WWE Ring Announcer Justin Roberts Has Been Released

Here’s something you weren’t expecting: WWE just announced the firing of longtime ring announcer Justin Roberts, effective immediately following tonight’s Monday Night Raw in Atlanta, GA.

Via WWE.com:

WWE has chosen to not exercise its option to renew ring announcer Justin Roberts’ contract. Effective immediately, Roberts is released from WWE.

WWE wishes him the best in all his future endeavors.

If you aren’t aware or familiar with Roberts’ work, he’s the one yelling JYEEEEEEERRNNNN, CEEEEE-NAAAAA before everything. Roberts, who got his start as a 16-year old in independent Pro Wrestling International and ended up calling main-events at WrestleMania, had been with the company since 2002. No idea what prompted the decision to not renew his contract, but it feels like the same budget cuts that X’d other longtime employees like color man Josh Mathews and Mark the Time Keeper.

I’m guessing this means a promotion for Brandi Rhodes, aka ‘Eden,’ former NXT ring announcer and wife of Cody Rhodes. Or maybe Howard Finkel agreed to come back and work for sandwiches, who knows?

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