WWE News: Renee Young Set To Join WWE Superstars Announce Team, Blazing Female Ground In WWE

In a big story today, WWE has decided to put female interviewer and WWE Diva Renee Young on the WWE Superstars announce desk with Tom Phillips. Most may not see this as a big story, however it is technically trailblazing for WWE. Usually commentators are men, and have been for some time. WWE has experimented with women on the desk before, using Divas such as Sunny and Lita at times, but none have come in simply as non-wrestlers and been put on the announce desk.

Renee Young would be the first female to work full-time on the announce desk in over a decade for WWE. Young will still appear as a backstage interviewer on RAW and SmackDown among her many other jobs with WWE while also working on the Superstars announce desk each week.

WWE felt that this was a big move for them as well, and thus, released a statement, saying:

It’s impossible to escape Renee Young these days but, then again, why would you ever want to? Over the past year, the captivating Canadian has been seen and heard on WWE Network’s Raw Pre-Show and Backstage Pass, After Total Divas, the 30 Years of WrestleMania podcast series, pay-per-view Kickoffs, the Slammy Award-winning JBL & Cole Show and as a backstage interviewer on all of your favorite WWE shows—not to mention her color commentary gig on WWE NXT.

Now, the always-busy Ms. Young prepares to make the next major leap in her burgeoning WWE career by joining Tom Phillips on the “WWE Superstars” announce team, becoming WWE’s first full-time female commentator in more than a decade.

“I feel there is definitely a certain amount of pressure, not only as a performer and broadcaster but representing women who may not even know this is something that they want to do,” Renee told WWE.com. “I can show other women that if you’re not a Diva and you still want to be involved in WWE. It’s definitely really cool to be in the position to create a bit of a niche for myself and other women.”

Michael Cole, who has served as a key mentor to WWE’s new crop of announcers, recalls being impressed with Renee’s drive from the very beginning.

“When Renee first started in the company and she started working with us, one of the things she told me is she wanted to be a trailblazer,” Michael Cole said. “We started working with Renee in the [announcing] booth at NXT about six months ago and she really showed some promise. And we have the opportunity now to bring her to the ‘big level’ and she becomes one of the only females in history of WWE to be a full-time announcer at ringside. “

Cole continued, “Renee can really tell some unique stories from a female point of view, and we have to remember that in WWE, our audience is forty percent female. I’m a 47-year-old man, and when Randy Orton comes to the ring, you’re getting my perspective on it, but what are women thinking? What’s going through their mind? What are they looking at? Renee is going to be able to give that perspective, which is really, really unique and it’s really never been done before.”

Despite the historical significance of Renee joining the “WWE Superstars” announce team, WWE COO Triple H affirmed that it was Renee’s unparalleled work ethic — not her gender — that fueled the decision to bring her to commentary on a full-time basis.

“It has nothing to do with her being a female or not, it has to do with her being the right person for the job,” The Game said. “She’s got a great voice that cuts through the clutter. She is very knowledgeable about WWE, about its history, about the talent and she is really willing to step up and do her homework.”

“What I would love to do is do commentary with Michael Cole and JBL on SmackDown,” Renee said. “If we can make that a two-man-and-one-woman team, that would be awesome. Getting on the main shows, being able to do RAW or SmackDown, would absolutely be the next step.”

“I think you’re going to see her grow,” the WWE COO said. “You’re going to see her jump on this challenge to become a regular fixture and a regular voice and, hopefully, maybe one day the voice of WWE.”

This is new ground for WWE, but it may be done for one reason….to keep Young. There was word that due to her impressive WWE work, ESPN had eyes on her and wanted to bring her in. Clearly, she loves the WWE product and is a huge wrestling fan. She has been for years. She wants to be with WWE, but when a place such as the World Wide Leader in Sports calls, it may be tough to turn that down. However, if you are breaking new ground in WWE doing something really no one has done…that is a huge deal.

While Renee has had time on NXT and Superstars is not one of WWE’s top tier programs, this show is a big test for Young. It will see how well she can do, and show what she has up her sleeve for a potential jump to RAW or SmackDown.

Due to the fact that Tom Phillips is easily a straight match by match guy, it seems that Young will play the JBL or Jerry Lawler role as a color commentator.

WWE has a potential diamond when it comes to Renee Young, and the Canadian Sensation has done an amazing job since her arrival. Male or female, she would deserve this shot to prove what she has. She’s finally getting it, and most believe she will do a great job.

[IMG Credit: Google]