WWE brought Lilian Garcia back to the organization to permanently replace Tony Chimel as the ring announcer for weekly SmackDown tapings. Chimel, 50, will continue working for WWE at television tapings in the production office backstage. Company officials asked Garcia late last week if she wanted to return and a deal was reached Monday upon her arrival in Tampa, Florida.

Garcia, who turned 45 years old in August, retired from her job as Raw ring announcer in 2009, citing a wish to settle down with her husband and being burned out from WWE's strenuous travel schedule. During her time away, she continued to pursue her music career, and hosted AfterBuzzTV.com's post-shows for Raw and Tough Enough.
Lilian Garcia, SmackDown's new, full-time ring announcer, has been added to the SmackDown Superstars page on WWE.com.

Lilian Garcia:

"I've been doing a lot, I got married since I left. I actually relocated from New York City to L.A. I have been recording—I've never stopped singing. I've been recording, got some new songs coming out, got a video coming out next week, so that's exciting, I missed it though. No matter how much I did other things, I always missed this.

"I've continuously watched it and there was a time there that it was hard for me to actually watch it—I did have to step away a little bit just because I missed it. I would it watch it, and nostalgia, and I'd tear up and I'm like, 'No, you did the right thing, you did the right thing' and then no matter how much I tried to step away from it, it always like draw you in (laughs). It gets in your blood!"

"I'm excited about everything. I'm excited about singing again on the show, that's going to be awesome, singing the national anthem again and every other opportunity that comes up with that. Oh my gosh, I miss the fans, so, so much. I miss you. And then the Superstars. Working with the Superstars was so incredible, I said it when I gave my goodbye speech, they are the best athletes in the world, so being back here, watching them, best seat in the house, is really terrific and it's just so exciting and all the crew, everybody, behind the scenes, it's just a great energy."