After Samantha Irvin announced on Monday afternoon that she was leaving WWE, former ring announcer Lilian Garcia returned to as the ring announcer for Raw.
Garcia posted a video to Instagram, thanking the fans for their support and did admit that she was nervous, all while furthering noting is excited to see where things go next. Garcia also commented on Irvin’s departure.
“Oh my gosh, guys. Did that just happen? Did I just really go back to the WWE after being gone for like eight years? I mean, I’ve popped in every now and then, but it’s been eight years since I was the full-time announcer there,” Garcia said. “And my goodness, when my music hit and I got introduced, the cheers and the applause and the roar that you gave me tonight — thank you. Thank you for that, because I was nervous. I was so nervous. I could even tell when I started announcing that I was nervous, but it is all worth it. It’s all worth taking a risk and a gamble and just being excited and just coming back. Just seeing everybody, like between also the WWE Superstars, my friends, and reuniting with the crew — I don’t know where this is all going, but I’m excited and I am strapping on my seatbelt for that…But Sam, I do want to tell you, I think you’re an extraordinary talent. You’re unbelievable. And I know it could not have been easy to walk away from here, but I wish you all the success in your music career,” she said. “I know you’re going to kill it. You’re going to kill it. Ok, but WWE Universe, I look forward to seeing you. I look forward to signing your autographs and to high-fiving and all of that. All right, I love you. I’m back. I’m back home.”
Garcia was the WWE Raw ring announcer from 1999 to 2009. After she left, she perused a music career. She then made her return to WWE in 2011 and then left again in 2016. Garcia had made some occasional appearances prior to her return on Monday.
After her second departure from WWE, Garcia did ring announcing for the MMA promotion – Professional Fighters League and hosted a podcast on YouTube called Chasing Glory which featured interviews with WWE talent.
Source: F4WOnline