WWE Broadcaster Michael Cole Often Unaware of Match Outcomes
The veteran announcer revealed that he sometimes prefers not to know the results of matches, particularly high-stakes events like Money in the Bank, to maintain organic excitement.
WWE announcer Michael Cole stated that he doesn't always know the outcome of major matches ahead of time, a practice he extends to events like the upcoming Money in the Bank. While wrestling matches are pre-determined, not every participant involved, including broadcasters, is always privy to the specific results.
In an interview with OutKick's Bobby Burack, Cole explained that while he sometimes needs to know future story developments for episodic television, he prefers to be surprised by the endings of certain matches. "Sometimes, I don’t like to know the ending of matches," Cole said. "The Money in the Bank match is a great example. I want the excitement to take over."
He recalled not knowing the outcomes of significant past matches, such as Brock Lesnar defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania to end his undefeated streak, or Seth Rollins' surprise Money in the Bank cash-in at WrestleMania, a moment he described as the "Heist of the Century" which he coined spontaneously.
The Money in the Bank event features men and women competing in separate ladder matches to win a briefcase containing a contract for a future world title opportunity. This year's participants include CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Trick Williams, Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, and Penta for the men, and Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend, and Tiffany Stratton for the women.
Cole ranked Money in the Bank among WWE's significant events, placing it close to the Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, though not quite at the level of WrestleMania or SummerSlam. He emphasized the event's importance in potentially changing a wrestler's career trajectory. "When you climb the ladder and grab the briefcase, a contract is inside that you can cash in for a title opportunity whenever you want it," he noted.
Cole highlighted the unique nature of ladder matches, describing them as fast-paced with little downtime, making it challenging to develop stories or characters mid-match. He stressed the importance of using wrestler entrances to introduce characters and build emotional connections with the audience, especially with newcomers in the upcoming matches. "That’s a big part of this. And again, of course, there’s the ending. The person who finally climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase. How can you make that moment different? How can you make that moment special? And that’s my job," Cole said.
The Money in the Bank premium live event is scheduled to take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The card also includes Oba Femi vs. Bronson Reed, Stephanie Vaquer defending the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan, and Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight.