WWE legend Lilian Garcia made her triumphant return to Monday Night Raw this week hours after it was revealed Samantha Irvin had left the company.
The 58-year-old veteran ring announcer first worked for the wrestling giant for a decade until 2009 before another full-time run from 2011 to 2016, but now she is back introducing the superstars every week on the red brand.
‘Well, now you know. Oh my gosh, guys did that just happen? Did I just really go back to the WWE, after being gone for like 8 years? I mean, I’ve popped in every now and then but it’s been eight years since I’ve been a full-time announcer there,’ she said in an emotional Instagram video.
‘My goodness, when my music hit and I got introduced, the cheers and applause that you gave me tonight, thank you for that.
‘Because I was nervous, I could even tell I was nervous when I was announcing. But it is all worth, all worth taking a risk and a gamble and just coming back.
‘Just seeing everyone, like the WWE Superstars, my friends, the crew and I’m excited and I’m strapping on my seatbelt for that.’
Lilian heaped praise on Samantha, hailing her as an ‘extraordinary talent’ while wishing her ‘all the success’ in her music career, which appears to be the reason she’s stepped away.
The fan favourite announcer, who was beloved by viewers and co-stars alike, announced her run with the sports entertainment giant has come to an end after a stint that saw many hail her as one of the best of all time.
Samantha wrote in a statement: ‘WWE Universe, my time has come to an end as your Monday Night Raw Ring Announcer. I love you all tremendously and this does not mark the end of my art, I have a lifetime more to share.’
Her fiancé Ricochet left WWE this summer to join rivals All Elite Wrestling, but he has insisted she won’t be following him.
‘Haha, she’s not coming to AEW,’ he tweeted. ‘You can all rest easy.’
As well thanking ‘every WWE fan who accepted me’, Samantha also paid tribute to the incredible’ women’s locker room, and the wider crew and cameramen.
‘I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement, the laughs. You created such a wonderful, positive atmosphere for me. Love you all,’ she continued.
‘To the WWE Superstars, past and present: 1 have thanked you since 1989 and will continue to thank you for the rest of my days for entertaining us.
‘For raising the bar over and over again. For risking your bodies and finding new ways to keep us shocked and wanting more.
‘There is no form of entertainment like this and not just any entertainer can be a WWE Superstar. The respect I have for you is more than I can express.’
She added that they made it ‘so easy to pour emotion and excitement’ into their introductions each and every week.
Samantha has special thanks for Paul Heyman, Michael Hayes and Michael Cole for the lessons they’ve taught her which helped ‘invigorate’ her creativity.
She said: ‘Thank you Brian “Road Dogg” James, Scott Armstrong, Gabe Sapolsky, and George Carroll Jr. for giving me my first opportunities to rise to the occasion.
‘Thank you to HHH for trusting me and showcasing me on this platform. Thank you Mark Henry for giving me my big break. I hope I made you proud.’
‘Thank you to all the Coaches, Producers, Medical, Writers, Talent Relations, Makeup, Photography, Social Media, Digital, Travel Department, Catering, Merch, 2k Team, Referees, Security and Announce Team for everything you did to help me along the way.’
Samantha also gave a hint for the future, telling her fans to ‘stay tuned’ for whatever it is she has planned next.
She concluded: ‘To my fans, my entire career l’ve been waiting for you! We are meant to be and I can prove it. Stay tuned.’
WWE Raw airs Monday nights at 1am on TNT Sport 1.
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