WWE's Michael Cole rejects political commentary, citing role as scripted entertainer

WWE broadcaster Michael Cole has stated that he will not insert political commentary into his work, distinguishing himself from peers who have recently addressed societal issues on air. In a conversation with OutKick's Bobby Burack, Cole explained that his decision stems from the nature of the program, which he describes as scripted entertainment rather than a platform for personal opinion.

Cole noted that when he began working for WWE three decades ago, the organization maintained a total non-political stance. He said the primary goal remains to entertain everyone, a standard he believes still holds true today. "There's no reason for me to make a political statement on the air. None," Cole told Burack. "My job is to be an actor and play by the rules of what the script tells us to do each and every week."

The broadcaster emphasized that he views his on-screen persona, Michael Cole, as separate from his real identity, Sean Coulthard. He described the weekly show as an episodic television format where his role is to enhance the performance of the athletes in the ring. "If you follow that formula, you'll never get yourself in trouble," he said.

Cole also pointed out that the audience's interest lies with the wrestlers, not the commentators' political affiliations. "No one cares what Michael Cole has to say about anything political. They don't," he stated. He compared this to watching other sports, noting that viewers tune in for the game itself, not for the broadcasters' opinions. "People don't watch WWE for Michael Cole. They watch it for the superstars in the ring," he added.

To maintain this separation, Cole said he avoids social media entirely, citing the risk of misinterpretation as a reason for not engaging on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. "All I'm going to do is get myself in trouble if I tweet something out because someone is going to take it the wrong way," he said.

Cole said this boundary has helped him maintain a normal life outside of work. He revealed that his family is not a fan of pro wrestling and that his wife has never watched a wrestling show in their 31 years of marriage, with the exception of a match he participated in at WrestleMania. "I'm able to come home and spend my time at home, living a normal life and not talking about WWE," he said. "It's kept me grounded and it just makes life so much better."

Cole will continue his broadcasting duties on Friday Night SmackDown this week and at Money in the Bank, which takes place Saturday in New Orleans.