WWE’s Corey Graves confirms he’s cleared to compete, says wrestling isn’t an immediate goal

While speaking with TMZ Sports, WWE commentator Corey Graves confirmed that he’s been medically cleared for in-ring action.

It was reported last month that Graves had been cleared by WWE doctors and was no longer on WWE’s no-contact list. Graves told TMZ Sports that wrestling again has crossed his mind, but it’s not an immediate goal of his.

“It’s crossed my mind [getting back in the ring]. I went and spent some time with doctors in the middle of last year. I kinda got the itch. I think this is one of the first times I’m saying this publicly. I have been medically cleared to compete,” Graves said.

“It’s not an immediate goal of mine, it was just something that I needed to know for my own sanity. My journey in the ring got cut short and it’s kind of eaten at me for years, always wondering what if, what if there’s a chance, what if there’s an opportunity … so I went and did the necessary steps and it turns out that I’m a little more okay than I thought I was. Never say never. It’s not an immediate goal, but you can’t ever take the wrestler out of my heart.”

Graves, who is a former NXT Tag Team Champion, had to step away from the ring in 2014 due to concussion issues. After retiring from in-ring competition, he joined the NXT commentary team.

Before signing with WWE, Graves wrestled as Sterling James Keenan on the indies.

Graves currently works as a color commentator for Raw. A reality show starring Graves (real name Matthew Polinsky) and his fiancee Carmella (Leah Van Dale) is coming to WWE’s YouTube channel next Monday. The couple announced their engagement last October.