WWE Makes Major In-Ring Change on Eve of Netflix ‘Raw’ Debut

WWE is debuting on Netflix with a new episode of Raw on January 6 and it seems that the company is making a major in-ring change at the last minute.

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According to a new report from PW Insider, WWE will be swapping ring announcers for RAW and SmackDown ahead of RAW’s transition to Netflix on January 6.

Lilian Garcia will return to SmackDown, handling ring announcing duties starting with the January 3 episode in Phoenix.

Garcia, who rejoined WWE in October 2024 after Samantha Irvin’s departure, has had multiple stints with the company, including from 1999-2009 and 2011-2016.

Meanwhile, Alicia Taylor, a drummer and former NXT announcer, will move to RAW, replacing Garcia.

Taylor joined WWE in 2018 and was promoted to SmackDown in May 2024.

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Taylor recently responded with thanks to a fan on social media who congratuled her by saying “@AliciaTaylorWWE Yo congratulations on being the new #WWERaw Ring Announcer this is so great for you! 😀😀😀😀😀🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉.”

While WWE appears not to be making a huge deal about swapping in-ring announcers, Taylor appears to be de facto confirming it on Twitter/X.

Additionally, other broadcast changes are expected, including a shift in commentary teams, with Joe Tessitore moving to SmackDown and Pat McAfee joining RAW’s team.

Ahead of the debut of RAW on Netflix, the streaming service announced five new WWE shows, which premiered on January 1.

These include WWE Top 10, which highlights the biggest matches in WWE history featuring Superstars like John Cena, Triple H, and Becky Lynch.

Another show, WWE RAW Classics, hosted by Big E, will showcase iconic matches and moments from RAW, including appearances by legends such as CM Punk and Triple H.

The WWE Road to WrestleMania special will focus on the intense action on RAW leading up to WrestleMania, while WWE Superstar Profiles gives an inside look at Superstars as they compete for championships and glory.

WWE Legends Profiles will delve into the unforgettable careers and moments of WWE legends.

This partnership between WWE and Netflix marks a major milestone in WWE’s global expansion, with streaming playing a central role in the company’s growth strategy.

During the WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Post-Show, Paul “Triple H” Levesque highlighted the significance of this move, noting that WWE programming will be available to 80% of the globe, including RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and all Pay-Per-Views (PPVs), with Canada being part of the offering.

Although the U.S. will have slightly different access, the deal is seen as a game-changer for WWE, dramatically expanding its reach and accessibility worldwide.

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