After being missing from this week’s episode of WWE RAW, interviewer Jackie Redmond has put fan speculation to rest, confirming she will be back on screen for the Wrestlepalooza premium live event on September 20.
In a statement on social media, Redmond explained her brief hiatus was a planned two-week vacation granted by the company before her demanding NHL coverage schedule resumes. “I return at WrestlePalooza! I’ve dusted off my Chuck Taylor’s and I have SO much to say,” she posted, also noting that she expects to be involved with hosting the pre-show for the event.
Redmond joins a growing list of notable names slated for the Indiana show, including Pat McAfee in his home state and Cody Rhodes, whose participation was previously announced by Triple H. The loaded card signals a significant push for the inaugural event, with Redmond expected to be key in covering major stories like the return of AJ Lee after a decade away from a WWE ring.
WWE’s Ambitions for Wrestlepalooza
The effort to stack Wrestlepalooza with talent is part of a much larger strategic play by WWE and its parent company, TKO. During a recent investor conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro revealed the company’s intention to establish Wrestlepalooza as a new flagship show on the annual calendar, putting it on par with pillars like WrestleMania and SummerSlam. Shapiro noted that Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is working day and night on the creative to ensure the event meets that top-tier status.
This major push to establish a new tentpole event explains the high-profile returns and appearances scheduled for the show. Redmond’s return as a pre-show host is now set against the backdrop of WWE’s major strategic investment, with her first night back being part of the company’s bid to launch its next big thing at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.