In a shocking turn of events, WWE star Cathy Kelley took to her official X account to announce that she will be making a surprise return to SmackDown this Friday night, sparking excitement among WWE fans worldwide. Kelley, a popular backstage interviewer, had previously claimed that she was returning to RAW earlier this year to be with her rumored romantic interest, former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Kelley’s return to SmackDown marks a significant development in the WWE universe, particularly given her history with Ripley, who has been MIA since relinquishing the Women’s World Championship title last month. Ripley’s romantic entanglements, including her humorous romance with ring announcer Samantha Irvin and Kelley, have been a topic of interest among fans. Meanwhile, Jackie Redmond, who joined the company last year, has been working as a backstage interviewer on RAW.
Kelley’s comeback to SmackDown is a welcome development, especially considering the changes the promotion has made to its ring announcer team recently. Mike Rome has returned to NXT, while Alicia Taylor now performs on SmackDown. Kelley, who joined the company in 2016 after working at AfterBuzz TV, debuted on NXT TV in 2019 but exited the promotion less than a year later. She returned to the promotion in 2022.
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In a candid conversation with Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast, Kelley opened up about her decision to leave the company, citing mental health issues as the primary reason. The 35-year-old admitted to struggling with anxiety since her high school days and found it challenging to deal with at the time. Her return to SmackDown is a testament to her determination to overcome her personal struggles and get back to doing what she loves.
With Kelley’s return, fans are eagerly anticipating the drama and excitement that is set to unfold on SmackDown this Friday night. As Rhea Ripley’s return to the ring is still uncertain, the question on everyone’s mind is: which superstar will be the Women’s World Champion when The Eradicator is cleared to make her comeback? One thing is for sure – Cathy Kelley’s surprise return to SmackDown is about to shake things up in the WWE universe.