Lesnar attack sidelines Corey Graves, SmackDown commentary shuffled

On the September 19 edition of WWE SmackDown in Indianapolis, Brock Lesnar attacked commentator Corey Graves after Graves intervened to protect Michael Cole, leaving Graves on the receiving end of two F5s and marking his removal from the broadcast lineup for the time being. Graves was not present for the September 26 SmackDown, and Michael Cole announced on air that Graves would be sidelined for several weeks while the company fills his spot on the commentary desk.

The incident began when Lesnar walked out ahead of a scheduled interview with Cole, carried Cole back into the ring and grabbed him by the throat. Graves ran to his partner’s aid and was hit with two F5s, an in-ring assault that WWE incorporated into the program’s storyline. The attack followed a run of Lesnar appearances tied to an ongoing program with John Cena, which has included high-profile encounters on pay-per-view and television.

That night The Miz briefly replaced Graves at the commentary desk. On the following Friday at the Kia Center in Orlando, Hall of Famer Booker T joined Cole on the broadcast and said he was filling in for Graves. Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T offered his support to...