Heartwarming / Michael Cole

• Overlapping with Tear Jerker, his reaction to Jerry Lawler'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.
  • 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. Cole appeared at the intro of RAW, all smiles and wearing a Graphic T-Shirt that simply said, "Long Live The King." JBL and Jim Ross 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 Heel–Face Turn.
• In an odd way, Cole cheering Daniel Bryan on at his historic victory at WrestleMania XXX 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.
  Cole: I love you, kid.
• 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.
• On the December 30, 2022 episode of SmackDown, Cole paid tribute to Don West, a former color commentator for TNA who'd passed away that same day. It's especially prominent since West had never worked for WWE.
• His surprise and elation when Pat McAfee made an unexpected return to commentate on the 2023 Royal Rumble alongside Cole and Graves. Cole said subsequently he had no idea McAfee would be there.
• While interviewing Seth Rollins, 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 shows. The crowd couldn't help but applaud him.
• At WrestleMania XL, Cody Rhodes — after years and years of forging his story in and out of WWE, suffering immense setbacks and comebacks alike — at long-freakin'-last 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:
  Cole: Damn it! I love professional wrestling!

---