(PHOTO): Former AEW name spotted backstage on WWE RAW after 3 years
A former All Elite Wrestling star has been spotted ahead of tonight's episode of WWE RAW in Austin, Texas. Rhea Ripley is advertised to kick off tonight's edition of the red brand.
The Eradicator and ring announcer Samantha Irvin have had a humorous online relationship in the past. Irvin is dating Ricochet in real life and the former United States Champion has not been seen on television since he was brutally attacked by Bron Breakker on the June 10 edition of RAW. Ahead of tonight's show, Mark Henry shared an image with Samantha Irvin on his X (fka Twitter) account.
The World's Strongest Man spent the past few years in AEW before departing the Jacksonville-based company at the end of May this year.
You can check out his post with the photo below:
The 53-year-old's son, Jacob Henry, has signed with the promotion and recently shared a photo posing with Triple H. Mark Henry has not appeared in WWE since RAW Legends Night on January 4, 2021.
Samantha Irvin credits WWE legend Mark Henry for discovering her
RAW ring announcer Samantha Irvin recently discussed how Mark Henry pushed her to get involved in the wrestling business.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on his Insight podcast, Irvin disclosed that the veteran contacted her on social media first. She noted that he wanted her to join the wrestling business, and she reached out to him via direct message. The 35-year-old shared that she had to go through an actual tryout to become a part of the company.
"Yes, he just started tweeting me and was like, 'You should be in wrestling. Have you ever thought of WWE? WWE is calling.' And I was like, I slid in his DMs. I said sir, yes, what can I do? He said you'd have to do like a tryout, like a real physical tryout. That is what he was able to do and I was like, I'm not an athlete, I've never stepped foot in a ring, never played a sport, nothing. But I was like, if that is what I have to do, I'll go there and do it," said Irvin. [From 00:22 - 00:54]
You can check out her comments in the video below:
Mark Henry was inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Only time will tell if the 53-year-old will ever return to the company sometime in the future.