For the first time in company history, the WWE has promoted a woman up to its full-time commentary team, with broadcaster Renee Young unveiled as a permanent addition to the play-by-play team that calls all major in-ring action for the company earlier today.
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Young had been serving as a temporary replacement for former commentator Jonathan Coachman over the past handful of weeks, but today’s announcement makes that a permanent move, meaning Young is officially the first full-time female announcer in WWE history.
Young originally joined the company in 2012, working as a backstage interviewer and filling various hosting roles across the WWE’s digital and social channels, including the much-loved and sorely missed Talking Smack. An assured and popular presence, Young has arguably been the WWE’s broadcasting MVP for practically her entire tenure with the company thus far.
Young has also gained additional play-by-play commentary experience via both NXT – the company’s developmental brand – and via the Mae Young Classic, a WWE-produced knockout tournament featuring some 30-odd women from around the globe, currently in its second incarnation.
Young and a host of other WWE personalities took to Twitter after news of the promotion broke earlier this morning.
I am so so so insanely excited about this! To be the first woman to take over that chair that so many amazingly talented voices and personalities have sat in before me! Thank you to @VinceMcMahon @StephMcMahon @TripleH @MichaelCole and @WWEGraves (and MANY others) ❤️⚡️⚡️ https://t.co/fOKRKlheHE
— Renee Paquette (@ReneePaquette) September 10, 2018
Every evolution needs a voice to tell its story. Incredibly proud of @ReneeYoungWWE – welcome to the #Raw commentary team! https://t.co/2uiTaFdoqS
— Triple H (@TripleH) September 10, 2018
Work hard and you will be rewarded. Simple but true. Tonight will be a top 5 highlight in my 22 year career. Congrats @ReneeYoungWWE
— Michael Cole (@MichaelCole) September 10, 2018
I am so proud of @ReneeYoungWWE for becoming the first ever female commentator on #RAW! #YouDeserveIt! I can’t wait to hear her perspective every Monday Night! #Evolution pic.twitter.com/KAkxAvSPVm
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) September 10, 2018
Young will now serve on the three-person commentary desk of Monday Night Raw and major pay-per-view events, alongside tenured callers Michael Cole and Corey Graves.
Another big step forward for the WWE, whose recent strides towards righting a historically large gender imbalance have been good, and notable within the sports and entertainment industries.
The company will produce Evolution – its first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view event – on October 28th.
