With a bang on Monday afternoon that no one expected, Samantha Irvin stunned the wrestling world by announcing that she was leaving WWE immediately. The news has left many wrestling fans in disbelief, wondering what's next for the longtime WWE ring announcer and what exactly led to her decision, something Irvin herself was vague about in her lengthy statement.

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One thing is clear: even within WWE, this was news that few expected. Both Fightful Select and Wrestlevotes report that many within WWE were surprised by Irvin's departure. Fightful further reported that some WWE employees noted that her announcement was so sudden that she “couldn't possibly have informed everyone before she left.” However, some within WWE had expected Irvin to leave at some point after her fiancé Ricochet left the promotion to join AEW earlier this summer.

The news was also met with sadness by the WWE, as Irvin was reportedly loved by those backstage. Even after she made her announcement official, WWE members only had positive things to say about Irvin. Some even went so far as to say that Irvin's presence at the “Raw” taping “made the workday better.” The feeling appears to be mutual, as in her statement, Irvin specifically thanked everyone in the WWE that she could, from leadership to wrestlers and backstage staff.

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Due to Ricochet's AEW status, speculation has since circulated that Irvin's WWE departure could lead to her joining the promotion. While AEW's exact interest in the ring announcer remains unknown, both AEW and WWE agreed that it would be surprising if AEW owner Tony Khan didn't at least approach Irvin with an offer.