'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The first episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown in 2025 marked an essential chapter, as fans saw some major changes ahead of RAW’s debut on Netflix. Tiffany Stratton captured the Women's Championship, and Michael Cole welcomed Lilian Garcia back to the blue brand after nearly seven and a half years.
Lilian Garcia re-signed with the company in October 2024 and replaced Samantha Irvin as the voice of Monday Night RAW after the 35-year-old ring announcer shockingly announced her departure from the Stamford-based promotion.
After being the voice of the red brand for a while, Lilian Garcia returned on the January 3 episode of Friday Night SmackDown to be the official voice of the show. Garcia has penned an emotional post about her blue brand homecoming on her official Instagram account.
Trending
“Oh hello SmackDown!! Nice to see you again! Never know where I may pop up! What a night!!” wrote Garcia.
WWE veteran thanked fans after her return last year
Lilian Garcia was a prominent name back in WWE. She worked for the company as a ring announcer and a full-time employee from 1999 to 2009 and between 2011 and 2019. She returned on the October 21 edition of the red brand after Samantha Irvin departed from the Stamford-based promotion.
Upon her return, Garcia got a massive pop from her fans. Following her arrival, she posted a heartwarming video expressing her reaction to WWE Universe welcoming her with open arms and giving her an amazing response that she had never expected.
"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 eight years? I mean, I’ve popped in every now and then, but it’s been eight years since I was a full-time announcer there. My goodness, when my music hit and I got introduced, the cheers and applause that you gave me tonight, thank you for that," Garcia said. [H/T SEScoops]
These major changes are historic for Friday Night SmackDown. It will be interesting to see what plans Triple H-led creatives have for the blue brand in the coming months.
