Major name leaving RAW ahead of Netflix debut - Reports

If a recent report is to be believed, WWE could be planning a major on-screen shake-up ahead of RAW moving to Netflix on January 6th, 2025. As per rumors, Lilian Garcia will be moving to SmackDown going forward, while Alicia Taylor, who is currently the announcer on the blue brand will move to the red brand.

Garcia made her grand WWE return as a full-time announcer for RAW after the sudden departure of Samantha Irvin in October 2024. The 58-year-old has been a mainstay in the company since the early 2000s and is highly respected by fans. She quickly won over the viewers after replacing Irvin and has eased into the role.

However, PWInsider is reporting big changes happening to WWE's announcing team as it enters the Netflix era. It was noted that Lilian Garcia and Alicia Taylor, announcers for RAW and SmackDown, respectively, would be switching brands, with Garcia moving to Friday Nights, while Taylor takes over on Monday nights.

Vince Russo on Lilian Garcia's WWE RAW return

A couple of months back on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws, Vince Russo discussed Lilian Garcia's prospects in WWE after her return to the company. The wrestling veteran confessed that though he was a fan of Garca's work, he was concerned if she could keep up with the difficult schedule around the year:

"She [Lilian Garcia] is a pro, no doubt about it, bro. It's hard for me because when I saw her going back [to WWE] (...) I think she's 58 now. Bro, the road ain't easy when you get older man. It's just not easy. And that's the first thing I think about. But maybe if she's just doing RAW it won't be that bad. But the older you get, the tougher it is to be on the road."

Considering just how experienced Lilian Garcia is, there's no doubt she would shine on WWE SmackDown if the reports of the changes hold any truth.

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