Corey Graves is a talented American wrestling commentator and retired wrestler. Corey Graves is known for his sharp, sarcastic, and brutally honest opinions.
He is the current voice of WWE Raw and NXT. His real name is Matthew Polinsky. At 42 years old (2026), he is a top broadcaster in WWE. He was born on February 24, 1984.
His birthplace is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall. He weighs around 207 pounds. His commentary style blends humor and aggression.
He started his career as a professional wrestler. He later became a commentator due to injuries. He has 1 NXT Tag Team Championship. He has 1 WWE 24/7 Championship.
His family includes his wife, Carmella. He has 5 children total. His net worth is $5 million. His income comes from WWE salary and podcasts.
Corey Graves WIKI/Bio
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Polinsky |
| Birth | February 24, 1984 |
| Age | 42 (2026) |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Weight | 207 pounds (94 kg) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Body Type / Build | Athletic, Tattooed |
| Shoe Size | 11 (US) |
| Chest Size | 42 inches |
| Waist Size | 34 inches |
| Biceps Size | 15 inches |
| Skin Tone | Fair |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Occupation | Commentator, Retired Wrestler |
| Education | Gateway High School |
| Career Highlights | NXT Tag Team Champion |
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Wealth Sources | WWE, Podcasts, Teaching |
| Notable Skills | Commentary, Broadcasting |
| Family | Carmella (Wife), 5 Children |
| Social Presence | Instagram, Twitter |
Corey Graves Real Name
His real name is Matthew Polinsky. He chose Corey Graves as his ring name. It sounds dark and mysterious. He wanted a unique wrestling identity. Matthew is used only by family.
His middle name is not public. He started using Corey in NXT. The name Graves fits his tattooed look. He legally still uses Matthew Polinsky. Fans know him only as Corey Graves.
He signs autographs as Corey. But his bank accounts say Matthew. He keeps his real life private. Corey is the loud commentator. Matthew is the quiet dad at home.
Corey Graves Early Life and Education
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Monroeville. His childhood was full of wrestling. He attended Gateway High School. He was a troubled teenager there.
He did not know his future career path. His dad gave him two options. Boxing or professional wrestling. He chose wrestling at age 14. He trained illegally at a local gym.
The gym was inside Eastland Mall. He learned basic moves and holds. He attended college briefly. He studied marketing for a while. But wrestling was his real passion.
He left school to pursue wrestling. He has no college degree. His education came from the road. He learned more in locker rooms than classrooms.
Corey Graves Parents and Siblings
His father is Dan Polinsky. He was a wrestling promoter. He organized shows in Pittsburgh area. His mother is not publicly named. She taught him hard work ethic.
He has 1 younger brother. His name is Samuel Elias Polinsky. He wrestles as Sam Adonis. Sam is 5 years younger than Corey. Sam was born on August 9, 1989.
Sam Adonis wrestles in Mexico and MLW. He is a famous rudo (heel) there. The two brothers are very close. They sometimes train together. Their father promoted their early matches.
Corey credits his dad for everything. His father opened many doors. His mom gave him tough love. Both parents attend his big shows.
Corey Graves Wife or Girlfriend
Corey Graves is married to Carmella (Leah Van Dale). She is a former WWE superstar. They got engaged in October 2021. They married in April 2022. The wedding was small and private.
Carmella left WWE in 2025. The decision was mutual and peaceful. She now focuses on their children. Corey calls her an incredible mom. She supports his busy career fully.
They had their first child together in October 2025. It was a baby boy. Corey has 4 children from previous relationships. He is a father of 5 total. He balances work and family carefully.
Before Carmella, he was married to Amy Polinsky. That marriage ended in divorce. He has 3 children from that marriage. He also has 1 child from another relationship. Now he is happily settled with Carmella.
Corey Graves Age, Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
He is 42 years old in 2026. He was born in 1984. His height is 6 feet 1 inch. That is 185 centimeters. His weight is 207 pounds. That is 94 kilograms.
His eye color is blue. His hair color is brown. He often dyes it blonde. His body type is athletic. He has many tattoos on his body. His arms are fully sleeved.
He has the words “Stay Down” on his knuckles. He has neck tattoos as well. His skin tone is fair. He wears a shoe size 11 (US). His chest size is 42 inches.
His waist size is 34 inches. His biceps size is 15 inches. He maintains his physique with gym. He works out 4 times weekly. His look is very edgy and punk.
Corey Graves Before Fame
Before WWE, he worked odd jobs. He was a professional piercer. He worked at a tattoo shop. He also sold merchandise at shows. He traveled the independent circuit.
He wrestled as Sterling James Keenan. That name had no initials. He wanted to be different. He wrestled in Europe and Japan. He learned from every match. He was poor for many years.
He slept in cheap motels. He ate fast food daily. His big break came in 2011. WWE offered him a developmental deal. He moved to Florida alone.
He was 30 years old then. Many thought he was too old. He proved everyone wrong. His dad’s training paid off.
Corey Graves Career
His wrestling career began in 2000. He was only 16 years old. He wrestled for NWA East. He won several independent titles. He signed with WWE in 2011.
He debuted in NXT as Corey Graves. He teamed with Adrian Neville. They won the NXT Tag Team Titles in 2013. They beat The Wyatt Family. That was a huge moment.
But concussions ended his wrestling career. He retired in December 2014. He was just 30 years old. WWE offered him a commentary job. He was scared to try it.
His first commentary was at NXT TakeOver. He was nervous but ready. He moved to Raw in 2016. He became the voice of WWE. He also called SmackDown matches.
He won the WWE 24/7 Title in 2019. That was a joke championship. He held it for just minutes. In 2025, he moved back to Raw permanently. He also calls NXT weekly.
He teaches a sports production class at Point Park University. He also hosts the “After the Bell” podcast. His career has many layers now.
Corey Graves Social Media Presence
Corey Graves is active on Instagram. His handle is @coreygraves. He has 1.5 million followers there. He posts family photos often. He also posts wrestling content.
He uses Twitter regularly. His handle is @WWEGraves. He has 1 million followers on Twitter. He tweets about WWE shows. He interacts with fans directly.
He is not on TikTok. He thinks he is too old for it. He prefers long-form content. His podcast gets 500,000 downloads monthly. Social media helps him promote his work.
He is very opinionated online. He blocks haters immediately. He uses social media carefully. He protects his family’s privacy.
Corey Graves Net Worth and Achievements
Corey Graves’ net worth is $5 million in 2026. His main income comes from his WWE salary, where he earns around $800,000 per year. He also earns from podcast revenue.
He earns from teaching at university. That adds $50,000 yearly. He does paid appearances too. His net worth grows steadily each year. He invests in real estate.
His biggest achievement is surviving retirement. He became a top commentator. He called WrestleMania 35, 36, 37. He won 1 NXT Tag Team Title. He won 1 WWE 24/7 Title.
He was voted Commentator of the Year in 2019 by PWI, ranking No. 1 on the list. He has earned over $4 million from WWE. His net worth is expected to reach $6 million soon.
He owns a house in Pittsburgh. He also owns a condo in Florida. He drives a black Cadillac Escalade. His financial future is very secure.
Corey Graves Legacy and Impact
Corey Graves changed wrestling commentary forever. He proved that retired wrestlers can adapt. He made heel commentary cool again. He inspired many injured wrestlers to try broadcasting.
His style is fearless and funny. He is not afraid to insult legends. He treats every match seriously. Young commentators copy his delivery and tone. He brought punk rock attitude to the desk.
He also helped normalize mental health talks. He speaks openly about concussion struggles. He shows that career changes are okay. His “After the Bell” podcast gave wrestlers a voice.
WWE will remember him as a broadcaster great. He will be in the Hall of Fame one day. His legacy is about reinvention. He did it with tattoos and attitude.
Corey Graves Nationality and Religion
Corey Graves is American by nationality. He was born in the USA. His parents are of Hungarian descent. He is proud of his Hungarian roots. He visited Hungary once.
He does not discuss religion publicly. He was raised Christian likely. He is not very religious now. He believes in hard work. He respects all faiths equally.
He celebrates Christmas with family. He does not go to church regularly. His nationality is very important to him. He represents Pittsburgh everywhere.
He says “yinz” like a true Pittsburgher. He loves his hometown deeply. His patriotism shows through city pride. He is American first and always.
Corey Graves Future Plans and Goals
Corey Graves wants to call WrestleMania 50. That is in 2034. He will be 50 years old then. He wants to become lead announcer for WWE. He wants Michael Cole’s seat one day.
He plans to keep teaching at university. He loves helping young students. He wants to write a book about his life. The book will cover wrestling and recovery.
He wants to open a podcast studio in Pittsburgh. He will call it “Graves Media” . He will produce wrestling content there. He also wants to train new commentators.
He will support Carmella’s projects fully. He will be a present dad always. He plans to wrestle one more match? Probably not due to health. His goals are realistic and smart.
Corey Graves Awards and Achievements
- 1x NXT Tag Team Champion (with Adrian Neville)
- 1x WWE 24/7 Champion
- PWI Commentator of the Year (2019)
- 2x IWC Super Indy Champion
- 1x IWC World Heavyweight Champion
- 1x NWA East Heavyweight Champion
- 1x AIW Absolute Champion
- 1x FCW Florida Tag Team Champion
- NWA North American Tag Team Champion
- Host of “WWE After the Bell” podcast
Corey Graves Business Ventures
He hosts the “After the Bell” podcast. It airs weekly on Spotify. It has 500,000 listeners. He earns $100,000 yearly from ads. He also sells “Graves” merchandise.
He teaches at Point Park University. He earns $50,000 per year there. He teaches Live Sports Production. He has taught 100+ students so far. He plans to expand that role.
He sells autographed photos online, charging $40 per photo. He also does Cameo videos, with each video costing $150. He records around 50 videos per month, which totals approximately $90,000 per year.
He invested in Pittsburgh real estate. He owns 3 rental properties. He plans to launch a clothing line in 2027. It will be called “Savior of Misbehavior” . His business empire is growing slowly.
Corey Graves Fashion and Style
His fashion style is punk rock. He wears leather jackets always. He loves skinny jeans. He wears band t-shirts daily. His favorite brand is Saint Laurent.
He owns 20 pairs of boots. He has 10 leather jackets. He wears silver rings on every finger. His tattoos are his main accessory. He does not wear suits or ties.
He spends $5,000 yearly on clothes. His style has not changed in 10 years. Fans recognize his tattooed look. He never wears bright colors. Only black, gray, and white.
Corey Graves looks like a rock star. His fashion matches his commentary persona. He is the coolest dressed on WWE TV.
Corey Graves Public Image
The public sees him as arrogant but smart. He plays a heel commentator well. Fans love to hate his voice. But they respect his wrestling knowledge. He is known for being honest.
He has no major scandals. He had a falling out with CM Punk. They repaired their friendship later. He apologized publicly for mistakes. He handled that like an adult.
He is not political at all. He stays neutral publicly. He focuses on wrestling only. Journalists like quoting him. He gives long, thoughtful answers.
His public image is very positive. He is a role model for recovery. He shows that retirement is not the end. It is just a new beginning.
Corey Graves Career Stats / Achievements
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Debut Year | 2000 |
| Retirement Year | 2014 |
| Total Matches | 800+ |
| NXT Tag Titles | 1 Time |
| WWE 24/7 Titles | 1 Time |
| Indy Titles Won | 12 |
| Last Match | WrestleMania Axxess (2014) |
| Reason for Retirement | Concussions |
| Years as Commentator | 11+ Years |
| Shows Called | Raw, NXT, SmackDown, PPVs |
Corey Graves Matches List (Wrestling Career)
- Graves vs. Mad Mike (NWA East, 2000)
- Graves vs. Brandon K (IWC, 2002)
- Sterling James Keenan vs. Homicide (2004)
- Keenan vs. Claudio Castagnoli (2005)
- Keenan vs. Chris Hero (IWA-MS, 2006)
- Graves & Neville vs. Wyatt Family (NXT, 2013)
- Graves & Neville vs. Ascension (NXT, 2013)
- Graves vs. Sami Zayn (NXT, 2013)
- Graves vs. Cesaro (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Adrian Neville (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Tyler Breeze (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Hideo Itami (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Finn Balor (Live Event, 2014)
- Graves vs. Baron Corbin (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Bull Dempsey (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Troy McClain (Axxess, 2014)
- Graves vs. Simon Gotch (NXT, 2014)
- Graves & Breeze vs. Itami & Balor (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. Mojo Rawley (NXT, 2014)
- Graves vs. CJ Parker (Final Match, 2014)
Corey Graves Hobbies
- Listening to punk rock music
- Getting new tattoos
- Playing video games
- Collecting sneakers
- Watching horror movies
- Reading comic books
- Riding motorcycles
- Cooking Pittsburgh food
- Traveling with Carmella
- Recording podcast episodes
Corey Graves Favorite Things
- Color: Black
- Food: Primanti Brothers sandwich
- Drink: Black coffee
- Band: Misfits
- Movie: The Crow (1994)
- Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
- Wrestler: CM Punk
- City: Pittsburgh
- Animal: Dog (Bulldog)
- Tattoo: His knuckle words
Corey Graves Interesting Facts
- He started training at age 14 illegally.
- He is a father of 5 children.
- His brother is wrestler Sam Adonis.
- He was a professional piercer before WWE.
- He has over 30 tattoos on his body.
- He once pierced his own tongue.
- He calls NXT and Raw in same week.
- He is missing WrestleMania 42? No, he will be there.
- His first WWE tryout was in 2006.
- He taught himself commentary by watching tapes.
FAQs
Q1: What is Corey Graves’ real name?
A: His real name is Matthew Polinsky. He uses Corey Graves for WWE.
Q2: Is Corey Graves married to Carmella?
A: Yes, he married Carmella in April 2022. They have 1 child together.
Q3: How old is Corey Graves in 2026?
A: He is 42 years old in 2026. He was born in 1984.
Q4: What is Corey Graves’ net worth?
A: His net worth is $5 million. He earns from WWE and podcasts.
Q5: Why did Corey Graves stop wrestling?
A: He stopped due to multiple concussions. WWE forced his retirement in 2014.
Conclusion
Corey Graves is a successful WWE commentator. At 42 years old, he has reinvented himself. His height is 6 feet 1 inch. His weight is 207 pounds. He comes from a wrestling family. His net worth is $5 million now.
He married Carmella in 2022. He has 5 children in total. His career includes tag team gold. He won the NXT Tag Team Titles. His legacy as a commentator is secure. Corey Graves will be remembered as a punk rock legend.
He continues to call matches in 2026. He also teaches university classes. His future is busy and bright. Corey Graves proves that retirement is just a word. You can always find a new path. His story inspires many former wrestlers. The best is still ahead for him.
