WWE NXT
Two NXT superstars debuted in WWE on Tuesday night. Pictured: Bin Wang of China is deadlocked by opponent Wesley Blake during a taping of the WWE's NXT show at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, Nov. 30, 2016. Reuters

WWE announcer Corey Graves is facing heavy criticism online after he implied on Twitter fellow WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo had talked over his NXT TakeOver co-hosts.

Graves criticism was posted during WWE’s show Saturday night, NXT TakeOver: WarGames, which took place in Chicago, and also involved Beth Phoenix and Nigel McGuinness.

Ranallo deleted his own Twitter shortly after the show.

The situation continued on Sunday as Ranallo reportedly was scheduled to work Survivor Series, specifically the NXT Championship match between Adam Cole and Pete Dunne. However, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported Ranallo left before the show started with manager Frank Shamrock. Michael Cole was then placed on commentary for Ranallo’s planned spots. Ranallo reportedly “blew his voice out” on Saturday.

Shamrock followed up with a Twitter post of his own going after Graves for his comments.

This was followed by a barrage of posts also criticizing Graves for his post.

Graves pushed back, saying the narrative put out there by Meltzer was a lie.

Graves has faced such the blowback because of Ranallo’s struggle with bi-polar disorder, especially on WWE. Ranallo was first hired by WWE in 2015 to serve as the lead commentator for SmackDown, which he worked until March 2017. He then took a near-four month absence due to depression brought on by reported bullying by commentator John “Bradshaw” Layfield. It was reported he would be leaving the company, but ultimately returned to serve as lead commentator for NXT in June and signed a new, multiyear deal with WWE.

Ranallo is reportedly still on good terms with WWE and is expected for NXT Wednesday night.

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