Corey Graves is either legitimately upset that he’s no longer on the WWE Raw broadcast team, or he’s building an angle that he is.
Pat McAfee has replaced Graves as the Monday night color commentator, beginning with last week’s Raw on Netflix debut. Graves returned to his old position at the NXT commentary table on The CW the following night.
Following WWE Raw this week, Graves posted a message to social media that many are taking as a sign of frustration with his current position in the company.
Graves posted:
“Imagine chasing your dream. Then being TOLD (not deciding) that you’re no longer physically able to pursue your dream. Then you dedicate your life to something “dream adjacent” and being pretty fucking awesome at it. And then, when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, being told you’re not famous enough for your own job. Just in case you’ve wondered where I’ve been.”
“I’ve got a lot to say. Don’t miss #WWENXT tonight on @TheCW TONIGHT,” Graves later added.
It’s not clear if Graves’ post was storyline-driven or his real feelings. On Monday night, Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that he believes Graves’ comments were storyline.
“I’m not buying it. I mean, I could be wrong,” Meltzer said.
Graves’ in-ring career ended in 2014 after suffering multiple concussions. However, he confirmed to TMZ Sports in February 2022 that he is cleared to compete.
“I think this is one of the first times I’m saying this publicly. I have been medically cleared to compete,” Graves said. “It’s not an immediate goal of mine, it was just something that I needed to know for my own sanity. My journey in the ring got cut short and it’s kind of eaten at me for years, always wondering what if, what if there’s a chance, what if there’s an opportunity … so I went and did the necessary steps and it turns out that I’m a little more okay than I thought I was. Never say never. It’s not an immediate goal, but you can’t ever take the wrestler out of my heart.”
Graves wrestled for three years in NXT before his retirement in 2014. He once held the brand’s tag team titles along with Adrian Neville, now known as AEW’s Pac. Before signing with WWE in 2011, he wrestled on the independent scene as Sterling James Keenan.