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Tag: Blake Monroe

  • Watch: Blake Monroe Gets Bizarre SmackDown Debut

    Watch: Blake Monroe Gets Bizarre SmackDown Debut

    Blake Monroe has arrived on SmackDown.

    WWE has called up a number of NXT stars over the last few months. Just in the few weeks since WrestleMania 42, we have seen names such as Ricky Saints, Jacy Jayne, Ethan Page, and Sol Ruca officially making the move to the main roster.

    The company had also been teasing the arrival of the former AEW Women’s Champion with video packages over the last few weeks, but Blake’s on-screen debut turned out to be just as bizarre as her last few months in NXT.

    Blake Monroe Gets 20-Second Debut

    The May 22 episode of the Blue Branded show featured Tiffany Stratton defending the Women’s US Title against Lash Legend. Stratton managed to retain the belt after some interference from Chelsea Green.

    The former Mariah May then ran into Green in a backstage segment. Chelsea tried to welcome the WWE rookie with a handshake. Blake Monroe, however, gently refused the handshake and walked off, getting less than 20 seconds to make her first impression:

    Fans had been upset with Monroe’s booking in NXT over the last few months, believing that the former AEW star deserved to be featured more prominently than she was. Now we will have to see how the English star fares on the main roster after her official debut.

  • Backstage Update On Blake Monroe’s WWE SmackDown Debut

    Backstage Update On Blake Monroe’s WWE SmackDown Debut

    Blake Monroe may be appearing on WWE SmackDown as soon as this week, with the former AEW Women’s World Champion currently listed on the brand’s travel schedule, according to Fightful Select.

    WWE has officially announced Monroe’s main roster move to SmackDown, though she has yet to appear on the blue brand since the announcement.

    WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray spoke about Monroe on a recent edition of the Busted Open Radio podcast, offering his take about what she brings to the roster.

    “What’s even better about Blake Monroe, and I know this sounds so crazy, but she’s one of the boys. Everybody’s gonna love her. She is an old school, throwback wrestler. She’s funny and crass. She said something in AEW in the training room one time, I turned I was like, ‘What did you say?’ She’s just got it.”

    Bully Ray pointed to her in-ring versatility as a particular strength.

    “When you like people, you work harder for them and she works hard. You watch her matches and she’ll do anything and everything to succeed. And her wrestling skillset is that she can adapt to everybody’s s**t. She doesn’t have a weakness, and there’s very few wrestlers that can flip and fly, that can grapple, chain wrestle, that can swing them and punch and kick, that can do everything. She can do everything.”

    Monroe is a former AEW Women’s World Champion who was among the notable signings WWE made from the rival promotion.

  • Timeframe for Blake Monroe’s WWE SmackDown Debut

    Timeframe for Blake Monroe’s WWE SmackDown Debut

    Blake Monroe is expected to make her WWE SmackDown debut before the end of May, according to PWInsider, with the caveat that the timeline remains subject to change.

    The report comes after a vignette for Monroe, known as The Glamour, aired during the April 25 episode of SmackDown and generated immediate fan interest. PWInsider addressed the volume of inquiries they had received about her status directly.

    “Since we’ve been asked about her quite a bit, the expectation is that Blake Monroe would start appearing on SmackDown by the end of the month, but that’s subject to change obviously.”

    Monroe’s vignette marked the formal beginning of her transition from NXT to the main roster. She joins a wave of NXT talent that has been moving to Raw and SmackDown in recent weeks, a group that also includes Ethan Page, Je’Von Evans, and Sol Ruca, all of whom have made appearances on the main roster programming since WrestleMania 42.

    WWE has not officially confirmed Monroe’s debut date. If current plans hold, SmackDown audiences will see The Glamour competing on Friday nights before June arrives. You can see the SmackDown vignette that aired on X here.

  • Casket Match Returning To WWE Next Week

    Casket Match Returning To WWE Next Week

    The casket match is back.

    Night 1 of the NXT Revenge special featured a backstage segment where Blake Monroe was told that her upcoming title match against Tatum Paxley will feature a stipulation of the champion’s choosing. General Manager Robert Stone later tracked down Paxley and asked if she had decided on a stipulation yet.

    The Women’s North American Champion said that she plans to lay Monroe to rest once and for all. Stone was still confused, but Shiloh Hill then rolled up with a casket, confirming the stipulation for their title match.

    Tatum has some experience in casket matches. The last time the stipulation was seen in the company was in 2024 when Paxley beat Wendy Choo. We’ve not seen the match on the main roster since 2018, when Undertaker beat Rusev at the Greatest Royal Rumble.

    NXT Revenge Night 2 Match Card

    After the latest announcement, below is the updated card for Night 2 of the NXT special taking place on April 21.

    • Casket Match For NXT North American Championship: Tatum Paxley (c) vs. Blake Monroe
    • Men’s Speed Championship Tournament Final: E.K. Prosper vs. Lexis King
    • Singles Match: Keanu Carver vs. Joe Hendry
    • Last Woman Standing Match: Sol Ruca vs. ZARIA
    • NXT North American Championship Match: Myles Borne (c) vs. Dion Lennox

  • Blake Monroe Addresses Potential WrestleMania Appearance

    NXT Superstar Blake Monroe recently addressed the possibility of appearing at WrestleMania 42. She highlighted her focus on timing and building anticipation for a successful main roster debut.

    Monroe stated she wants to be at the top of WWE and the face of WWE. She believes her career success is due to good timing and opportunity. Monroe is currently focused on Stand & Deliver, viewing it as her “WrestleMania.”

    Monroe on Eventual Main Roster Debut

    Speaking with Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg, Monroe explained her strategy for a successful main roster debut, emphasizing the importance of timing and building anticipation:

    “Listen, that’s always a thought. I want to be at the top of WWE, I want to be the face of WWE, but I’m smart and my whole career has always been about timing.

    Monroe feels she can ‘hang’ with main roster stars like Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley.

    “It’s been about the opportunity in front of me, giving it 100% and then stepping up to the next thing. Look at the WrestleMania card, it’s like Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley. These are huge stars with 10 years of TV equity.

    “Do I believe I can hang? Absolutely, but in the meantime, why wouldn’t I build my stock, build my equity? I’ve been in NXT for not even a year, and it is my show. We talk about the titles, I don’t need one, I am the show. My segment is the talking point, week in week out. I’m looking at Stand & Deliver, that’s what’s coming after Vengeance Day. That’s our WrestleMania.

    Growing Fan Anticipation

    Blake Monroe stated that fans demanding for her appearance at the Royal Rumble shows there is strong anticipation for her eventual move to WWE’s main roster and performing at WrestleMania.

    She believes it’s important not to rush the process, as building anticipation ensures fans stay excited for her debut rather than losing interest.

    “I see WrestleMania on the horizon and I think back to the Rumble, everybody was dying for a Blake Monroe appearance. To me, that’s a good sign.

    “That means when I do go to the main roster, when I do enter the Rumble, when I do go to WrestleMania, these fans have been waiting for this, dying for this, and they’re going to be so excited.

    \”If you try to rush things or you do it too soon, there is no anticipation, nobody cares, and that can never be me.\”

    WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18 and 19 in Las Vegas. In the meantime, Monroe seems to be content and letting the anticipation continue to build.

    By allowing fans to await her eventual move to WWE’s main roster eagerly, she believes the moment will feel even bigger when it finally happens — whether that stage ends up being the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, or another major WWE event.

  • Women\’s Street Fight And More Added To NXT Vengeance Day

    Multiple matches have been announced for NXT Vengeance Day.

    This week\’s episode of the development show saw Darkstate\’s Dion Lennox calling out Tony D’Angelo. A match for the upcoming PPV was confirmed after some back and forth. Towards the ending of the segment, Lennox told D’Angelo that their fight would start in the parking lot, and Tony said that he\’d drag Dion\’s lifeless body to the ring so he can beat him in front of everyone.

    Elsewhere in the show, Blake Monroe had another heated confrontation with Jaida Parker, which turned violent, with multiple locker room members having to stop the two from brawling. It was confirmed after this that the upcoming match between the two will now be a street fight.

    NXT Vengeance Day Updated Card

    NXT Vengeance Day will take place from WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, on March 7, 2026. Below is the updated card for the show:

    • NXT Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Ricky Saints
    • NXT Women\’s North American Championship: Izzi Dame (c) vs. Tatum Paxley
    • NXT Underground Match: Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
    • Street Fight: Blake Monroe vs. Jaida Parker
    • Singles Match: Tony D\’Angelo vs. Dion Lennox

    The episode tonight also featured an NXT title match between Jacy Jayne and Zaria, which ended with Sol Ruca taking both the champion and the challenger out. Robert Stone in a backstage segment then said that he will address the future of the Women\’s title at the show this Saturday.

  • Blake Monroe on Lifelong WWE Dream and Why NXT Is Not a Pit Stop

    Former Women\’s NXT North American Champion Blake Monroe grew up dreaming of being a WWE Superstar and she says that singular goal is what drove her to compete across the world before eventually signing with the company in 2025.

    Speaking with Sam Roberts on Notsam Wrestling, Monroe reflected on the full arc of her journey and why landing in NXT felt like a destination rather than just a stepping stone.

    \”I\’m definitely a student of the game,\” Monroe said. \”I was a really big wrestling fan growing up and always wanted to be a WWE superstar. It\’s kind of why I started wrestling and went all over the world.\”

    The Women\’s Division Was the Draw

    Monroe was specific about what made WWE the right move at the right time. Beyond the childhood dream, she cited the depth and prominence of WWE\’s women\’s division as a major pull.

    \”One of the big reasons I wanted to come to WWE was just because the women\’s division is so deep,\” she said. \”And they really put an emphasis on their women. So that was a really attractive point for me. But also NXT — I wanted to train more.\”

    Monroe debuted in NXT in June 2025 and quickly established herself as one of the brand\’s top heels, winning the Women\’s North American Championship at Halloween Havoc 2025.

    NXT Is Not a Waiting Room

    Monroe also pushed back on the idea that NXT is merely a developmental pit stop on the way to Raw or SmackDown. With a lengthy list of potential opponents and championships still ahead of her on the brand, she sees no reason to rush.

    \”I don\’t know why there is some kind of \’I need to be called up,\’\” she said. \”I\’m not in any rush. I still have so much to do. I\’ve hardly feuded with any of the women. I haven\’t even approached the main women\’s title. So there\’s so much to do.\”

    When she does eventually look beyond NXT, Monroe rattled off a full wish list: the Intercontinental title, the US title, the world title, Money in the Bank, and the Royal Rumble.

    \”For me to have a million-and-one things to achieve is great,\” she said. \”It\’s definitely that balance of: you\’re doing good, but you\’ve got to keep yourself hungry.\”

    Monroe also highlighted the importance of appreciating the moment without becoming complacent.

    \”I think there\’s a perfect balance — yes, you focus on yourself and what you\’re trying to achieve, but it\’s really important to be like, \’This is really cool. I made it.\’ As long as you don\’t get caught up in that, because the hard work really does start now.\”

    Monroe is set to face Thea Hail on February 24th, 2026 edition of NXT in the first round of the tournament to decide the next challenger for the Women’s Speed Championship.

  • Blake Monroe Reveals Hidden Rib Injury After Thea Hail Title Loss

    Blake Monroe recently revealed that she was carrying a serious hidden injury when she lost the NXT Women\’s North American Championship to Thea Hail and it prevented her from getting immediate revenge.

    Speaking with Sam Roberts on Notsam Wrestling, Monroe disclosed for the first time that she damaged cartilage in her ribs around the time of the controversial title loss in December.

    \”I actually got injured too,\” Monroe said. \”I damaged all the cartilage in my ribs. I spent my Christmas break bandaged up like this, having to do rehab, thinking of all the things I would do to Thea Hail — and then never actually got to wrestle her. So there\’s a lot of feeling.\”

    Monroe Blames the Referee

    The controversial finish to that December NXT match caught nearly everyone off guard, including Hail herself. Monroe has been consistent in pointing the finger at the official, and she doubled down during the interview.

    \”I feel like the ref was clearly in a rush to get home — he counted that quick,\” she said. \”It was definitely very exciting and I\’m going to get my revenge next week in under three minutes.\”

    Monroe also acknowledged the double-edged nature of the situation, calling attention a form of currency in the wrestling business.

    \”The theme of my career is: people will talk about me — and who are you if you\’re not talked about, to be honest.\”

    Monroe has had a turbulent stretch since losing the title, but she closed the interview with characteristic confidence:

    \”The glamour stocks are rising. We had a little dip, but we\’re going back up.\”

    Monroe currently appears motivated, healthy, and very much ready to reclaim what she considers hers. She is scheduled to face Thea Hail on February 24th, 2026 edition of NXT in the first round of the tournament to determine the next challenger for the Women’s Speed Championship.

     

  • Blake Monroe Sounds Off on Thea Hail Botch, NXT Title Chaos

    Blake Monroe recently reflected on the controversial finish to her NXT Women\’s North American Title match against Thea Hail on the December 16th, 2025, edition of NXT. The botched ending led to Hail becoming champion and it ended Monroe\’s first title run in the company.

    Monroe, who lost the title to Hail due to miscommunication after having the wind knocked out of her, addressed the situation on Notsam Wrestling. She also revealed she damaged cartilage in her ribs around Christmas time after the match.

    Blake Monroe\’s Reaction

    During the interview, Monroe didn\’t hold back her feelings. She revealed that she’s frustrated that Thea Hail will now be permanently linked to her career, admitting the situation affected her emotionally. The former champ further acknowledged the shocking defeat and criticized the referee for a fast count. Monroe said:

    \”Yes. I mean, look, the negative is Thea Hail will always be attached to me now. I have to wrestle her next week and you\’re lucky I\’ve shown up today. I was going to go to therapy, but I decided to be a company woman and show up. But no, I mean, I think the theme of my career is people will talk about me and who are you if you\’re not talked about, to be honest. And it was definitely shocking and I feel like the ref was clearly in a rush to get home. I mean, he counted that quick, but um no, it was definitely very exciting and I\’m going to get my revenge next week in under three minutes.\”

    Blake Monroe is once again set to face Thea Hail in the first round of the NXT Women\’s Speed Championship #1 contender tournament on the February 24th, 2026, episode of NXT.

  • Blake Monroe Explains No Rush to WWE Main Roster

    Former NXT Women\’s North American Champion Blake Monroe isn’t concerned about a main roster call-up right now and she explained that she’s focused on dominating in NXT. She believes NXT is in a unique position with huge stars and many viewers.

    Monroe addressed the situation herself during an appearance on NotSam Wrestling on February 22nd, 2026. Rather than sounding frustrated, Monroe explained that she’s focused on building her name in NXT.

    Blake Monroe is not rushing her call-up

    Monroe pushed back on the common belief that every NXT superstar should be desperate for a call-up. During the interview, she explained:

    “I don’t know why there’s always this mindset of, ‘I need to be called up.’ I’m not in any rush. I still have so much to do.”

    She then pointed to unfinished business in the women’s division, referencing past and current rivals like Jordynne Grace and Jaida Parker.

    Monroe is also set to face Thea Hail on February 24th, 2026 edition of NXT in the first round of the tournament to determine the next challenger for the Women’s Speed Championship.

  • Blake Monroe Comments On Current NXT Direction

    Blake Monroe says she will challenge for the NXT Women\’s title when she wants.

    The fans have questioned the female star\’s direction in NXT in recent times. The fact that the young star has been left chasing the Women\’s Speed title after the events of the development show the past couple of weeks has especially led people to criticize WWE\’s handling of the former AEW Women\’s Champion.

    During her recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Blake Monroe sseemingly defended her current trajectory. Trying to explain why she is not going after the brand\’s top champion Jacy Jayne, the English star claimed that she will challenge for the NXT Women\’s title when she is ready for it:

    “I’m letting Jacy Jayne try. I’m letting her have her fun and her moment, giving her some time. When I’m ready to take the title, I will. So, if she’s still a champion, she knows I’m coming. I’ve already pinned her, I pinned her on my debut — main eventing a pay-per-view by the way. When I’m ready, I will come for her but for right now, I’m not doing that.”

    Coming off a highly praised feud with Toni Storm in AEW, the former Mariah May was introduced as an important figure upon her NXT debut in June last year. She had a run with the Women\’s North American Championship as well. Her stock seems to have declined, however, after she lost the belt in a botched finish.

    A quickly deleted tweet referencing The Rock, not long after this controversy, is unlikely to have gone over well with the NXT officials either, and her recent booking could very well be the reflection of it.

    Do you think Blake Monroe is being punished by NXT officials for her recent behaviour? Let us know in the comments below.

  • NXT Star Out With Neck Injury

    Jaida Parker is dealing with a neck injury.

    The NXT star had been involved in a feud with Blake Monroe in recent times. The two had a match on last week\’s episode of the show, which ended in a draw with both women getting counted out. A brawl that followed saw Jaida getting the upper hand, but not before attacking a referee and a security guard.

    This week\’s episode of the development show then featured a backstage segment with new Interim GM Robert Stone chatting with Women\’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley. Monroe rolled in asking about Parker, and Stone first claimed that she was suspended for her actions last week.

    The NXT official, however, then revealed that Jaida Parker was actually out of action with a neck injury. When Henley reminded them both of her presence, Stone decided that Blake was the perfect candidate to fill in the last spot in the announced Speed tournament. A match between Blake Monroe and Thea Hail was then confirmed for the show next week.

    The severity of Jaida\’s injury is not known, but the company\’s pivot of putting Monroe in the Speed tournament suggests that the female star will be out of action at least a few weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on her status.

  • Returning Star Confronts Blake Monroe On NXT

    Jaida Parker is back, and she is looking to make a big impact.

    This week\’s episode of NXT featured Blake Monroe in a promo segment where she discussed not being the Women\’s North American Champion anymore.

    She was interrupted by Jaida Parker, who received a big applause from the crowd. Monroe did not care for Parker, however, and she attacked the returning star as she looked to cut a promo.

    The two women brallwed and in the end, it was Jaida Parker who got the upper hand over the former AEW star to end the segment.

    Jaida has not wrestled on TV since October last year, when she took part in a #1 contender battle royal. She has continued wrestling on house shows for the brand, so it doesn\’t appear that her absence since then was injury-related.

    Apart from this, the latest development episode featured the announcement of multiple new signings as well as the confirmation of the fate of the NXT title after Oba Femi. You can check out more about it here.

  • Blake Monroe Deletes Tweet Referencing The Rock After New Year\’s Evil

    Blake Monroe might have gone too far.

    Tensions grew between the female star and the NXT General Manager, Ava after Monroe attacked Thea Hail before their scheduled North American Championship match at New Year\’s Evil this Tuesday. The two continued fighting on X after Ava threw the former AEW star out of the building for her conduct.

    It was during this exchange that the former champion made the now deleted comment. Referencing Ava\’s father and WWE board member The Rock, Blake Monroe wrote: “Don’t make me call daddy, you power-tripping nepo baby bitch.”

    Thea Hail would go on to conduct an open challenge in the absence of her expected opponent. Izzi Dame managed to snatch the opportunity with help from her partners of The Culling, and she walked out of the show with the North American title.

    This might be the beginning of the end of Monroe\’s development run. Reports suggest that the company changed plans for her after she accidentally lost the NA title last month, and there has been talk of fast-tracking her main roster call-up alongside other recent debuts.

    Watch: Andrade Returns To AEW TV After WWE Issues

  • Unplanned Name Wins Women\’s North American Title At New Year\’s Evil

    An unexpected NXT crowning.

    Blake Monroe was originally scheduled to challenge Thea Hail for the NXT North American Championship at New Year\’s Evil tonight. This came after a botched finish last month, leading to Hail winning the title. The former Mariah May, however, ended up attacking Hail during her entrance.

    The match was then called off as Thea was taken backstage for a medical evaluation. General Manager Ava kicked Monroe out of the building. The reigning champion still wanted to defend her title, and she suggested an open challenge.

    The majority of the women\’s locker room emptied at ringside, trying to take advantage of the opportunity. Tatum Paxley then came out with a chainsaw to clear a path. Though Izzi Dame was sneaked into the ring by The Culling before Paxley, and she got the opportunity instead.

    The champion put up a good fight, but her earlier injury and the damage in the match proved too much. Izzi picked up the victory with a super-Dame, ending Hail\’s run with the title at just 22 days.

    You can check out potential reason behind Monroe\’s removal from the match here.

  • Big NXT Name Discussed For Main Roster Move

    A big NXT call-up is in the works.

    WWE has been slowly introducing the new crop of talent on the main roster in recent weeks. The latest episode of Raw saw Je\’Von Evans making his call-up official, while both Trick Williams and Oba Femi have been teased for a career move as well.

    Now, Fightful Select is reporting that this is not the only call-up expected in the coming time, and potentially the biggest name discussed for a brand change comes from the female roster.

    According to the site, Blake Monroe has been discussed for the WWE main roster recently, and some people within the company believe that she will end up on the Raw brand.

    Monroe was recently involved in an awkward situation in NXT. She ended up losing the North American Championship to Thea Hail in a botched finish, and the report notes that there have been discussions about the immediate plans for Monroe being changed.

    Having joined WWE under the new ring name in June last year, Monroe had a successful AEW career as Mariah May. She had a memorable feud with Toni Storm in the Tony Khan promotion and also had a run with the Women\’s World Championship.

    Many expected her to debut on the main roster directly upon signing with WWE, and it\’s no surprise if the officials are looking to fast-track her call-up.

  • 5 Female Superstars WWE Should Push In 2026

    With a new year right around the corner it’s time to put on our prognosticating caps. There are certain safe bets for 2026, like that Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill will remain heavily featured, world champions or in the championship orbit for at least part of the year. But who are the stars that stand to level up, winning their first world titles in WWE or otherwise advancing to a new echelon of stardom? This article presents five picks.

    Sol Ruca

    On paper, Sol Ruca was an unusual pick for WWE to position against Bayley at the Saturday Night’s Main Event featuring John Cena’s last match. Jacy Jayne is the NXT Women’s Champion and Blake Monroe holds the Women’s North American Championship. When push comes to shove, Jordynne Grace is probably the NXT woman with the next highest level of name recognition for main roster fans.

    WWE designed a coming out party for Ruca, though. She was the only NXT talent placed in a position to straight-up win her match in clean fashion given Bayley isn’t a reigning champion or integral to the top of her division’s card right now. Bayley’s also one of the veteran talents best equipped to all but guarantee a younger talent a stellar match.

    So, the match was a showcase for Ruca in not only winning but putting her unique athleticism and innovative offense on display. In her winning the North American Championship over WrestleMania weekend and being entrusted with the Speed Championship to engage WWE fans on short spurts in social media, WWE has increasingly shown its faith in her as a star of the future and there’s every chance 2026 is the year she starts to realize her main roster potential in earnest.

    Maxxine Dupree

    Maxxine Dupree’s ride through the WWE main roster has been nothing if not tumultuous, ranging from a lackluster valet stint with the failed Maxim Male Models faction to her time with Alpha Academy. In an unlikely turn, she was the woman to unseat Becky Lynch for the Intercontinental Championship this fall, and she had the fans 100% behind her.

    Indeed, Dupree has demonstrated remarkable effort and improvement. The jury’s still out on whether she can break through at an even higher level. Based on her progress so far, though, and ability to connect with fans, there’s reason to believe she could be a dark horse favorite to take Money in the Bank in 2026 or otherwise rise to at least challenging for a world title.

    Blake Monroe

    For the AEW and NXT faithful, it may seem a bit out of place to posit Blake Monroe as a rising star. After all, her epic feud with Toni Storm already saw her win a world title in AEW, and she has been a star from the onset in WWE’s developmental. To WWE main-roster-only fans, though, she may remain a relative unknown.

    Look for that to change in 2026. An awkward reality of the NXT Women’s Division has been that since Stephanie Vaquer dropped the NXT Championship, the North American Championship has enjoyed quite arguably equal, if not greater footing in terms of how much buzz it has behind it. Monroe may well move up to take the brand’s top women’s title in 2026. In fact, if she doesn’t, the most likely reason why she would not be an early call-up to the main roster before she has the chance.

    Lash Legend

    Lash Legend made an immediate impact on her call up to the main roster. Paired with Nia Jax, the two offer an imposing monster heel team. Moreover, Legend’s recent one-on-one victory over Alexa Bliss planted the seeds that WWE has very big plans for the former WNBA player.

    The women’s roster is loaded right now, but Legend and Jax are totally believable Women’s Tag Team Champions. Moreover, Legend can’t be counted as a contender for either a world, United States, or Intercontinental Championship contention sooner than later.

    Jordynne Grace

    Some fans have been surprised with Jordynne Grace’s limited success since signing with WWE. She had a lot of momentum coming out of TNA and a lot of tools that looked to set her up for success in WWE. Yet, she has come up short in her championship pursuits thus far and has looked at risk of getting lost in the shuffle more than once in 2025.

    Maybe all that doesn’t bode very well for Grace’s WWE prospects. On the other hand, maybe she is just waiting for her moment. Grace slots easily as an NXT Championship contender, besides every possibility of her reigniting her already major feud with Blake Monroe. Given Grace’s status as both an in-ring veteran and powerhouse, she could also fit nicely on the main roster whenever WWE needs her. Look for 2026 to be the year Grace and WWE put their pieces together and big things start to happen.

  • Title Rematch Announced For NXT New Year\’s Evil After Botched Finish

    A title rematch has been announced for New Year\’s Evil.

    The December 17 episode of NXT saw Thea Hail beating Blake Monroe for the NXT North American Championship with an awkward finish. It was revealed afterward that Monroe was originally supposed to win the match, and the finish to the bout had been botched.

    This week\’s episode of the development show then featured the new champion celebrating her win with a promo. A distraught Monroe interrupted this segment.

    The former AEW Women\’s Champion once again demanded a rematch for the belt. This time, Hail agreed to the bout for the upcoming NXT special before the two started brawling.

    NXT New Year\’s Evil 2026 Updated Match Card

    The New Year\’s Evil special in 2026 is going to take place from Performance Center on January 6. Below is the updated match card for the event:

    • NXT Women\’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) (with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) vs. Kendal Grey (with Wren Sinclair)
    • NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Leon Slater
    • NXT Women\’s North American Championship Match: Thea Hail (c) vs. Blake Monroe
    • Singles Match: Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

    Atleast one of the names featured in this card is expected to be main roster-bound soon. You can check out more about it here.

  • WWE Rumor Roundup: Cena Backlash, NXT Botch, WrestleMania 42 Plans

    Here’s your WWE Rumor Roundup for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, featuring the latest backstage news and speculation from around the wrestling world.

    WWE “Blindsided” by Cena Tap-Out Backlash

    WWE was “blindsided” by the overwhelmingly negative fan reaction to Cena tapping out to GUNTHER at Saturday Night’s Main Event, despite the decision coming from the very top. Multiple people within the company disagreed with the finish, but Triple H made the call. Meltzer reported there was “no discussion” backstage about anticipating the reaction. RVD also weighed in on the match, sharing his disappointment that the bout wasn’t longer.

    NXT Title Change Was a Botch

    Thea Hail’s NXT Women’s North American Championship win over Blake Monroe was unplanned. Monroe reportedly had the wind knocked out of her and couldn’t get her shoulder up in time. The botch sparked a backstage scramble, forcing rapid creative adjustments for upcoming tapings.

    LA Knight Written Off – Likely a Work

    WWE announced Knight is out “indefinitely” with a cracked sternum after The Vision destroyed him. Per reports, this is almost certainly a work to give him a holiday break after 65 matches in 2025—more than any other WWE Superstar. Royal Rumble surprise return seems likely.

    Bron Breakker Favored to Win Royal Rumble

    Breakker is considered the “whiteboard favorite” to win the 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. Even with his January 5 World Heavyweight Championship match against CM Punk, he’s still reportedly penciled in as the winner. Randy Orton is also rumored for a Royal Rumble return.

    WrestleMania 42 Main Events Taking Shape

    Current plans for WrestleMania 42 are Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns III for the Undisputed WWE Championship and CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship. This marks a shift from the original plan of Reigns vs. Seth Rollins. Rhodes and Reigns signaled renewed rivalry after their WarGames loss at Survivor Series.

    Brock Lesnar vs. GUNTHER Being Planned for WrestleMania

    According to Self Made Pro, WWE is now planning Lesnar vs. GUNTHER for WrestleMania 42. It was originally going to be GUNTHER vs. Bron Breakker, but now that Breakker is set for a title match, Lesnar gets The Ring General instead. GUNTHER has now retired both Bill Goldberg and John Cena.

    WWE High on NXT Talent After SNME

    WWE reportedly came away very encouraged by NXT talent showcased at Saturday Night’s Main Event, with officials clearly seeing long-term upside in Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Leon Slater, Je’Von Evans, and Joe Hendry. Leon Slater has already earned an NXT Championship match against Oba Femi at New Year’s Evil.

    Maxxine Dupri Vignettes Getting Praise Backstage

    The recent video packages focusing on Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri and Nattie Neidhart have been earning positive reactions backstage. Multiple talents have spoken favorably about the presentation.

    Seth Rollins Targeting February Return

    Rollins is hoping for a February return to start training for WrestleMania season, though wife Becky Lynch apparently questioned the feasibility of that timeline. His trainer confirmed he’s out of his sling and rehab is going well.

  • Backstage News On Botched Title Match Finish On NXT

    WWE officials were left scrambling after unplanned finish to an NXT title match.

    The latest episode of the development show featured Thea Hail challenging Blake Monroe for the Women\’s North American Championship. The title match ended on an awkward note as Monroe failed to get her shoulder up in time during a pin spot.

    Hail herself looked very surprised when the referee called for the bell. It took a while before her music played in the arena after her victory and there was heavy speculation that the match was not supposed to end this way.

    Fightful Select provided an update on the situation, confirming that Blake Monroe was scheduled to retain her title before the botched finish to the bout. They report that creative plans were set for the title for the next couple of weeks.

    Officials were left scrambling after the unplanned championship change, and the whole thing ended up affecting plans for multiple people. Though there was no update on who took the blame for the situation, as the people involved immediately started working on making adjustments to the creative.

    The new champion Thea Hail, was featured in an interview segment later in the show with Jordynne Grace. Grace mentioned that Hail found a path to the championship quicker than herself. Blake Monroe then made an appearance, blaming the referee for the finish and demanding a rematch.

    A date for this rematch has not been revealed. With NXT New Year\’s Evil special being only three weeks away, we\’ll have to see how the company alters the plans for the title heading into the event.