Michael Cole Reflects on Early WWE Career and Travel with JBL and Ron Simmons

Michael Cole, now a senior WWE commentator, recounted his entry into the promotion in 1997 after a decade as a CBS news reporter. He said his contract with CBS ended in 1996, prompting a move from Houston to New York and a stint covering the U.S. presidential campaign before joining WWE.

Cole highlighted the mentorship he received from WWE executive Kevin Dunn, who paired him with veteran wrestlers JBL and Ron Simmons to ease his transition. He contrasted the unpredictable, last‑minute travel demands of his news job—sometimes lasting weeks for breaking stories—with WWE’s more predictable schedule, which his wife found easier to accommodate despite earlier strains on family life. Nearly three decades later, Cole said he remains with WWE, describing his long‑term relationship with the company as a “love affair.”