Michael Cole has made a name for himself in WWE as one of its greatest commentators, with a career spanning over 25 years. Despite being one of the top commentators in the company, Cole has had his fair share of slip-ups, as we saw on Monday Night RAW this week.
Being a commentator is definitely one of the toughest jobs in the entertainment industry, and there are not many people who have stuck around in commentary for as long as Michael Cole has. He has been receiving more praise and recognition from the WWE Universe in the past few years, as fans have come to adore and respect Cole for his contributions to the world of professional wrestling.
Michael Cole addresses his mistake on live TV
Over the years, Michael Cole had several botches on live TV, some of which were downright hilarious. One time, he accidentally called Jinder Mahal, “Dinner” in his match with Elias. His most recent slip-up happened on Monday Night RAW this week, where he accidentally said Candice Michelle instead of Candice LeRae.
Michael Cole accidentally calls Candice LeRae “Candice Michelle.” And then says “Getting old is a terrible thing.”
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) October 31, 2023
LOL.#WWERAW
During a match between Xia Lee and Candice LeRae, Cole addressed the latter as Candice Michelle. This hilarious slip-up was followed by a video package, at the end of which he apologized for his mistake and blamed old age for the blunder. Candice Michelle was actually a former WWE superstar and a one-time WWE Women’s World Champion. She had a pretty successful career in the Stamford-based promotion, before parting ways with the company in 2009. She later made her return on Monday Night RAW in 2019 and even won the 24/7 championship.
Michael Cole might need to change his glassess…
— ES Wrestling (@ESwrestling) October 31, 2023
That's Candice LeRae Michael…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/2ciN2q9rCt
Candice Michelle was actually a former WWE superstar and a one-time WWE Women’s World Champion. She had a pretty successful career in the Stamford-based promotion, before parting ways with the company in 2009. She later made her return on Monday Night RAW in 2019 and even won the 24/7 championship.
Cole’s extensive experience with WWE
Michael Cole began his journey in WWE in 1997, initially working as a backstage interviewer before transitioning to commentary in 1999. Over the last 25 years, he has been one of the main voices for the majority of WWE’s matches and has become an integral and respected figure in the company.
Michael Cole has been the lead commentator on SmackDown since 2019, alongside Wade Barrett. He has frequently been referred to as the “Voice of WWE” by the company itself, even occasionally taking on the role of a heel commentator in the past. Cole has also mentioned the remaining years he has with the company, stating that in approximately four more years, he will have completed 30 years with WWE, which he believes would be a suitable time to conclude his career.
“People ask me all the time, ‘How long you gonna do this for?’ I’ll tell you one thing, 30 years would be a really cool goal. That’s four years from now but I can promise you this, I will get out before I slip. I’m not gonna be — and no disrespect to anyone else, I’m not gonna be a 75, 80-year-old man doing this week in and week out”, said Michael Cole in an interview with the Sports Media podcast.
He continued, “I’ve busted my ass, I’ve made a really good living and I wanna be able to get out while the going’s good and still be able to enjoy the rest of my life and I don’t wanna be a shell of myself. I don’t wanna be that, ‘My God, he used to be good. He’s not good anymore.’ I don’t wanna be that person.”
While Michael Cole may not be as beloved as other legendary commentators like Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, fans have developed an appreciation for him, particularly as he has demonstrated improvement in his commentary over the past few years. We hope to witness Cole continue as the voice of WWE for a few more years before his eventual retirement.
