Samantha Irvin has confirmed her departure from WWE after three years with the company.
The 35-year-old ring announcer, who was beloved by fans and the wrestlers she introduced each week on Monday Night Raw, 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.
Her replacement is yet to be revealed, but it’s been reported that veteran announcer Lilian Garcia is backstage at tonight’s show.
She 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.’
Samantha’s 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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