Lilian Garcia Met Her Fiancé While On Date With Another Man

Lilian Garcia is engaged to a former wrestler.

Garcia first joined WWE (then WWF) as a ring announcer in 1999. She worked continuously as a primary ring announcer until 2010, then took a break from the company.

She returned to WWE in late 2011 and remained with the company until she stepped away again in August 2016, after which she made only occasional special-appearance returns until 2019.

She made a notable one-night return on Raw in May 2024, then came back more regularly in October 2024 as a full-time ring announcer after Samantha Irvin announced her departure from WWE.

In October 2025, Garcia publicly announced that she had signed a new two-year contract with WWE.

A few weeks later, in November, Lilian Garcia revealed on Instagram that she was engaged after being single for nearly four years.

How Did Lilian Garcia and Patrick Ellrich Meet?

In a new interview with The Takedown on SI, she disclosed that her fiancé is former independent wrestler Patrick Ellrich.

Lilian Garcia met Ellrich, owner of Proper Hop Taphouse, during a failed Bumble date, when she noticed him bartending at his venue while out with another man.

She immediately felt Ellrich was more her type during casual chit-chat, despite focusing on her date.

We went inside this tap house, and I see Patrick behind the bar, and I’m like, he’s more of my type. So, we were just chit chatting, but I was like, concentrate, you’re on a date!

They later snapped a photo together, which she shared with mutual friend WWE’s Xavier Woods, Ellrich’s former tag team partner.

Woods enthusiastically endorsed Ellrich the next week at ringside, prompting Lilian Garcia to ask Woods to pass her number along.

Ellrich texted her right away, explaining he had planned to ask for it himself but held back since she was on a date, then invited her out the following Monday.

The pair clicked instantly and have been inseparable since. The couple are engaged to be married in 2026.

I show up that next Monday and I see Xavier at ringside. And he’s like, ‘you met my boy, Patrick! We’ve been friends forever. He was in my wedding.

He’s such a great guy.’ This is key. Because when I joined Bumble, I prayed for God to make this quick, make this painless, and I’d rather have somebody vetted.

So, the fact that Xavier was like, ‘this guy is awesome.’ I’m like, this is really cool.