History Heartwarming / MichaelCole

-->'''Cole:''' Damn it! ''I love professional wrestling!''

* At ''Wrestling/WrestleMania XL'', Wrestling/CodyRhodes -- after years and years of forging his story in and out of WWE, suffering immense setbacks and comebacks alike -- ''at long-freakin'-last'' [[EarnYourHappyEnding earning his victory of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]]. Cole's casting had already been acclaimed at the event, and his closing monologue towards Cody's victory became one of his most impassioned, emotional casts of his career, capped off with with the simple, but powerful sentiment: ''"I love professional wrestling!"''

* While interviewing Wrestling/SethRollins, Cole answers his question about his longevity by revealing he's been with the WWE for 26 years and has only missed two[[note]]later three[[/note]] shows. The crowd couldn't help but applaud him.

* His surprise and elation when Pat [=McAfee=] made an unexpected return to commentate on the 2023 Wrestling/RoyalRumble alongside Cole and Graves. Cole said subsequently he had no idea [=McAfee=] would be there.

* His surprise and elation when Pat McAfee made an unexpected return to commentate on the 2023 Wrestling/RoyalRumble alongside Cole and Graves. Cole said subsequently he had no idea McAfee would be there.

* On the December 30, 2022 episode of ''[=SmackDown=]'', Cole paid tribute to Don West, a former color commentator for [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] who'd passed away that same day. It's especially prominent since West had never worked for WWE.

** Subsequently, his demeanor on the following week's RAW. In the ensuing week Lawler had survived and recuperated enough to be sent back home to Memphis [[note]]He suffered the heart attack in Montreal[[/note]]. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] and Wrestling/JimRoss joined him on commentary, and (contrary to Cole's character for much of his announcer tenure) he and JR were on friendly terms throughout the show.
** Then when Lawler returned to [=RAW=] two months later, a brief look between Cole and him, followed by a sincere hug, solidifying Cole's HeelFaceTurn.
* In an odd way, Cole cheering Wrestling/DanielBryan on at his historic victory at Wrestlemania 30 can count as a way of making up for all the times he ragged on Bryan during his heel run.
** To cap it off, Cole is the one who recapped Bryan's career the night of his retirement. During the post-RAW celebration, while Bryan was hugging all the commentators goodbye, Cole is the one who hugged him the longest.

* On the December 30, 2022 episode of SmackDown, Cole paid tribute to Don West, a former color commentator for [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] who'd passed away that same day. It's especially prominent since West had never worked for WWE.

* After Wrestling/CoreyGraves was forced into an unfortunate early retirement by multiple concussions, it was Michael Cole who advocated for him to try out as a commentator for WWE after hearing about Graves' past experience as a sports radio announcer at a small Pittsburgh station. Graves has since become one of the most popular commentators in the company, vindicating Cole's belief in him.

* After Corey Graves was forced into an unfortunate early retirement by multiple concussions, it was Michael Cole who advocated for him to try out as a commentator for WWE after hearing about Graves' past experience as a sports radio announcer at a small Pittsburgh station. Graves has since become one of the most popular commentators in the company, vindicating Cole's belief in him.

-->'''Cole''': I love you, kid.

** Subsequently, his demeanor on the following week's RAW. In the ensuing week Lawler had survived and recuperated enough to be sent back home to Memphis [[note]]He suffered the heart attack in Montreal[[/note]]. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] and JimRoss joined him on commentary, and (contrary to Cole's character for much of his announcer tenure) he and JR were on friendly terms throughout the show.

* Overlapping with TearJerker, his reaction to JerryLawler's near-fatal heart attack on the set of the 9/10/2012 RAW. Cole looked close to tears himself as he explained what had happened - and, out of respect for Lawler, he remained silent on commentary for the rest of the show.

* In an odd way, Cole cheering DanielBryan on at his historic victory at Wrestlemania 30 can count as a way of making up for all the times he ragged on Bryan during his heel run.

** Subsequently, his demeanor on the following week's RAW. In the ensuing week Lawler had survived and recuperated enough to be sent back home to Memphis [[note]]He suffered the heart attack in Montreal[[/note]]. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." [[JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] and JimRoss joined him on commentary, and (contrary to Cole's character for much of his announcer tenure) he and JR were on friendly terms throughout the show.

* In an odd way, Cole cheering DanielBryan on at his historic victory at Wrestlemania 30 can count as a way of making up for all the times he ragged on Bryan during his heel run.

** Subsequently, his demeanor on the following week's RAW. In the ensuing week Lawler had survived and recuperated enough to be sent back home to Memphis [[note]]He suffered the heart attack in Montreal[[/note]]. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." [[JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] and JimRoss joined him on commentary, and (contrary to Cole's character for much of his announcer tenure) he and JR were on friendly terms throughout the show.

** Subsequently, his demeanor on the following week's RAW. In the ensuing week Lawler had survived and recuperated enough to be sent back home to Memphis [[hottip:note:He suffered the heart attack in Montreal]]. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." [[JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] and JimRoss joined him on commentary, and (contrary to Cole's character for much of his announcer tenure) he and JR were on friendly terms throughout the show.