Blake Monroe discusses working under Shawn Michaels in WWE NXT

Formerly known as Mariah May in AEW, Blake Monroe switched promotions and joined WWE last year as a part of Shawn Michaels’ NXT.

Recently speaking on The Wrestling Classic, Monroe opened up in detail about the experience of working under Michaels’ management.

Oh, that’s it’s awesome. I think the thing with Shawn [Michaels] is he was such a phenomenal wrestler, but he also has such a good character. He really understands how to tell a story and where to put those beats. And WWE is really heavy on entertainment and that story side. And that’s what I love. That’s what I thrive on,” Monroe said. The 27-year-old was also involved in one of the most talked-about AEW feuds with Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World title before she departed from the promotion.

But getting to, you know, when we work on different things, and he’s so hands-on. Matt Bloom and Shawn Michaels when we, you know, we have TV, they are so invested and so is the whole writers team, but Shawn will literally be ringside and he’ll give you advice and, you know, I think back to all the epic moments Shawn Michaels has had and I’m like, when he’s showing me, he’s like, you know, he never tells you how to do you,” she continued.

Like, he always says, you’re the glamour. You’re the woman from h**l. Like, I’ll never tell you how to do your thing. But, you know, I can see how Shawn Michaels would do it, and maybe the face he would make or the demeanor he would have or the way he would do something, and it’s like that’s pretty cool. He’s pretty much always right.”

Monroe is also a former WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion, having held the title for 52 days before losing it to Thea Hail. She is now scheduled to be in a match against Jaida Parker at NXT Vengeance Day.

Blake Monroe joined WWE for the ‘challenge’

WWE NXT Superstar Blake Monroe has opened up on her decision to join WWE NXT.

Last year, following a successful run in AEW and a rivalry against Toni Storm, Monroe (formerly known as Mariah May) jumped ship and joined WWE.

Recently speaking on The Wrestling Classic, Monroe explained her decision and revealed that she joined WWE for the ‘challenge.’

Well, as you can see, it’s challenging me in a lot of ways, but I came to WWE for the challenge. I came because I felt like everything I’ve done in my career, I’ve given my everything to, and I feel like, in a sense, I completed it, and I left with my heart full. With WWE, the women’s division is so deep. We have three brands, we have so many championships,” Monroe said.

We have so many women from different backgrounds, so right now I’m in NXT. There are anything from influencers to gold medalist Olympians coming up, so you have such a broad spectrum, and everybody has something different, and the one thing I will say about Jaida (Parker) is she has an attitude I have never seen before,” she further continued.

She has a charisma and an energy that I feel in that ring, since coming to NXT, that’s the most I’ve felt it. That crowd gets behind her and everything she says, she truly believes, and I respect that. So, it’s very exciting. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s making me elevate different levels of my game. I come from independent wrestling, I come from Japan, I’ve traveled the world. I wasn’t a D1 athlete, I didn’t train like that, so there’s something I could learn from them. There’s a lot they can learn from me, and I think mixing that up is why NXT is such a chaotic and exciting show every Tuesday.

A former WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion, Monroe is now scheduled to face Jaida Parker at NXT Vengeance Day on March 7th, 2026.