better each and every week. And it\’s only gonna get better.\”

  • Michael Cole Encourages WWE Broadcasters to Find Their Own Voice

    WWE picks their announcers carefully, as they are responsible for providing a soundtrack for the action in the ring. Everyone has their own voice, and Michael Cold has helped the company in significant ways.

    Michael Cole entered WWE in 1997, and he has remained a part of the company since then. First as a backstage interviewer, he eventually made his way to the commentary table, where he never left.

    WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph spoke with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV insider, where he revealed that Michael Cole wants to help each WWE commentary team member discover who they really are.

    \”Michael Cole is the greatest of all time. I’ll say it again. He is the greatest of all time. I’ve learned so much from him. Here’s the thing about Michael Cole. He doesn’t want me to be Michael Cole. He doesn’t want Corey Graves to be Michael Cole. We all have our own distinct voices. It’s how you as a listener hear it.\”

    \”When I went to NXT, I didn’t want to be Mauro [Ranallo]. I don’t want to be Michael Cole. I want to be myself. But if you’re the greatest of all time why would you not want to pick a few things from them? There is no quarterback in the world that’s not looking at Tom Brady’s mechanics or Patrick Mahomes’ footwork. If you don’t study people who are the greatest, I think it’s foolish if you don’t. I will take as much as I can from Michael Cole and Corey Graves, for that matter, and mold it into my own. Then hopefully get to their level.\”

    WWE Commentary Teams

    The company has several television shows, with different commentary teams on each program.

    • WWE\’s RAW: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. 
    • WWE SmackDown: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett  
    • NXT: Vic Joseph and Booker T 
    • NXT Level Up: Blake Howard and Byron Saxton 
    • Main Event: Blake Howard and ‘Road Dogg’ Brian James

    WWE will switch around their commentary teams occasionally. The last change came when Kevin Patrick was fired, and that caused the change to what we have today.

    The WWE Draft is coming on the April 26th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The draft will then continue on the April 29th episode of Monday Night Raw. We will have to see how the commentary teams look when the next roster shake-up goes down, but each show has a strong team already.

  • WWE Locks Down Several Names Across NXT & Main Roster

    WWE has secured even more trademarks to make sure that nobody else uses their intellectual property. Those new trademarks span Superstars and on-air personalities from WWE and the NXT brand as well.

    WWE filed trademark applications for several names on March 29. Now \”Andrade,\” \”Chase U,\” \”Vic Joseph,\” \”Alicia Taylor,\” \”Blake Howard,\” and \”Erik\” are one step closer to being WWE property.

    WWE\’s New Trademark Filings

    On March 29, WWE took legal action by filing trademark applications for several names including \”Andrade,\” \”Chase U,\” \”Vic Joseph,\” \”Alicia Taylor,\” \”Blake Howard,\” and \”Erik.\”

    These trademark filings cover a wide array of categories, primarily focusing on entertainment services related to wrestling exhibitions and performances by professional wrestlers. It is the usual language found in those type of trademark filings.

    The trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.

    WWE\’s History Of Trademarking Names

    WWE locking down Andrade\’s name is interesting, because he used Andrade el Idolo in AEW. Now, he is back in WWE and they are locking down his name.

    The company has a history of trademarking names, and that is why they have a proclivity to change someone\’s real name once they enter WWE. They have also been known to alter ring names, just so they can make sure nobody has any claim to a moniker.

    SEScoops will keep an eye for any updates, and check back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • McKenzie Mitchell Calls on Fans to Rally for WWE Return

    One former recently-released WWE performer is taking a novel approach to getting hired back by the company.

    WWE fans were pretty shocked to see that the company fired McKenzie Mitchell from her job earlier this month. She was assigned to host the company\’s digital media content, but her time came to an end. That being said, she hasn\’t lost hope that she may return to that job.

    Following their merger with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings, WWE terminated several individuals, leading fans to anticipate additional releases. Many had questions when McKenzie Mitchell was recently released from WWE. In response, Mitchell urged fans to express their desire for her WWE return by reaching out to the company on social media.

    McKenzie Mitchell makes her case for a WWE return

    While speaking during a virtual signing hosted by RDP Promotions, McKenzie Mitchell advised her supporters that if they genuinely wish to see her return to WWE, they must vocalize their support on social media. She also said how nice it has been to receive so much love and support after her release.

    ”It’s been really nice to see all the love and support from you guys online. I guess I can say this. If you want me back in WWE, you better put it on Twitter because that’s the only way they’re gonna see it.”

    McKenzie Mitchell was known for her on-screen role as a host across various WWE media outlets and NXT, disclosed her departure from the company. She had a lot of fans who loved seeing her on their screens as well, but she doesn\’t seem too upset over this latest career development. 

    Despite this development, McKenzie Mitchell conveyed only positive sentiments about her former employer. Hopefully, she can land on her feet somewhere, because her WWE release certainly came out of left field.

    We will keep an eye on this story, here at SE Scoops, just in case WWE takes back McKenzie Mitchell\’s firing. She is married to WWE announcer Vic Joseph, so she still has very close ties to the company.

    What\’s your take on WWE releasing McKenzie Mitchell? Why do you think they decided to do that? Let us know that you think by engaging on social media! 

  • New Commentary Teams for WWE Raw, SmackDown & NXT

    The landscape of WWE has changed dramatically across all three of the company\’s brands, at least at the commentary desk.

    This week, WWE will begin their \’season premiere\’ week of programming, starting with tomorrow night\’s SmackDown on FOX. Next week\’s Raw and NXT will also serve as the season premieres of the red and gold brand.

    The following three shows of WWE programming will be stacked for the season premieres and will feature brand-new commentary teams.

    Wrestle Votes were the first to report that changes were expected to Raw\’s commentary team before more information was provided by Variety. Their report, later confirmed by WWE, announced that the company is returning to two-person commentary teams across all three of its brands.

    Smackdown

    For tomorrow night\’s SmackDown, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett will be calling the action, with the former Intercontinental Champion moving from NXT.

    Raw

    Next week\’s Raw will see Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves behind the table, with Patrick being promoted as a full-time member of the Raw commentary team.

    The Irish announcer had previously served as a backstage interviewer and provided commentary on the July 24, 2022, Raw.

    Byron Saxton, who had been on commentary for Raw, has been moved to a role as an onscreen interviewer.

    NXT

    For NXT, the new commentary team will see Vic Joseph returning to the role, now working with Booker T.

    The two-time WWE Hall of Famer has previously served as a commentator for Raw and SmackDown, and regularly makes appearances on kick-off show panels.

    Premium Live Events

    For major WWE events such as WWE Premium Live Events, Cole and Graves will be the commentary team.

    Pat McAfee SmackDown Commentator Role On Hold After College Gameday News

  • WWE NXT\’s Vic Joseph and McKenzie Mitchell Marry in Italy

    WWE NXT power couple Vic Joseph and McKenzie Mitchell tied the knot this past week in a ceremony in Italy.

    The couple announced their engagement last November and flew to Europe to exchange their vows.

    Former WWE Superstars John Morrison and Taka Valkyrie (aka Franky Monet) in NXT attended the ceremony.

    Fellow WWE alum Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green were also in attendance.

    On social media, Mitchell shared some images from the big day.

    Vic Joseph

    Joseph signed with WWE in 2017, replacing Tom Phillips on WWE Main Event.

    A month after joining, Joseph would also begin work commentating 205 Live, while still calling the action on Main Event.

    In October 2018, Joseph joined the commentary desk for NXT UK, and in September 2019, joined Raw\’s announce team after a shakeup saw Corey Graves be moved to SmackDown.

    Months later, Joseph was removed from the Raw commentary team and would return to 205 Live in July 2020.

    That August, Joseph would join the NXT commentary team, where he remains to this day.

    McKenzie Mitchell

    Before making it to WWE, Mitchell had been covering sports for years, having worked with Fox Sports West and Fan Girl Sports.

    In 2016, Mitchell joined Impact Wrestling as a backstage interviewer but found her way to WWE three years later.

    Since signing in 2019, Mitchell has primarily worked on the NXT brand but has also served as a backstage interviewer on select episodes of Raw and SmackDown. 

    Mitchell has cited interviewing Keith Lee after his NXT Championship win in 2020 as the proudest moment of her career.

    We here at SEScoops would like to offer our congratulations to the happy couple.

    Vic Joseph and McKenzie Mitchell Announce Engagement

  • Vic Joseph and McKenzie Mitchell Announce Engagement

    Vic Joseph and McKenzie Mitchell have announced their engagement. Mitchell posted to social media to announce the news.

    Joseph, real name Victor Travagliante, is the current play-by-play commentator for NXT and the 205 brands in WWE. Previously he has worked on NXT UK, RAW and Main Event as well. Before WWE, Joseph worked for the Cleveland Browns Radio Network covering Cleveland Browns games. He started with WWE in 2017.

    McKenzie Mitchell was with Impact Wrestling from 2016 until 2019 when she signed with WWE. She works on the NXT broadcast team in addition to numerous digital media hosting roles with the company.

    The couple went public with their relationship a year ago on social media.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CICsLQup27i/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8486b59a-6ecc-4683-ac7f-de3fd005c0a2

    Earlier this year, Jospeh appeared on After the Bell and spoke about advice John Cena gave him on his commentary.

    \”I happen to see Cena and I went up and said, ‘Mr. Cena, I’m Vic Joseph, I’m new and I’m doing 205 Live tonight and I wanted to introduce myself.’ He goes, ‘You’re new? I’m going to watch the show.’ I’m thinking he’s not going to watch the show. We do the show and I’m leaving, he’s still in the locker room area or wherever and I walk by and I said, ‘John, nice to meet you.’ He says, ‘Vic, come here.’ He walked me over and sat and talked with me about what I did for that hour. ‘Know the stories, know the transitions, you had this, don’t say this, lay out here.’ He ran through it all.\”

  • WWE RAW Announce Team Shaken Up Once Again

    WWE has made another change to the Raw commentary team. Former 205 Live announcer Vic Joseph will no longer be calling the action on Monday nights, according to reports.

    Joseph was absent from The Royal Rumble PPV yesterday and Tom Phillips along with WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry Lawler called the bouts associated with the Red Brand.

    Per PWinsider, Vic Joseph has been removed from the Raw commentary team for good. Tom Phillips will be replacing him on the show moving forward. Joseph remains with the company

    It\’s unknown why the former 205 Live announcer has been removed from the position but the site is reporting that the decision was made sometime in the past week.

    This the second big change the company has made to the Raw commentary team after they shuffled the announcers for both Raw and SmackDown for the Blue Brand\’s move to Fox Network last year in October

    Both Michael Cole and Corey Graves who were part of the Raw commentary team at the time were moved to SmackDown and Jerry Lawler was brought back to do the play by play of the Red Branded Show.

    Vic Joseph and Dio Maddin were moved up from 205 Live to the brand to aid Lawler and it was reported at the time that it was the Executive Director Paul Heyman\’s call to bring them on the show.

  • Triple H And Vic Joseph Talk About NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II

    Both Triple H and former NXT UK commentator Vic Joseph have shared their excitement ahead of this weekend\’s NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II event.

    Taking to Twitter, \”The Game\” Triple H reflected on how the event takes them back to where it all began. He shared how NXT UK\’s mentality gave fans and Superstars a place to rally behind and claim \”THIS IS OUR BRAND.\”

    \”Back to where it all began. Where fans and Superstars alike joined together to say THIS IS OUR BRAND. Before we return to Blackpool for #NXTUKTakeOver: Blackpool II, see how we got there. See the latest #PrimeTarget on this week\’s episode of @NXTUK on @WWENetwork. #WeAreNXTUK”

    Vic Joseph\’s First Opportunity

    Joseph, who previously worked on the NXT UK brand before being moved to RAW, added his thoughts on the event. He expressed how it was difficult for him to convey how much NXT UK means to him as a brand, given that it provided him with his first opportunity. He also shared his gratitude in how it allowed him to learn from and work closely with Nigel McGuinness.

    \”Hard to put into words what @NXTUK means to me. It\’s where @TripleH gave me my first opportunity, where I learned from @McGuinnessNigel, where I was part of the foundation that grew into an empire! Don\’t miss #NXTUKTakeOver: Blackpool II THIS Sunday on the @WWENetwork #WeAreNXTUK\”

    NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II takes place this Sunday, January 12th from the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England. It will be main evented by WALTER against Joe Coffey for the NXT United Kingdom Championship.