In wrestling, having a captivating voice is as crucial as one’s performance in the ring. Just one word can make the audience react, cheering enthusiastically in anticipation. The greats in the industry have always known how to engage the crowd on the microphone.

This task is notably more challenging for ring announcers. Merely introducing names can become monotonous. Pioneers like Howard Finkel and Lilian Garcia are celebrated legends who defined this role and are regarded as the ultimate standards in microphone mastery. Standing out in this field requires exceptional skill.

Samantha Irvin has emerged as the standout star of this generation.

Her journey to fame was quite unexpected.

Irvin had not set out to be a WWE ring announcer. In fact, she had no prior experience in announcing. Instead, she was focused on her music career and had aspirations of becoming a wrestler. However, in 2021, she was given the opportunity to take the mic, leading to an unexpected transformation in the wrestling world.

“When I was told I would be ring announcing, I thought, ‘OK, I’m going to put my all into this,’” she told YSL News Sports.

And put her all into it, she did. Irvin began at the developmental level and quickly made her way to prominent shows like “Friday Night SmackDown” and “Monday Night Raw,” captivating audiences and becoming a favorite. Whether she was announcing Chelsea Green with flair, delivering powerful introductions for Roman Reigns and The Bloodline, or elevating the excitement of title matches, Irvin gained acclaim and drew cheers from fans eager to hear her voice.

As her popularity soared, she delivered an incredible performance at WrestleMania 40, announcing on both nights to widespread acclaim, even receiving compliments from the renowned Michael Buffer. This performance solidified her status among the best in the field.

However, just six months later, she left WWE, surprising fans who had grown attached to her unique style. While it may have seemed abrupt, she deemed it necessary. Now, nearly four months after her departure, she is launching her next phase as Samantha The Bomb. Back to her musical roots, she hopes the fans who loved her in WWE will follow her as she ventures into singing.

Because she’s just beginning to showcase her true abilities.

“I feel creatively liberated right now,” Samantha stated. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”

A memorable WrestleMania performance

Throughout her time in WWE, Samantha wished to experience the unpredictability of being a fan, wanting to feel the excitement just like everyone else. Growing up as a wrestling enthusiast, she wanted to preserve that genuine thrill of learning outcomes in real-time.

“You can’t erase over 30 years of fandom,” she shared.

That’s why her heartfelt reaction to Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 resonated deeply. While announcing his victory, she struggled to hold back tears, a moment that became an emotional highlight online.

Interestingly, her tears began to flow before the match even started. The familiar gong of The Undertaker’s entrance music, which electrified the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, triggered her emotional response. At that moment, she was not just Samantha Irvin; she was the little girl who attended WrestleMania 14 and fell in love with wrestling. Cody’s victory was the icing on the cake.

“I felt terrible that I couldn’t get the announcement out,” Samantha recalled. “I felt ashamed. I was even apologizing to those nearby.”

Fans around her were understanding. She remembered commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves urging her not to apologize. Backstage, The Rock praised her passion, and The Undertaker, the source of her tears, expressed his appreciation for her contributions to the industry.

With this remarkable performance, it was clear why Lilian Garcia, upon returning to WWE a month later, symbolically passed the torch to Samantha.

“Being in the ring with Lilian Garcia was like receiving the ultimate endorsement,” Samantha explained. “I felt proud of what I had accomplished in that role.”

Why did Samantha Irvin leave WWE?

According to Samantha: “Touring is tough.”

Traveling constantly and announcing names was proving to be too much for her. She found her voice becoming strained, while her singing ambitions faded into the background.

“It became increasingly disheartening because I thought, ‘Wow, am I no longer a singer? What am I doing?’” she expressed. “Being a ring announcer in WWE was a highlight of my career, but when I noticed that calls for singing gigs were disappearing and all I was being asked to do was announce, I thought, ‘Oh no, I may have taken this too far.’

“I realized I couldn’t keep this up indefinitely,” Samantha added.

She left WWE in October, with no hard feelings towards the organization. She viewed her time there as a platform that allowed her to connect with an audience and express her creativity in front of millions globally. She no longer felt like she was just working to make ends meet, but rather discovering the liberty to pursue her true passions.

“I didn’t leave WWE with a specific goal in mind. I just recognized I’m more than a ring announcer, and if I stayed longer, there would be no chance for anything else. I simply needed to be true to myself. That’s all there was to it.”

Embarking on a new chapter

Samantha has found her path forward: returning to music.

In the past, she had written songs, but that was sidelined during her time as a ring announcer. After her WWE departure, she revisited those songs and retrained her voice to get back to singing. She announced her first song, “Make Me,” which will be released on February 14.

Samantha describes this song as a “personal little love letter to everyone.” She wrote and recorded it independently and aims to release more music in the future. As she shares her new work, she hopes fans will begin to see her as her true self, not just as a ring announcer.

She built a significant fanbase in wrestling and is optimistic they will support her in this new chapter. As she put it, “Let me flourish.”

“I’m hopeful that those who appreciated my vocal performances in WWE will give my music and other projects a chance, because it’s the same passion I’ve always brought, and I aim to evoke genuine emotions in everything I create,” she remarked.

Her confidence in pursuing music has been greatly influenced by WWE and their support. She recalled a motivational conversation with Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who expressed that they recognized her star potential.

“For them to see something in me motivated me to demonstrate my real abilities,” Samantha said.

And for fans missing her presence in wrestling: she assures them that she will return at some point.

“That’s a certainty. My wrestling journey has barely begun,” she revealed. “It would be a tremendous waste not to continue my story. I need to see it through.”

When and how she returns to wrestling remains uncertain. It’s improbable she would come back solely as a ring announcer. Her fiancé, Ricochet, is currently with AEW, and she excitedly anticipates the possibility of collaborating with him, just as they did in WWE.

For now, Samantha is eager to launch her music career and demonstrate all she has to offer.

“Now, I’m focused on exploring my creativity and seeing what else I can achieve,” she stated. “When I do return to wrestling, I hope to bring even greater value than before.”