Wade Barrett has pulled back the curtain on his commentary style — and it turns out that making his broadcast partners uncomfortable is less of a happy accident and more of a deliberate strategy.
Speaking with Denise Salcedo at the WWE 2K26 Creator Fest, the former Intercontinental Champion and current Raw commentator broke down the philosophy behind some of his more eyebrow-raising lines on air.
My favorite is when I've got Michael Cole or Joe Tessitore next to me and I can make them blush," Barrett said. "I've always got to have some sort of plausible deniability behind whatever controversial line I'm saying. 'No, that's not how I meant it. I meant it this way. But you've taken it in the way that has obviously embarrassed you.'
Barrett went further, essentially elevating the bit into a professional mandate.
Trying to embarrass Joe Tessitore and Michael Cole — that's part of the main role of my job, I think, at this point," he said.
He also acknowledged that the reaction from his partners doubles as a real-time quality indicator for how a line will land online.
If I hit something like that, I know probably the internet and social media are going to like the line," Barrett said.
It's a dynamic that fans have long suspected, and Barrett — with characteristic deadpan confidence — confirmed it outright. The built-in deniability gives him cover on live television, while the blush from Cole or Tessitore signals he's found the mark.
Barrett has worked alongside Michael Cole and Joe Tessitore across multiple commentary configurations in recent years, including their current pairing on Raw.
His commentary style has generated genuine moments of controversy along the way — most notably his comment about Nikki Bella at WWE Clash in Paris, which he later addressed publicly after it drew criticism from the WWE Hall of Famer herself.
The Creator Fest interview also touched on the challenge of recording commentary for WWE 2K26, where Barrett described having to manufacture arena-level energy from his bedroom at 9 a.m., with nothing but a headset and a cup of coffee.
Barrett confirmed he is one of the commentary voices in the game, which launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
