Eight-hundred episodes of Monday Night Raw! How incredible!! And I can’t believe I have been privileged enough to be part of more than HALF of them!

It was Aug. 23, 1999 when I first debuted on Raw. Being assigned to ring-announce on my very first day on the job was extremely nerve-racking, but also exhilarating because I knew I was about to embark onto something great!

Now, nine years later, I am in awe of all the Superstars I have gotten to work with and introduce. Some of them have moved on or have passed away such as: Stone Cold, The Rock, Trish Stratus, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, the late Eddie Guerrero, Lita, Mick Foley, Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson, Kevin Nash, Viscera, Molly Holly and Ivory to name a few, but the impression they made on me and on Raw will never be forgotten!

Something that really impresses me about Raw is how it’s not just a “wrestling” show. Music is used throughout the program, whether it’s the Superstar’s entrance theme song or a rock band playing live. In fact, on Feb. 14, 2000 when Vince McMahon discovered that I sang, he asked me to sing the National Anthem that night in San Jose, CA before Raw went on the air. He was so impressed that he has had me sing it before every live event including two WrestleManias and SummerSlam. What an honor!

Now, when WWE goes on tour all over the world, I even get to sing the country’s corresponding anthem. In fact, in January 2004, WWE was in Puerto Rico for New Year’s Revolution and I sang the Puerto Rican National Anthem, “La Borinquina.”  After my performance, Vince offered me a record contract and told me he enjoyed hearing me sing in Spanish so much that he wanted me to record a Spanish album. I was elated and on Oct. 8, 2007, the night before my record release, my band performed live on Monday Night Raw in Grand Rapids, Michigan! I performed the title single, “Quiero Vivir!” which means “I want to live” in Spanish, and it made history as the first time a band had performed an all-Spanish song on Monday Night Raw!! It was a night I will truly never forget!

But, even as amazing as that was, the event that means the most to me every year is when we get to go to Iraq and Afghanistan to perform for the troops. Whether you are for or against the war, it does not matter! These men and women are the bravest human beings around, and as an Army brat, I have the utmost respect for each and every one of them! It is a privilege and an honor to perform for them and I thank them for their courage in protecting our country! God Bless you!

Another project WWE gets involved with that I am a very big fan of is working with different charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There is nothing like seeing the faces of these children as they come to the show and get to meet their favorite Superstars. Seeing those faces light-up is so moving and it makes me very proud to work for a company that cares so much.

Definitely a big part of our job is traveling and I personally love it! The fact that Raw also airs in 130 different countries and reaches so many people across the globe is mind blowing! I have traveled to Australia, Japan, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, England, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and all over America to name a few. In fact, in Spain and in Mexico our shows are outside in the middle of a bull ring!! How cool is that?!! And the best part about it is meeting all our great fans!! There are so many people from so many diversified cultures that it is incredible!

Needless to say, my journey on Monday Night Raw has been nothing short of amazing. Since I have been on the show, I have introduced some of the biggest Superstars in the business, made unbelievable friends with my co-workers, sang the National Anthem at numerous events, made history by not only being the first female but also the first Latina to announce at WrestleMania, performed numerous times for our troops, met incredible “Make-A-Wish” kids, recorded and released my first album, and have even had a chance in the ring! And the thing is, I know this is just the tip of the iceberg!

With WWE you never know where the next road may lead to, but one thing is for sure, it’s going to be a great ride and I don’t want to get off anytime soon! 

Happy 800th episode Raw!  Here’s to 800 more!

Forever rockin’,

Lilian