Corey Graves

Biography

Born Matthew Polinsky on February 24, 1984, Corey Graves is best known for his time as a professional wrestler and color commentator in WWE. He was a standout in WWE’s development territories before transitioning to commentary due to injuries.

Career History

Corey Graves began his professional wrestling career on the independent circuit under the ring name Sterling James Keenan. He signed with WWE in 2011, joining its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which later became NXT.
Graves achieved considerable success in NXT, but his in-ring career was cut short due to a series of concussions. Following his retirement from active competition in 2014, he transitioned into commentary and quickly became one of WWE’s leading voices on Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown, and pay-per-view events.

Career Evolution

Graves started as a wrestler but became one of the most recognizable voices in modern wrestling due to his wit and unique perspective. His candid, often controversial commentary style has drawn comparisons to legendary wrestling color commentators like Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Jesse “The Body” Ventura.

Biggest Matches

As a wrestler, Graves’ biggest matches took place in NXT, where he contested for the NXT Championship against the likes of Seth Rollins and Big E. He also had notable feuds with The Wyatt Family and Adrian Neville.

Titles Won

In wrestling, Graves won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship with his partner Jake Carter. Although he never won a championship in NXT or WWE’s main roster, Graves found significant success as a commentator, earning the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Best Television Announcer award in 2018 and 2019.

Family Life

Corey Graves has two children from his previous marriage to Amy Polinsky. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, he has been in a relationship with WWE wrestler and announcer Carmella (Leah Van Dale).

Finishing Move

During his wrestling career, Corey Graves’ finishing move was the “Lucky 13,” a unique variation of the figure-four leglock.

Clothing and Entrance Music

Graves has a distinctive style and is known for his tattoo-covered physique, sharply tailored suits, and often unconventional fashion choices. His entrance theme as a wrestler in NXT was “Christcontrol” by Cancer Killing Gemini.

Sponsorships

As a prominent WWE commentator, Graves likely has sponsorships or partnerships related to broadcast equipment, fashion, and possibly fitness. However, specifics about his sponsorship deals are not publicly available.

Conclusion

Though Corey Graves’ in-ring career was cut short, he found a new way to contribute to the sport he loves. He’s earned a reputation as one of WWE’s most distinctive and engaging voices, continuing to entertain fans worldwide with his unique blend of humor, insight, and provocative commentary.