Renee Young, now Renee Paquette, has been showered with praise, and rightfully so, for knocking down doors when it comes to announcing in WWE. Paquette transitioned from a host to a commentator on Raw and while she claims she wasn't very good at it, she was a lot better than others most would assume were more qualified for the job who have had a crack at it.
Beth Phoenix Is Leaving NXT
Beth Phoenix has very much picked up the torch Paquette eventually dropped and run with it via her work in NXT. The Glamazon has become a staple of the NXT announce team but today announced she will be leaving her role with the brand. Although she will remain employed by WWE, this Sunday's WarGames will be the last NXT show she calls.
“I have made the choice to step away from the weekly broadcast booth to spend more time with my family,” Phoenix revealed in a statement on Twitter. “NXT will always be a part of me and Auntie Betty will always be a part of NXT.” Phoenix thanked a number of people for her time In NXT, including her current announce partners, others she has worked with while calling the action, and Triple H and Shawn Michaels who head up the brand.
More Time With Her Family
Phoenix has been working as an NXT commentator for more than three years, calling the action for 135 episodes. Perhaps most impressive of all was her ability to keep that up during the pandemic when she wasn't actually at the shows. Phoenix called a lot of the action remotely despite the shows airing live. It required an elaborate set up at her home and even meant her broadcast partners had to work around an ever so slight delay.
That WWE would go to that much effort to make sure Phoenix remained a part of the announce team just goes to show how much the company thinks of her, and how much she has improved since starting the job. The Hall of Famer and her husband Edge have two young daughters at home. While neither is on the road full time, after both being at home pretty much permanently until a few years ago, it must be quite strange for the two of them to be away as much as they have been. WWE has not yet revealed who will take Phoenix's place after WarGames.