Reason For Mike Rome’s Recent WWE NXT Absence

Mike Rome has been moved from the WWE main roster to NXT, with Alicia Taylor taking over the microphone on WWE RAW. Just as NXT fans were becoming accustomed to seeing Rome on their screens, he was notably absent from No Mercy in Denver.

The No Mercy event at Denver’s Ball Arena saw Alicia Taylor back at the mic, delivering a strong performance in Rome’s absence. This left fans wondering about Mike Rome’s whereabouts.

Sean Ross Sapp clarified the situation on Fightful Select, reporting that Mike Rome is on a personal leave but is expected to return soon.

“Mike Rome is absent due to personal reasons, we are told. Alicia Taylor will continue to take over in the meantime. Rome is expected back in the near future.”

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WWE has recently shown more flexibility with time off, as evidenced by Triple H missing the Bash in Berlin press conference to see his daughter off to college. This leniency may have contributed to Mike Rome’s current leave.

While Mike Rome will eventually return to NXT, the timeline for his comeback remains uncertain. Fans might have to brace for another week of Alicia Taylor in the spotlight. It remains to be seen who will fill in at the NXT Arena this week.

Mike Rome’s WWE career saw notable shifts, especially over the past year. In the 2023 WWE Draft, Rome and Irvin switched announcing roles, with Rome becoming SmackDown’s ring announcer starting May 12, 2023. However, by 2024, Rome’s presence at premium live events diminished, with Irvin covering most of these events. Rome’s last SmackDown appearance as ring announcer was on April 26, 2024.

In May 2024, Rome announced on Instagram his return to NXT as the ring announcer, allowing him to be closer to his Orlando home. Alicia Taylor, previously NXT’s announcer, took over Rome’s SmackDown role. Rome briefly returned to the main roster for WWE’s Saudi Arabia tour in late May 2024, announcing at the SmackDown show on May 24 and the King and Queen of the Ring event on May 25.

What are your thoughts on Mike Rome taking time off from WWE? Do you miss his presence calling the Superstars to the ring? Share your opinions in the comments section!