Renee Young Has Become Invaluable Asset for WWE

In Renee Young, WWE has a Swiss army knife at its disposal.

The interviewer, commentator and charming TV personality has shown herself to be a highly valuable part of the WWE family thanks to her versatility and magnetism—and in bringing a female perspective to a world choked with testosterone.

Young joined WWE in October 2012 after years of talking wrestling on The Score's Aftermath.

Since then, she has thrived in a variety of roles for the company, stepping into the WWE circus with confidence, poise and a likable personality that has inspired smiles in homes around the world. She possesses the same kind of "it" factor that has propelled wrestlers into stars.

WWE fans haven't been the only ones to notice her, though. Her success reportedly attracted ESPN's attention.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required; h/t WrestlingInc) reported in April that ESPN was "expected to make a major play for Renee Young." The sports network had already taken in Jonathan Coachman and Todd Grisham after WWE stints. 

Uproxx's Brandon Stroud was one of many who were displeased at the news:

Luckily for Stroud and Young's fans, she's still with the WWE and after Josh Mathews' release, more opportunities have come her way. Expect that to continue.

Folks as magnetic as Young aren't commonplace, and that trait is sure to keep WWE looking for ways to utilize her.

Charm by the Bucketful 

So often, WWE's interviewers and panel hosts are like its referees—largely faceless figures in the background. Only the most diehard fans know the names of all the men in striped shirts and the employees holding microphones.

They all play vital roles, but the focus is normally on the Superstars.

Young hasn't swiped the wrestlers' thunder, but she has forced some of the spotlight her way. Fans have fallen for her in a way that isn't common with someone in her position.

You just don't hear those kinds of comments about Tom Phillips or Byron Saxton. 

It's not just because she's an attractive female either. Young comes off as passionate and excited about every interview or moment in front of the camera. She's perky but not in a grating way. And she's someone who makes the audience want to pay attention.

That was even evident in something as banal as the unveiling of an Undertaker action figure.

She makes this seem exciting by virtue of either a deep appreciation of Undertaker toys or acting skills of the highest order. She's the right balance of relaxed and energetic here as well. 

Fans of her work in Canada for The Score won't find any of this surprising. She's been a treat to watch for years.

Whether she was talking NBA, touchdown dances or, of course, wrestling, she was the ideal blend of affable, funny and genuine.

Her acting background aids her as well. Young told WWE.com's Zach Linder, "I always wanted to be an actor. Acting is really where everything started for me. As soon as I got out of high school, I went to The Second City and trained in improv comedy. I always wanted to be more of a comedic actress."

That experience shows today in how effortlessly she seems to work the mic.

A Woman's Touch

There's an advantage to having a woman around in such a male-dominated industry, and it goes beyond, as Zinder put it on WWE.com, the fact that she has "a cuter face than Kevin Kelly."

There's added variety to the personnel and a different energy and perspective with her around. That was on display every time she sat at the announce desk for NXT.

She remarks on how handsome someone like Tyler Breeze is, flirts with William Regal and offers insight into the Divas locker room. She's presented as having access that the male announcers don't. 

When The BFFs began to splinter, Young offered a glimpse behind the curtain of what was happening between them. When Emma hinted at having a surprise ally in her corner, Young's peers turned to her for the scoop.

The inside information she's getting is of course scripted, but it would sound mighty creepy if any of Young's male counterparts were to reveal what all the women were talking about in the dressing room.

That's an added narrative tool that WWE can use on its main roster shows as well. It gives WWE Creative one more element to play with.

A male interviewer could host After Total Divas, but Young is a great fit for that post-reality show program. The women are comfortable around her, and she looks to be having fun.

She is WWE's best way to speak to the demographic that watches Total Divas. Having a talented woman around the WWE in general can't help but aid the company in adding female viewers to its core programming as well.

WWE has seemingly recognized that, inserting her into an assortment of roles.

Versatility 

As an interviewer, she adds realism, bringing more of the sports part of the sports entertainment equation. Her interview with Big E earlier this year felt like something that one might see on a countdown show for the NFL on a Sunday morning.

Again, she's likable and comes off as truly intrigued by her subject. Her excitement about him and his journey is sure to rub off on the audience.

She's flourished when an interview requires her to be the subject's verbal punching bag, her talk with Paul Heyman last June, for example. The same is true when the moment requires her to simply be the scared reporter scurrying away as she was when interviewing Daniel Bryan in October last year.

WWE has also asked her to be a host. She's been great doing that as well.

She captained the Battleground build-up ship in a recent "All-Access Pass" video.

All her aforementioned skills were on display here. These kinds of promo videos were something that Mathews handled when he was around. He did a fine job.

Young, though, is an upgrade. She's more engaging, has better stage presence and has a trait that few would associate with Mathews—being delightful.

After doing commentary for NXT for a long while, WWE added color commentary duties on WWE Superstars to her plate.

She has since shown that the company made the right move.

When Alberto Del Rio and R-Truth locked up on July 3, Young was at the announce desk, confident and amusing.

She did well in telling the continuing The Authority storyline after Money in the Bank and grunted in empathy for R-Truth as Del Rio cranked his arm back. Her thrown-in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reference was a nice touch as well.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc), there is a feeling backstage that she's moving upward and that she'll eventually move up to doing commentary on SmackDown or Raw.

This is a sure sign that WWE recognizes her value. That means that if ESPN or someone else doesn't take her away, she has a great shot at a lengthy, memorable career in the talking-about-wrestling business.

In less than two years, she's become a go-to member of the roster, wielding a microphone and a heart-melting smile.