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Michael Cole on "WWE Raw"
Michael Cole on "WWE Raw" - © USA Network
Michael Cole, aka Michael Sean Coulthard, is an announcer on USA Network's "WWE Raw."

Michael Cole and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler make up the lead broadcasting team on Monday Night Raw, calling the action on USA Network and WWE pay-per-view events.

Prior to switching announce booths with Jim Ross and heading to Raw in the 2008 WWE Draft, Michael Cole was the lead announcer on SmackDown since the brand's inception, working with partners ranging from Tazz to JBL to Mick Foley.

For nearly a decade, Michael Cole has worked hard to vividly describe all of the action World Wrestling Entertainment has to offer, and has earned him as much praise in WWE as he earned in the news world.

While working for CBS Radio in 1993, Michael Cole covered the entire 51-day standoff at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas that led to tragedy when more than 80 residents of the compound perished in a fire that erupted during a shootout between them and federal agents.

In 1994, Michael Cole traveled to Sarajevo for what was supposed to be a six-week assignment covering the siege of the city by Serbian forces. The assignment turned into a nine-month life-changing experience that saw Michael Cole report daily from the war-torn city, ducking snipers and mortar shells at every turn. Michael Cole's documentary, "Voices of Bosnia," was critically acclaimed and won several major awards.

Experienced in the face of tragedy, Michael Cole was dispatched to Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 to cover the horrific bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, where 168 people were lost their lives. Michael Cole also covered three presidential elections: 1988 with Michael Dukakis, 1992 with Bill Clinton, and 1996 with Steve Forbes and Bob Dole.

In 1997, Michael Cole brought his talents to WWE. In his early days, Michael Cole hosted the syndicated "Livewire" show, as well as "Shotgun Saturday Night" with Jim Cornette. By the end of that year, Michael Cole was an announcer on Raw. From 1997 to 1999 Michael Cole held regular stints as a Raw announcer, and when SmackDown made its debut in 1999, Michael Cole was chosen for the lead play-by-play announcing role. Originally teamed up with Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole was paired with Tazz in 2001 and the two were together for five years until his realignment with ECW in June 2006. After that, Michael Cole found himself sitting beside then-retired JBL, Jonathan Coachman and later the Hardcore Legend himself, Mick Foley, until Cole was ultimately drafted to Monday Night Raw.

In his tenure behind the broadcast booth, Michael Cole has sometimes found himself in the thick of the action. While some of his assignments are enviable (such as emceeing a Divas Bikini Contest, for instance), Michael Cole has also found himself as the object of several SmackDown Superstars' ire. Regardless, Michael Cole's talent for calling the turbulent and unpredictable action of WWE has made him one of the top all-time announcers.

Associates: Jerry "The King" Lawler
WWE Debut: 1997
Career Highlights: Raw announcer, Lead announcer since SmackDown brand (2002-2008)






MICHAEL COLE: FACTS

How tall is Michael Cole? How old is Michael Cole? Where was Michael Cole born? Where does Michael Cole live? Find out here.

Age: 64 years old
Birthday: July 3, 1945
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 176 lbs.
Full Name / Real Name: Michael Sean Coulthard
Birthplace: Madison, WI
Hometown: Amenia, NY
Current Residence: McAllen, TX
Wife: Shelley Funes
Paula Kelly Jr.



WWE RAW: NEWS (10)


Michael Cole on "WWE Raw"'WWE Tribute to The Troops' Honors Military for HolidaysWWE Superstars and Divas will head to Iraq this holiday season to honor the U.S. Armed Forces with a one-hour special chronicling their time there, culminating with a live performance, to air Saturday, December 19. Read more...
WWE Raw 2009USA Network Pins Down 'WWE Raw'The cable network has made a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment to keep the ratings juggernaut on the network through fall 2014. Read more...
Cast of "Burn Notice"USA Garners Best Cable Summer Ratings Ever"Burn Notice" was the #1 scripted series for the summer in all of television, while "Royal Pains" ranks as the top rookie series so far this year. Read more...
SEE ALL WWE RAW NEWS (10)