WWE have released Kevin Patrick from his contract.
Following recent reports that SmackDown commentator’s performance was being monitored closely and told to “really step up,” A follow-up report on January 23rd stated that Patrick was gone from commentary on Friday nights.
Towards the end of the year, Michael Cole pulled double duty each week, appearing on Raw alongside Wade Barrett and on SmackDown with Patrick and Corey Graves. Following Cole being made an exclusive part of Raw in January 2024, this was Patrick’s time to prove himself. Unfortunately for Patrick, the company have decided to go in a different direction.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that Patrick had been removed:
“Kevin Patrick is gone. Unless something changes. I don’t know the details, I don’t know who is going to be replacing him. I’m not surprised. They just did an announcer change on the 1st of the year, so it was a couple of weeks ago. Like I said, I’m not surprised, Corey Graves has been totally carrying the SmackDown brand. I don’t know who they will get to replace him, could be Vic Joseph.
In a new update on January 25th, PWInsider reports that Patrick has been released.
Kevin Patrick, real name Kevin Egan, has prior experience commentating on football before transitioning to the world of sports entertainment, replacing former MMA commentator Jimmy Smith in 2022 and beginning his WWE career as a backstage interviewer.
Discussing his time as an announcer, Meltzer noted that although Nick Khan tends to hire commentators who have a previous sporting background, the transition to professional wrestling can be difficult:
[Patrick] is a soccer guy, he replaced Jimmy Smith. Nick Khan likes to hire sports people but the problem with sports people is that announcing sports and announcing wrestling are very different. Jimmy Smith did a good job because he announced real fights, he was better than most of the ones they had. He was better at explaining the psychology of the matches and the explanation of moves.”
WWE Bringing Back Previous Line-Up For SmackDown
In a follow-up report by PWinsider, Michael Cole will serve as play-by-play for the go-home SmackDown on January 26th alongside Corey Graves. It is added that Cole would be in the area as he is calling the Royal Rumble the next night. In an additional update on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer stated that no one has been found to replace Patrick and Cole will step in until they find a permanent replacement:
Michael Cole is the new announcer for Smackdown. At least for the time being he’ll be announcing with Corey Graves. So they didn’t bring up anyone. They didn’t hire anyone new for now. I was told specifically it’s for now. So they could be still looking. And they just wanted to get rid of Kevin Patrick, I guess. But yeah, Michael Cole has got the spot this weekend
In regards to who could fill the vacant seat, a former WWE announcer has teased a return.
On January 29th, WWE announced a new commentator for Raw.
In a new update in February, Kevin Patrick’s post-WWE future has been revealed.
If you use any quotes from this article please credit Wrestling Observer Radio and leave a h/t to Inside The Ropes.