Earlier this week WWE announced that the company had mutually parted ways with Adnan Virk, and that Virk would be stepping down from his duties as an announcer on Monday Night Raw. Fans immediately started talking about who Virk’s replacement could be, and WWE has confirmed that former UFC and Bellator analyst Jimmy Smith will be taking over play-by-play for the red brand.
Smith previously debuted for WWE when he worked as an analyst in the pre-show panel for NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month. It was recently reported that he’s been working with Michael Cole and other WWE staffers to train for a WWE announcing role, and that he’s received heavy praise from Cole.
According to WWE, Jimmy Smith will make his debut with the red brand on the Monday, May 31 episode of Raw.
WWE posted the following announcement:
“STAMFORD, Conn., May 26, 2021 – WWE today announced that Jimmy Smith will debut as the play-by-play voice for Monday Night Raw starting this Monday, May 31 at 8/7c on USA Network.
Recently, Smith served as an analyst for NXT, where he hosted NXT TakeOver pre-show panels and worked on special projects for the black-and-gold brand. He is also the daily host of SiriusXM’s “Unlocking the Cage” and was the host of “American Ninja Warrior” on G4.
Smith will be joined at ringside for every Monday Night Raw by analysts Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.”
