The broadcasting opportunity eventually came around for Kelley.
Cathy Kelley is currently a host, backstage interviewer and correspondent for WWE. She made her return to the company in 2022 after opting to step away in early 2020.
A look into how Kelley got her start with WWE was delved into on the Lightweights Podcast. She shared that while she was working at AfterBuzz TV, her former co-host and current NXT Manager of Creative Operations, Ryan Katz, was helping produce WWE Diva Search and he asked Cathy to be part of it.
She turned the opportunity down. She knew it could have been a break for her, but felt like she did not have the athletic ability to keep up.
It was because I feel like AfterBuzz (TV) had several people who either were previously at WWE or had gone back to WWE so they had a really close relationship. Obviously, Maria Menounos had worked with them as well and one of my co-hosts at the time, his name was Ryan Katz, he actually went and did what was called the Diva Search back in the day and helped produce that and he wanted me to come in for that but I was too scared. I said no. I know (that it could’ve been my break), but also, I knew while I wanted to be on-air and while I really love WWE, I don’t know that I had the athletic ability to become a superstar and I knew that about myself and so I didn’t want to take away that opportunity from someone else… A couple years later, they did end up having an audition for broadcasters and there were about 10-to-12 people in that. We all went to Orlando and myself and one of the other guys, we were both offered the job after that and one other audition at a live event and then, I think there was like a hiring freeze or something and so it took two years until I actually started.
The Monday Night Raw on-air broadcast team consists of Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Cathy Kelley and Jackie Redmond.
To hear a review of the latest episode of Raw, head over to this link.
If the quote in this article is used, please credit the Lightweights Podcast with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
