Tag team partners: Joe Tessitore joining WWE, re-upping at ESPN

ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore will begin calling WWE later this summer, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of the N.Y. POST. It is “unknown whether Tessitore will start on ‘Raw’ or ‘SmackDown.’” What is known is that Tessitore “will lead a three-man booth” featuring color commentators Corey Graves and Wade Barrett. Michael Cole and ESPN’s Pat McAfee -- who currently are the announcers on “Raw” -- will stay together. Tessitore has an “excitable broadcast voice that can match the big moments in pro wrestling” and is “familiar with the tenets of combat sports from his time calling boxing.” Tessitore was the first media client of WWE President Nick Khan (N.Y. POST, 7/9). Tessitore also has signed a multiyear deal to remain at ESPN/ABC, where he broadcasts for college football and Top Rank boxing (Austin Karp, SBJ)