Tag: lilian garcia

WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia marries former wrestler

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Lilian Garcia kicked off WrestleMania week by getting married to Patrick Ellrich on April 12. Garcia announced their engagement in November last year. Initially she did not reveal his identity. 

Ellrich is a former pro wrestler who competed in NWA Anarchy. He was Xavier Woods’ former tag team partner. Garcia told The Takedown on SI that originally they planned a bigger wedding with Trish Stratus and Candice Michelle flying in as guests. However, the couple felt it was becoming overwhelming and decided to elope instead.

“Yeah, we were gonna do a bigger wedding with more friends, Garcia said. “Trish Stratus was ready to fly in. Candice Michelle, like yeah, there were some people that were ready to fly in. But as we were preparing, it started getting very overwhelming. So, the joy started depleting and the stress of it started piling on.

Garcia felt the intimate ceremony was perfect and peaceful. 

“We could not have orchestrated this any better. During the ceremony, we were overlooking a bridge and you could hear the water flowing and the birds chirping. It was so peaceful. The whole vibe was peaceful.”

After their wedding, the couple plan to attend WrestleMania for which Ellrich cannot contain his excitement. 

“I can’t hide how I am absolutely over the moon excited I am to be going to WrestleMania. “In Vegas and a couple days after we get married? With Lillian Garcia? I’m so excited. I love the lineup of matches. I’m pumped about getting to go to the Hall of Fame as well. Getting to see what she’s (Lilian) doing with Trish that week and then getting to just run around WWE World for a few days as well? I can’t hide my excitement.”

“Not a lot of people know that she and I traveled together her entire career. She was there seven years straight, She and I rode together for that whole time. We have stories. We have many stories. So we’re going to share some of those stories and then answer the Q and A’s on Thursday night. I’m supposed to be doing something at WWE World Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Friday night is Hall of Fame”

Garcia met Ellrich at his Proper Hop Taphouse after a hike on a Bumble date she figured out would never work out. After conversing with Ellrich she learned he owned the place and was a former wrestler which she found to be quite the coincidence. 

Garcia had two runs with WWE within 1999 to 2019. She returned in 2024 and makes sporadic appearances for key events. She served as a special announcer for John Cena’s last match in December 2025. 

Daily Update: Sgt. Slaughter, Lilian Garcia, Ricky Saints

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Preview and business notes on AEW Revolution
  • Updates on WrestleMania, how we got to Rhodes vs. Orton and feuds that are starting
  • A look at the UFC White House show and how we got here
  • Full UFC 326 coverage including the most viewers of a TV UFC show since Paige Van Zant vs. Michelle Waterson
  • A look at the new AEW streaming service
  • NXT Vengeance Day coverage and poll results
  • Odds on upcoming pro wrestling matches
  • Logan Paul’s grandstand challenge to football players gets several takers, including some big names, but nothing can transpire and how it ended
  • Full coverage of the 16 Carat Gold tournament in German featuring many of the best independent wrestlers in the world
  • A complete look at the TV ratings from all the pro wrestling shows over the past week, including breakdowns in various categories, placings, how Raw did on Netflix, competition and more
  • CMLL’s lineup for its No. 2 show of the year next week
  • Full rundown of the CMLL all women’s show onFriday
  • Konnan news
  • Behnid the Nino Hamburguesa firing
  • Rey de Reyes notes
  • Stardom Cinderella tournament news
  • New Japan Cup and anniversary show news
  • Pro wrestler and MMA star looks back at a fixed fight and more comments including the Japanese attempt to get a major WWE star to job in an MMA match to theri guy
  • Notes on a new promotion debuting
  • Attendance updates for future WWE, AEW, TNA and other shows including Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
  • Giant weekend in Europe including the two big Eve shows and the controversy
  • TNA future direction
  • Notes from the Tony Khan media call
  • Putting recent Collision numbers into perspective
  • How Zuffa boxing’s biggest show did
  • Rousey vs. Carano and Rousey’s promotional tactics as well as responses from other fighters
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Jake Paul’s women’s boxing group makes ESPN deal
  • Changes to the WWE writing team
  • ESPN reporting side does exactly what they said they wouldn’t do regarding pro wrestling
  • More vacant WWE titles

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

Booker T WWE NXT Appreciation Night
WWE celebrates Booker T on NXT in Houston. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame steel cage match for the Women’s North American Championship that headlined NXT last night.
  • A video package celebrating Booker T aired during the NXT episode, which took place in Houston and was Booker T Appreciation Night. 
  • Ricky Saints spoke with KRON 4 News about his acting ambitions:
    • It’s so taboo to talk about like, ‘Oh, he’s a wrestler and he’s talking about wanting to go from wrestling to acting.’ Yes, for sure, my body won’t be able to do this forever. So, for those who hate hearing it, yes, I want to get into acting. Who cares? I loved acting. I loved [CW’s] Wild Cards. I loved the whole experience. I thought it was really good, and it really gave me a sense of something that I’m able to do after this. [When] this life is over, and so, you know, the hope is more of that to come. And the network, they love me. They really did. They enjoyed me. They cherished me. All my fans. They said, ‘well, Ricky, you did great. You were a natural.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, can’t help it.’
    • I’ve always said I think I could play a really, really good Gambit [from X-Men]. I just need to learn how to throw cards and, you know, shuffle a deck. But, yeah, that’s like the top of the list. If I can get Gambit, it’s a wrap or Blade. Imagine me as Blade. I think I look good in leather.”
  • Sgt. Slaughter told Going Ringside that he was the only wrestler to go to Iron Sheik’s funeral when Sheik passed away in 2023:
    • In 2023, he passed. And I was the only wrestler at his funeral, which I thought was pretty horrendous, that I was the only wrestler to go to his funeral. And he lived in Atlanta where all the wrestlers lived, so I thought that was kind of a slap in the face. [Sheik did] so much not only for wrestlers but for the professional wrestling business.
  • Lilian Garcia was a guest on Busted Open Radio today. She noted that she’ll be doing some ring announcing at WWE’s summer 2026 European tour and will be in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42 weekend:
    • To be able to get called back, to come back and still have a role. You know, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Worlds Collide. I’ll be doing some of the Europe tour now, they just let me know. And some things here at WrestleMania. It’s just always fun. It’s just in my blood.
  • When asked how WWE has changed across her different stints with the company, Garcia pointed to how much the Wellness Policy has cleaned up things in the locker room:
    • I just listened to the podcast with Chris Masters and Chris Van Vliet actually, and he was talking about some of the things that were happening with the Wellness Policy and how things have changed now and the partying that was before and the Wellness Policy, how it cleaned up a lot. And so it changed.
    • I think for me, that was really great to see too. Obviously, I think for all of us. You know, Tommy [Dreamer], you and I have experienced the loss of so many wrestlers dying way too young. When I started counting it one day, I’m like, ‘I’ve lost my fingers. All my fingers are gone. All my toes are gone. It’s crazy.’ And so I think that’s the biggest thing, that the wellness is better in there. And you’re not expected to be this monster of a wrestler to be able to be effective.
  • Liv Morgan will be appearing at a live podcast taping for Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” during the Wednesday of WrestleMania week.
  • Complex’s Graps podcast interviewed Jade Cargill.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be featured in the next season of the video game Fortnite.
  • For a 3:16 Day video, Danhausen tried to trick wrestlers into thinking he was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Other Wrestling

  • In an interview with High Times, Marina Shafir opened up about her relationship with husband Roderick Strong:
    • He’s such an amazing partner. I love that I can speak my love language with my husband while training together. That’s a different level of trust. He understands who I am, and I understand who he is.
    • There’s so much going on outside of my bubble that I can’t control…  It’s a lot. So I take it one week at a time.
    • We really try hard to carve out time for our son, too. Soccer practice, going to the farmers market, and just making time for family.
  • MVP appeared on Your Entertainment Escape in Fresno ahead of tonight’s Dynamite.
  • Denise Salcedo uploaded video of her live show with Willow Nightingale from Revolution weekend.
  • AJPW Tag Team Champions Titans of Calamity (Ren Ayabe & Tolos) will compete in the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup in Forney, Texas on April 4.
  • During an Instagram Q&A, Maki Itoh was asked what her biggest career goal is right now: “Go to the Tokyo Dome with STARDOM. And suddenly show up in AEW again..make the crowd want me, and leave for Japan right away lol”

Lilian Garcia thanks John Cena: ‘You truly are the GOAT’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Lilian Garcia is reflecting on John Cena’s final match.

On social media, the long-time WWE ring announcer said announcing Cena’s last match on Saturday was an honor, thanking him for his contributions.

“What an honor @JohnCena to not only have announced your final match last night but your matches throughout your career! You truly are the GOAT. Thank you for the memories & your dedication,” Garcia wrote.

Prior to Saturday, Garcia said she was nervous about being part of Cena’s final farewell, but excited at the same time.

“Am I nervous about this? Of course, you get nervous,” she told TV Insider at the time. “I always say nerves are a good thing because it means you care. Nerves and excitement actually create the same energy. It’s about turning those nerves into excitement. I’m very excited. I’m going to do everything I can to put everything into that announcement. Just really solidify the fact that he is the ‘Greatest of All Time.’ He is an icon. I’ve been amazed at everything he has been able to accomplish and his legacy.”

Cena wrestled Gunther in his last-ever wrestling match, coming up short after submitting to The Ring General’s sleeper hold. After the match, the entire WWE locker room came out and applauded Cena as a video played highlighting his career. After it was over, he made his exit, pausing at the stage to make one final salute to the audience before heading to the back.

Garcia also performed the United States National Anthem before the start of Saturday’s show in Washington, D.C..

Lilian Garcia ‘excited’ and ‘nervous’ for role in John Cena’s last WWE match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lilian Garcia is hoping to make John Cena’s final ring introduction a special one for fans and Cena himself.

With Cena’s retirement match taking place on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Garcia is tasked with doing the introduction. She told TV Insider that she’s both excited and nervous for the opportunity. Her goal is to properly celebrate Cena as the greatest of all time.

“For sure,” Garcia responded when asked if she’s nervous for the moment. “It has been exciting. Am I nervous about this? Of course, you get nervous. I always say nerves are a good thing because it means you care. Nerves and excitement actually create the same energy. It’s about turning those nerves into excitement. I’m very excited. I’m going to do everything I can to put everything into that announcement. Just really solidify the fact that he is the ‘Greatest of All Time.’ He is an icon. I’ve been amazed at everything he has been able to accomplish and his legacy.”

Garcia said this is a full-circle moment for her since she remembers announcing Cena at a live event back in the day when he was “The Prototype.” Throughout his run, Garcia remembers Cena as someone who has been very focused on delivering what he has to do.

Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. is hosting Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend (December 13). It will be Cena vs. Gunther at the show, with Gunther having earned the spot through winning WWE’s Last Time is now Tournament.

Garcia signed a new two-year contract with WWE a couple of months back. Along with her SNME role, Garcia has done ring announcing for WWE-AAA specials.

“I get to do Saturday Night’s Main Event and got to do Worlds Collide with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and do that in Spanish. It was new for me. I never announced in Spanish,” she told TV Insider. “Even when we did shows in Mexico, I’d host the show in Spanish. So you would hear me do all the in between and talk to the crowd. But when it came to me saying, ‘The following contest is scheduled for one fall…’ That was always done in English.

“Now this whole show is done in Spanish. I had to learn all these new wrestling terms in Spanish. It has been a new challenge. Watching the Mexican wrestlers, wow. And you never know what’s to come with WWE and what’s new and added. It’s so great to be part of the fold.”

SNME is streaming live on Peacock this Saturday with a start time of 8 p.m. Eastern.

WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia announces engagement

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia began Monday morning by sharing some big news with her followers on social media.

During an Instagram live session, Garcia revealed that she is now engaged. She has not disclosed much information about her partner but said he is someone who understands the industry because he was once a wrestler. Garcia said they do not have a timeframe yet for when their wedding is going to take place.

Before this, Garcia was single for four years after the end of her marriage to ex-husband Christopher Jozeph. That time between relationships was a blessing for Garcia, who believes it gave her time to heal and learn what she wants in a relationship.

Garcia, whose history with WWE dates back to the late 1990s, is currently on her third stint with the company. She has a part-time role ring announcing on Saturday Night’s Main Event and other select WWE shows. Garcia recently signed a new two-year contract to continue her time with WWE.

Outside of WWE, Garcia uses her singing talents in her role serving as the worship leader at a church.

WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event episode will take place on December 13 and will feature John Cena’s last match. Garcia said during today’s Q&A that, barring any surprises, she believes she’ll be the ring announcer for that bout. It would be an “absolute honor” for her to do Cena’s final introduction, with Garcia noting that she remembers announcing him as “The Prototype” at a live event before his WWE TV career began.

A tournament is set to kick off on November 10 to determine the opponent for Cena’s last match.

Lilian Garcia announces new WWE contract

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ring announcer Lilian Garcia is continuing in her WWE role for at least another couple years.

Garcia revealed today that she has re-signed with WWE for two more years. Currently on her third stint with the company, Garcia’s history in WWE dates back to 1999. She does not work full-time on Raw or SmackDown at the moment, but she is the ring announcer for both Saturday Night’s Main Event and WWE/AAA Worlds Collide.

Today (October 21) marks one year since Garcia returned to WWE after ring announcer Samantha Irvin left the promotion. Garcia celebrated the anniversary by announcing her new deal.

“Exactly 1 year ago today, I returned to my home – the @wwe,” Garcia posted on Instagram. “What an incredible year it has been being able to announce shows on Raw, Smackdown, NXT, Saturday Nights Main Event & Worlds Collide! In fact, being able to continue to also sing and now announce in Spanish has been such an added treat!!”

Garcia thanked the fans for their support — including everyone who showed her love when she filled in for Alicia Taylor on Raw last night.

“This post is to all of you who have been with me from the beginning and continue to support me! The love you gave me last night on Raw filled my soul!,” she wrote.

“Which is why I am so excited to announce that just yesterday, I signed on for another TWO YEARS with WWE!!!! When I say ‘I’ll Be Ur Girl Til The End Of The World’ I mean it! Love you all and can’t wait to continue riding this journey with you!”

The next WWE assignment for Garcia is Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 1. Streaming live on Peacock, the show will feature CM Punk vs. Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.

Fill-in ring announcer set for WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Lilian Garcia is filling in again.

Announcer Alicia Taylor announced on Sunday that Garcia will be filling in for her ahead of Monday’s Raw in Evansville, Indiana.

“Tagging in @LilianGarcia Thanks for holding down #RAW tomorrow!” Taylor wrote on social media. She later confirmed that she was only taking the night off and will be back.

https://twitter.com/AliciaTaylorWWE/status/1969845238467383549?

A longtime announcer for WWE, Garcia first made her return in the fall of 2024 after Samantha Irvin left the company, first announcing on Raw then later SmackDown before finishing up in March. She has continued to announce at special events, such as the recent Worlds Collide shows and Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Garcia was originally scheduled to be the ring announcer for WWE’s Evolution event back in July. However, she had to pull out at the last minute due to a respiratory infection flare-up. Taylor ended up being the ring announcer for the night.

First signing with WWE in 1999, Garcia was the voice of Raw through 2010, then came back to WWE for another stint the following year before leaving again in 2019.

Lilian Garcia off WWE Evolution due to respiratory infection flare-up

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Lilian Garcia is out of Evolution.

Shortly before the show started on Sunday, the longtime WWE ring announcer posted on social media that due to a lingering respiratory infection, she would be unable to perform her duties, and Alicia Taylor will instead be Evolution’s ring announcer.

“I was so excited to be announcing @wwe Saturday Nights Main Event and @wwe Evolution this weekend but because of lingering effects of a respiratory infection I got some weeks ago, I was only able to announce SNME last night before my voice started wigging out,” she wrote. “Grateful to my announce sista @aliciataylorwwe for stepping up to announce Evolution tonight and so excited to celebrate all the women involved, as all the women that have paved the way to this moment!”

Garcia has been back ring announcing for WWE since last year, briefly returning after Samantha Irvin announced her departure. She finished her latest run as the ring announcer for SmackDown in March, but returned for the joint AAA/WWE Worlds Collide event that took place in June.

Lilian Garcia set for WWE Evolution ring announcing role

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Like at the inaugural event seven years ago, Lilian Garcia will have a role handling ring announcing duties for Evolution 2.

Garcia made an Instagram post today revealing that she’ll be a ring announcer for WWE Evolution this Sunday night. She’ll also be the ring announcer for Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend. Both shows are being held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“THIS IS IT!!! @WWE EVOLUTION happening this Sunday!!! I was fortunate enough to be the announcer the 1st ever Evolution so now to be able to announce the 2nd one as well and continue to celebrate the progression of where this industry has evolved to along side these incredible women is such an honor!!!,” Garcia wrote alongside a clip of her working out in the gym.

“It all starts with hard work! …for ALL of us!! We dedicate hours to our craft. It’s not easy but it’s definitely worth it!!”

Garcia no longer has a full-time position on either Raw or SmackDown but is still with WWE as the ring announcer for Saturday Night’s Main Event, along with doing ring announcing for other select events like Worlds Collide and Evolution.

Here is everything that’s been announced for Evolution:

WWE Evolution 2025 (Sunday, July 13) —

  • Women’s World Champion IYO SKY defends against Rhea Ripley
  • WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Trish Stratus
  • NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Jordynne Grace
  • Triple threat match: Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria
  • Four-way match: Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Sol Ruca & Zaria
  • No holds barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
  • Battle royal for a women’s title shot at Clash in Paris (Nikki Bella, Stephanie Vaquer, Natalya, Maxxine Dupri, Nia Jax, Ivy Nile confirmed entrants)

Lilian Garcia set for WWE Worlds Collide ring announcing role

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lilian Garcia will have a role on WWE’s Worlds Collide broadcast this weekend.

In an Instagram post today, Garcia revealed that she’ll be the ring announcer for Saturday’s Worlds Collide event. The show is taking place at the KIA Forum in Inglewood, California in the afternoon and will air on WWE’s YouTube channel for free starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

Garcia, who is bilingual, posted the announcement in Spanish and said she’s honored to be part of this historic event. The show will feature wrestlers from WWE, NXT, and Lucha Libre AAA. One of the two biggest promotions in Mexico, AAA is in the process of being acquired by WWE with the deal expected to officially be finalized in the third quarter of this year.

Garcia is no longer doing weekly ring announcing for Raw or SmackDown, but she’s still with WWE in a role that includes being the ring announcer for Saturday Night’s Main Event and working with WWE on other projects.

Worlds Collide is happening on the same day as WWE’s Money in the Bank PLE. After Worlds Collide ends, MITB will be held at the neighboring Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

Here is the announced Worlds Collide card:

WWE-AAA Worlds Collide (Saturday, June 7) —

  • AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo defends against Chad Gable
  • Fatal four-way match: NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against Je’Von Evans, Rey Fenix, and Laredo Kid
  • Stephanie Vaquer & Lola Vice vs. Chik Tormenta & Dalys
  • Santos Escobar, Angel & Berto vs. Psycho Clown, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Pagano
  • Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro & Lince Dorado vs. Aero Star, Octagon Jr. & Mr. Iguana

Lilian Garcia on new WWE role: ‘I love it’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lilian Garcia loves being back with WWE, even if she’s no longer working as a full-time ring announcer on weekly television.

Garcia made her return to WWE in October 2024 after Samantha Irvin departed the company. Her return has included stints on both Raw and SmackDown, but Garcia revealed earlier this month that her role has changed and she’ll no longer be ring announcing weekly. Instead, she’ll be the ring announcer for Saturday Night’s Main Event, singing at special events, and working with WWE on other new projects.

While appearing on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Garcia discussed how much being back with WWE means to her. Before she got the call to return, she only had one month of income left and didn’t know what her next move would be. Garcia thought her time in wrestling had come to an end but is now back home in WWE.

“I knew, when they offered it to me to come back, they did tell me, ‘Hey, this isn’t like for permanent announcing for Raw or SmackDown. We just really need you right now. You know, this is a new era. We want to be completely upfront with you.’ Which I really appreciated,” Garcia said. “And I said, ‘Look, whatever you guys need.’ Like, I never thought I was going to be back. And whatever you need. I love this business, I love the people I work with. And so I’m like, I’m excited.

“So when they brought me back, I knew that Raw was going to be until the changeover in January 6 for Netflix, that I knew. And they were like, ‘Ok, now we’re going to put you on SmackDown, but we don’t know how long.’ And every week that went by they were like, ‘I’m so sorry we need you another week, is that ok?’ And I’m like, ‘Of course it is. It’s fine. Do whatever you want. I am loving this, totally loving this.’ But what was so beautiful that has evolved from it is that even though I’m not going to be the full-time SmackDown announcer anymore, they said, ‘You know what, we love having you part of this. Like, we want to extend, we want you to do Saturday Night’s Main Event. We think you’re a perfect fit for that.’ And I love it.”

In addition to working on Saturday Night’s Main Event, Garcia said WWE has mentioned they have other new shows in development that she could potentially be part of.

“Getting to be part of that — and then they’re like, ‘Look, we’ve got a lot of other shows that we know that we, you know, we’re in talks with right now on what we can do.’ So I’m like, ‘Whatever you guys need.’ Again, whatever you need,” she said. “Just, ‘Put me in, coach.’ I’m here.”

This is Garcia’s third run with WWE. Her prior stint ended in 2016 when she left to care for her father when he was dying. After the loss of both of her parents, Garcia feels like WWE truly is family.

“Amazing,” Garcia said about being back with the company. “The fans have been incredible — and just the love from that, to the people I’m working with, to the new talent that’s there, the girls in the locker room, absolutely incredible. And they all reached out to me, or they’re like, ‘We’re going to miss you on a weekly basis.’ They know I’m not gone-gone, but they’re like, ‘We’re going to miss you on a weekly basis.’ Working back with Triple H and seeing all of these people that I worked with for so many years, all the agents now that are the producers that are there. It’s my family. I don’t have my parents anymore, I didn’t have kids, and I’m not in a relationship, I’m in Atlanta by myself. So it is my family, and that’s what’s so beautiful, and the fact that they said, ‘Look, we really want to work this out to keep you in some capacity here.’ Man, that’s music to my ears and just to my heart.”

The next episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place in Tampa, Florida on May 24. Airing as a quarterly special, SNME is simulcast live on both NBC and Peacock.

Lilian Garcia filling in for Alicia Taylor on WWE Raw this week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though she’s usually on SmackDown, ring announcer Lilian Garcia is in Charlotte, North Carolina for WWE Raw tonight.

Garcia made a post on Instagram today informing everyone that she is filling in for Alicia Taylor as the ring announcer for tonight’s Raw. The episode is taking place from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte and is the second-to-last Raw before Elimination Chamber.

“Okay, so if you guys have been following my [Instagram] stories then you know I’m at the airport for a reason. I’m actually heading to Monday Night Raw,” Garcia announced. “I am going to be subbing in for Alicia tonight.”

Using the opportunity to deliver a motivational message to her followers, Garcia stressed the importance of going with the flow, always being prepared, and having fun with whatever life throws at you.

Garcia has been back with WWE since Samantha Irvin departed her ring announcing role in October 2024. Starting in January, Garcia moved to SmackDown and Taylor moved to Raw. Taylor posted a message on her Instagram stories thanking Garcia for filling in tonight.

Here is the announced lineup for tonight’s show:

  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Roxanne Perez vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Women’s Intercontinental title number one contender’s match: Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile
  • Penta vs. Pete Dunne
  • AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Naomi appear
  • Sami Zayn appears

Report: WWE ring announcers changing brands

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It looks like Alicia Taylor will be WWE Raw’s ring announcer for the show’s new era.

Raw debuts on Netflix with its premiere episode taking place from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California next Monday (January 6). PWInsider reports that Taylor — who had been the SmackDown ring announcer — will be moving to Raw starting with the Netflix premiere. The report says Lilian Garcia will be the SmackDown ring announcer this Friday night and will presumably remain in that role going forward.

Returning home to WWE, Garcia took over the ring announcing duties on Raw in October following Samantha Irvin’s departure from the company. Garcia previously had stints with WWE from 1999-2009 and 2011-2016, along with making occasional appearances after that.

Taylor (real name Alicia Warrington) joined WWE as an NXT ring announcer in 2018 and was called up to SmackDown in May 2024. She is an accomplished drummer/musician in addition to the work she does for WWE.

SmackDown moves to three hours beginning with this Friday’s episode from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lilian Garcia addresses WWE return: ‘I’m back home’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lilian Garcia is excited to be back home for another stint with WWE.

Following Samantha Irvin’s departure from the company, Garcia returned to WWE last night as the new ring announcer for Raw. It’s a very familiar role for Garcia, who started her career in WWE more than two decades ago. She was first with the promotion from 1999-2009, returned from 2011-2016, and has come back for occasional appearances since then.

Garcia took to Instagram overnight to thank the fans for supporting her. She admitted to being nervous but is excited to see where things go from here.

“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.”

Garcia also expressed her support for Irvin and wished her well in her post-WWE career.

“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.”

After leaving WWE in 2016, Garcia did MMA ring announcing for the PFL (Professional Fighters League) and hosted a podcast called Chasing Glory where she interviewed WWE talent.

Lilian Garcia returns to ring announcing on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Lilian Garcia is back on Raw.

Prior to the opening match on Monday, Joe Tessitore mentioned the news that Samantha Irvin was moving on from WWE. He then welcomed Garcia, who introduced the first match between The New Day and The Authors of Pain.

Garcia has been a longtime ring announcer for WWE, starting back in the fall of 1999. After briefly leaving in 2009, she returned in 2012 and continued until 2016, when she left the company once again. Earlier this year, she made a surprise appearance on an episode of Raw in South Carolina, sharing a moment with Irvin before guest announcing a match between Kofi Kingston and Gunther.

Irvin announced earlier on Monday that she was moving on from WWE, thanking multiple people including the likes of Triple H, Road Dogg, and Mark Henry. While she didn’t reveal where she would be going, she told fans to ‘stay tuned’. Ricochet, Irvin’s fiance, wrote on social media that she wasn’t headed to AEW.