‘Aging backwards’ – WWE favourite leaves fans stunned with 59th birthday photo

You can’t halt the passage of time, they say. Someone ought to tell Lilian Garcia.

Garcia is the iconic ring announcer whose voice was part of a soundtrack to WWE’s Attitude Era.

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First joining WWE in 1999, she stepped into the red-hot chaos of the late nineties product and was ringside every week as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H battled for dominance.

She calmly provided the soundtrack to their entrances while also becoming renowned for her powerful renditions of the US national anthem – even belting out the British anthem at televised events held in the UK.

Her career away from the mic included a successful podcast, Chasing Glory, which ran from 2017 to 2021 across nearly 170 episodes. Garcia has teased that the series may yet return, hinting at a relaunch during its hiatus. In the meantime, she has remained close to WWE itself.

The Attitude Era voice still stealing the show in 2025

In October 2024, following Samantha Irvin’s exit, Garcia re-joined the company in an official capacity.

She first filled in on Raw before moving across to SmackDown in early 2025. That stint lasted until March of this year, when she announced her final episode on the Blue Brand.

Her words at the time made it clear the decision was part of WWE moving into what she described as a “new era.”

Fans were quick to react. “You will do awesome, but you made SmackDown extra special,” wrote one. Another said: “You’re going to be sorely missed on SmackDown.”

Garcia has not walked away entirely. She continues to serve as the voice of Saturday Night’s Main Event, performs national anthems at major shows, and remains on hand for select special events.

She had been due to appear at Evolution 2 this summer, but a respiratory infection left her unable to perform. Alicia Taylor stepped in as her replacement, with Garcia herself admitting it was a tough setback. “It’s ok to be disappointed,” she reflected, “but also important to listen to your body and not push beyond its limits.”

Her honesty and humility are part of what endear her to wrestling fans around the world, the ever-positive Garcia always remaining upbeat in social media posts – not least one that wowed fans as it marked her 59th birthday.

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That Garcia is a year from turning 60 is enough of a blow to any wrestling fan feeling their age as a result, but the talented vocalist packs an altogether heftier punch along with it given they feel she’s barely aging at all.

Sharing a photo of her beaming as she poses exuberantly in an alleyway, Garcia wrote: “Well looky there, I made it another trip around the sun!

It sure has been fun sharing this life with all of you! Here’s to more playful years!! Thx for the love!”

Fans responded in kind with comments and the love flowing in, one saying: “Lilian Garcia, you are so amazing and happy birthday.”

Another added: “You look the same as you did in the Attitude Era,” echoing the wider sentiment sweeping across the rest of social media as WWE fans took a moment to salute one of their favourites from the past – and congratulate her on continuing to thrive in later life.

A comment on X on a similar post asked: “I’m sorry, but what? What is her secret! She looks younger than she did 30 years ago!”

WWE

A second read: “There’s no way that’s correct,” while a third praised: “Best female announcer ever! Not even up for debate! Never made it all about her.”

WWE legend’s 59th birthday photo has fans crying “aging backwards”

Perhaps best summing up the general sentiment, a further fan wrote: “What absolute legend, she’s actually aging backwards!”

So often social media throws up the worst in celebrity discourse – ordinary humans criticised for daring to look their age when it differs from the pictures held of them in the memories of fans who once adored them.

For Garcia at least, there was simply gratitude – and more than a little envy – as fans saluted a WWE legend still defying the years.