CRAIG’S MUSINGS: Cory Graves is Overexposed – My Scenario to Replace Him With Someone Scrappy

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Cory Graves is great. He really is, but only when he’s been allowed to be. Now, that’s more in the past and the regression to being Vince McMahon’s puppet/voice has been going on for too long.

Last year’s roster split was to prevent talent and viewer burnout and make Raw and Smackdown unique. Graves replacing JBL negates that vision. The similar production values and appearance of each show isn’t helping, either.

Talents appearing on both shows, including Renee Young weekly and A.J. Styles and Michael Cole pinch-hitting, is one thing. The (not so) siege-fully arresting product going into Survivor Series made it worse for me.

Stars make the business go round, not silly and forced “brand loyalty” fans don’t care about. Still, the commentators ought to be different no matter what for each show. With Vince, who can honestly be surprised?

Maybe the commentary shortsightedness we currently see is merely a temporary solution while a permanent person is being silently groomed. JBL announced his departure and wasn’t seen on WWE TV again, not even for a final episode. WWE’s hand was prompted, and Graves was assigned to both shows.

Despite my past WWE criticisms, I am mostly optimistic. In that spirit, hear me out. It’s possible there is a chemistry experiment going on to see where Graves best fits, if he is to be on one show again at some point.

A person who has some upside for a color commentator role is “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce. I’ll be upfront; I have not been privy to much of his work. The most expansive part of Pearce’s career I’ve watched is the his independently produced documentary “Seven Levels of Hate.” It’s about Pearce and Colt Cabana attempting to bring prestige back to the NWA World Title in a heated feud with a seven match series in different locations.

During the documentary, Pearce was smart and articulate with an obvious love and appreciation for wrestling. His honesty regarding the political frustrations he and Cabana encountered was a great and necessary touch. He also appeared on the seventh episode of Cabana’s “Art of Wrestling” podcast. That was seven years ago, which makes this an odd trifecta of references to the number seven.

Anyway, Pearce showed a more personable part of himself and a great, witty sense of humor with Colt in that podcast to help me further inform my opinion on his commentary potential. Another perspective Pearce can call upon for commentary is when he was used as enhancement talent by WWE early in his career.

Earlier this year, Cabana put the digital version of “Seven Levels of Hate” for sale on his site for $10. It’s worth checking out, especially with Billy Corgan purchasing the NWA earlier this year and slowly rebuilding that brand. This documentary may now be seen with a new perspective. (LINK)

In some YouTube binging, my opinion was reinforced. Pearce has always been confidently well spoken. His promos have always been at least very solid and believable. He was also the second Ring of Honor booker, October 2008 to August 2010, succeeding Gabe Sapolsky when then owner Cary Silkin made the change.

The removal of Sapolsky and insertion of Pearce was a transition period for the non-solvent company to appeal to a more mass audience. Pearce’s vision included more variety and pace to the shows. He also preached matches that told a story with fewer highspots. Preferring an old school mentality, Pearce wanted to maintain kayfabe by never being acknowledged as booker on TV or pay-per-views.

Ultimately, Carey Silkin fired Pearce in favor of Hunter Johnston in 2010, who has been wrestling under a mask as Delirious for about 14 years now. The business and creative side were, as Pearce said at the time of his termination, “oil and water.” Johnston remains ROH’s booker. Pearce returned full time to the independent circuit after his ROH time, of which included a two episode Gut Check appearance for TNA in April 2013.

Pearce didn’t want to live in retirement regret. After extending overtures their way over time, Pearce was finally brought in for a tryout with WWE in August 2012. On the first day of the three day tryout, Pearce quickly realized he was only there as an experienced hand for a prospect. Unfazed, Pearce impressed the on the first two days. Gerald Brisco instructed Pearce to show why he carried the same title his brother before having a 10 minute match with the prospect on the third day. He left a good impression on the rest of WWE with those sessions.

After his storied and varied career, the respected Pearce retired from the ring on Dec 21, 2014 in a match against Colt Cabana. Leading up to the end his in- ring days, he was already planning ahead. In February 2014, Pearce made it all the way to the semi-finals to be the public address announcer for MLB’s San Diego Padres. He did not get the gig, but made it far despite a lack of experience. Between 2013-2015, he was a multi-time guest trainer for the WWE Performance Center before being hired on full time later in 2015. Now, he is also a producer for the main roster.

Adam Pearce strikes me as enjoying challenges that utilize all his abilities to thrive in different roles. Like Pearce, Nigel McGuiness was never a featured WWE wrestler, but he made it to a WWE commentary role. Pearce wore many hats in the wrestling business before making it to WWE, and did so on his own terms. His unique perspective would be great for commentary. Well, until Vince ruins it, which has become too much of a common expectation and result of anyone going to WWE. Pearce lives by the motto, “Work hard, treat people fairly, and earn respect.” Vince and Kevin Dunn surely don’t have a track record of being fair or respectful to their commentators.

I was disappointed he was made to look foolish when letting Vince take the Kevin Owens frogsplash in September. Regardless of anything he would do shy of breaking up fights, that will be held against him in any role he’s given. Rhetorically, it must be properly utilized.

If my wish comes true, it may not last long based on Pearce’s motto and confidence from carving his own path for so long should Vince and/or Dunn bully him. Another scenario I’d welcome is to have the already 205 Live assigned Nigel McGuiness go to Smackdown, Graves stay on Raw (I do enjoy him calling Booker out when he trails off), and Pearce replace McGuiness on NXT. That way, he can stay on as Performance Center coach. That can further inform his commentary, provided he doesn’t fall in wrestling/coach love with talents he’s training. He would likely have to relinquish his Raw and Smackdown producer duties. If so, he’d reap the fortune of not having to put up with Vince’s and Dunn’s crap, a similar luxury Mauro Ranallo I’m sure enjoys.

Follow me on Twitter @CraigElbe, and thanks for reading.

NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS COLUMN HERE: CRAIG’S MUSINGS: What does NXT mean, Ziggler’s post-WWE comedy and indy run, Global Wars Chicago, has Vince lost enthusiasm for Styles