Samantha Irvin's WWE departure earlier today shocked the wrestling world. She was at the top of her game as the primary ring announcer in the company while being one of the most popular figures backstage.
Among many friends Samantha made in WWE, Cathy Kelley is one of the most vocal about it on social media. The backstage interviewer had an emotional reaction to Irvin's goodbye statement, in which she thanked a host of people, including Triple H, Michael Cole, and Paul Heyman.
Kelley has since sent a public message to her. Following tonight's episode of RAW, she posted a photo of the two of them on her Instagram story. In the story, Cathy Kelley called Samantha Irvin her "wifey for life."
Check out a screengrab of her story:
Irvin has been replaced on Monday Night RAW by Lilian Garcia, who made her return to WWE tonight. The veteran ring announcer left the company in 2016 and has only made a handful of special appearances since then.
The show featured some huge moments, including Bron Breakker winning the Intercontinental Championship from Jey Uso after Jacob Fatu attacked The YEET Master. Meanwhile, The Wyatt Sicks returned and began their feud with The Final Testament.
Why did Samantha Irvin leave WWE?
The abrupt nature of Samantha Irvin's WWE exit caught everyone by surprise, causing some to wonder the reason behind it. The ring announcer wasn't released by the company, with multiple sources reporting that she had resigned on her own.
Sportskeeda Wrestling's Dr. Chris Featherstone has confirmed that Irvin quit WWE due to her schedule not working with her relationship with Ricochet. Amid speculation that she would join AEW to work alongside her fiance again, the former WWE Superstar himself confirmed that wouldn't be the case.
It remains to be seen what Samantha Irvin does next, whether or not she remains in the wrestling business. Either way, it seems like the future is bright for the former RAW ring announcer.