Tag: Candice LeRae

Finals set for WWE NXT Women’s Speed Championship tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The finals for the Speed Women’s Championship title shot at No Mercy is now official.

Laney Reid will face Candice LeRae in the finals after she scored a surprising victory over Faby Apache on Tuesday’s NXT. As the match neared its conclusion Natalya, Apache’s opponent for Worlds Collide, came out of the crowd and stared down Apache. The brief distraction allowed Reid to dodge a swanton bomb attempt and connected with a running knee strike for the shock win.

Candice LeRae, the first-ever Women’s Speed Champion, defeated TNA’s Xia Brookside last week to advance. The winner between Reid and LeRae will go on to face Sol Ruca at NXT No Mercy on September 27.

It was announced back at NXT Great American Bash that the Speed titles would be coming to the NXT brand, weeks after Sol Ruca began appearing on television with her title despite winning it earlier in the year. The fate of the men’s title remains unknown, as El Grande Americano has not shown his championship on television nor has he appeared on NXT.

First wrestler advances in WWE Women’s Speed Championship tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Candice LeRae is moving to the next round.

The first-ever Women’s Speed Champion was the first to advance in the tournament to crown a new number one contender on Tuesday, defeating TNA’s Xia Brookside. With around 24 seconds remaining in the three-minute match, LeRae pinned Brookside after a lionsault, moving to the next round. She will face the winner between AAA’s Faby Apache and NXT’s Laney Reid.

Last month it was officially announced that the Speed titles were coming to NXT. Ava revaled a tournament would be held to determine Sol Ruca’s next challenger. The winner of the tournament will get their title shot at NXT’s next PLE, No Mercy on September 27.

The fate of the Speed titles were unclear for a time after the show was dropped from X earlier in the summer. Around the same time, Ruca started to carry around her Speed Championship on NXT television, something she hadn’t done despite winning the title back in April. El Grande Americano, who holds the men’s championship, has yet to be seen with the belt on Raw while no plans have been announced regarding his title.

Participants revealed for upcoming WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Competitors have been revealed for the upcoming WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament.

NXT General Manager Ava revealed that Candace LeRae, who will represent WWE’s main roster, will take on TNA’s Xia Brookside next week in the first match of the tournament. AAA’s Faby Apache, meanwhile, will take on NXT’s Laney Reid. The eventual winner of the mini-tournament will then face Sol Ruca for the Speed Women’s Championship at NXT No Mercy on September 27. 

It was announced at NXT’s Heatwave event over the weekend that the Speed titles would be coming to the brand. Ruca has been seen with the championship in recent weeks, but never showed her championship on television until recently. She won the title back on April 11.

The future of the men’s title hasn’t been brought up on NXT programming. That championship is held by El Grande Americano, who has yet to appear on television wearing the title.

New episodes of WWE Speed stopped after July 9, with WWE providing no information on when the series will return. A recent report by Dave Meltzer seemed to indicate that the show had been dropped, despite WWE signing a two-year deal with X to air Speed exclusively on the platform.

Sol Ruca wins WWE Speed Women’s title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NXT wrestler Sol Ruca is the new WWE Speed Women’s Champion.

Kicking off the first title reign of her pro wrestling career, Ruca defeated Candice LeRae on WWE Speed today to win the show’s Women’s Championship. The title change was taped at SmackDown in Seattle last Friday.

LeRae, the inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Champion, made two other defenses in her reign before dropping the title to Ruca. Those previous defenses against Natalya and Zoey Stark ended with LeRae retaining in five-minute draws. She attempted to get herself disqualified against Ruca, but the referee took the Speed title belt away from LeRae before she could use it as a weapon.

Ruca went on to hit the Sol Snatcher to win the championship with one minute remaining on the clock.

This Saturday, Ruca could become a double champion at NXT Stand & Deliver. She’s one of the participants in a ladder match for the vacant NXT Women’s North American Championship at the WrestleMania weekend event. It will be Ruca vs. Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Izzi Dame vs. Lola Vice vs. Thea Hail.

A number one contender’s tournament for the Men’s WWE Speed Championship begins with Alex Shelley vs. Wes Lee airing on X/Twitter at noon Eastern this Friday. Shelley vs. Lee and Erik vs. El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) are the first-round matchups in the tournament to decide Dragon Lee’s next challenger.

WWE Speed spoilers from Seattle

Posted on by Ian Carey

A championship match was filmed for WWE Speed at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Friday night.

Sol Ruca is the new WWE Speed Women’s Champion after defeating Candice LeRae for the title. The 25-year-old earned her shot at the belt by defeating Katana Chance and Michin in recent weeks.

LeRae became the inaugural WWE Women’s Speed Champion last October by defeating IYO SKY in the finals of a tournament. She retained the title twice via time-limit draw prior to her loss to Ruca, going to a draw with Natalya on the January 10 taping in Phoenix, Arizona, and another with Zoey Stark on the February 21 taping in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The win over LeRae was Ruca’s second big victory of the week. She also defeated Jazmyn Nyx on NXT to qualify for the NXT Women’s North American title ladder match at Stand & Deliver.

NXT star to challenge for WWE Speed Women’s Championship

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An NXT star is next in line for a shot at the WWE Speed Women’s Championship.

Sol Ruca became the number one contender to Candice LeRae’s title with a victory over Michin on this week’s WWE Speed episode. With less than 30 seconds of the three-minute time limit remaining, Ruca connected with the Sol Snatcher to defeat Michin.

Following her victory over Katana Chance in the first round, this was Ruca’s second straight win over a main roster wrestler in the Speed number one contender’s tournament. Ruca will get her title shot against LeRae on the episode of Speed that premieres on X/Twitter at noon Eastern time next Wednesday (April 16).

LeRae became the inaugural Speed Women’s Champion in October 2024 and has only made two defenses during her reign so far, escaping with the belt by going to time-limit draws against both Natalya and Zoey Stark. Title matches on Speed have a five-minute time limit.

The athletic Ruca joined the WWE Performance Center in 2022 after competing in acrobatics and tumbling as a college athlete. In addition to challenging for the Speed Championship next week, Ruca has a title match set for NXT Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania weekend. She’ll be one of the participants in the ladder match for the vacant Women’s North American Championship at the Saturday, April 19 event.

Candice LeRae goes to another time limit draw in WWE Speed title defense

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A trend is starting to emerge in Candice LeRae’s WWE Speed Women’s Championship reign.

After going to a time limit draw in her first title defense, LeRae did the same in her second defense of the championship. She faced off against Zoey Stark on this week’s WWE Speed episode. The match went the full five minutes without a winner being determined. Stark connected with Z-360 as the clock was winding down, but LeRae rolled outside of the ring. Though Stark was able to get her back in, the time limit expired before a pin could happen. LeRae keeps her title with this result.

LeRae became the inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Champion in October 2024. Her first title defense was a time limit draw against Natalya.

This Saturday, LeRae will be teaming with Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber in a tag match against Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus.

WWE Speed now turns its focus back to the men’s division with the start of a new number one contender’s tournament this Friday. Chris Sabin vs. Dominik Mysterio and Ivar vs. Yoshiki Inamura are the first-round matchups. The winner earns the next shot at WWE Speed Men’s Champion Dragon Lee.

Zoey Stark to challenge for WWE Speed Women’s title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Zoey Stark has a chance to win her first WWE singles gold on Speed next week.

A new episode of WWE Speed premiered this afternoon with Stark battling Shotzi in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament. After Shotzi started off strong, things got more even as the three-minute time limit ticked down. Stark connected with a superkick and hit Z-360 to pin Shotzi with 26 seconds remaining.

It will be Candice LeRae vs. Stark for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship next Wednesday (February 26). LeRae became the inaugural champ in October 2024 but has only made one title defense since then, going to a time-limit draw with Natalya.

Stark is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion but has never held any other titles in WWE. In a post-match promo after today’s win, Stark said she has something to prove — both to herself and everyone at home. This title shot is her chance to do that.

Featured on the WWE Raw roster, Stark is tag team partners with Shayna Baszler. Their Pure Fusion Collective stablemate Sonya Deville was among this month’s WWE departures with Deville being informed that her contract will not be renewed when it expires.

Trish Stratus & Tiffany Stratton challenge Nia Jax & Candice LeRae for WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A tag team match has been proposed for next month’s Elimination Chamber.

After Nia Jax and Candice LeRae assaulted both Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown, Stratus met with Stratton backstage and proposed that the two team together to solve their issues at Elimination Chamber. Stratton liked the idea, saying it would be Tiffy Time and Trishy Time. Announcers said it would need to be approved by Nick Aldis.

Earlier in the show, Stratus was interviewed in the crowd and said she would be at Elimination Chamber in Toronto. Later, while Stratton was defending the WWE Women’s title against Nia Jax, the ref called for the bell after LeRae blatantly interfered in the match. The two teamed up on Stratton as Stratus attempted to make the save. However, she was laid out by Jax who squashed her in the corner.

As the segment ended, Charlotte Flair came to the ring and sat down on a chair next to a recovering Stratton. It was there that Flair announced she would be challenging Stratton at WrestleMania 41.

Elimination Chamber qualifiers announced for WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

An Elimination Chamber qualifying match with Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso has also been made official for tonight.

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A pair of Elimination Chamber qualifying matches have been confirmed for WWE SmackDown tonight.

Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven and Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae will take place on tonight’s show with the winners earning spots in the women’s Elimination Chamber match. After making her return in the Royal Rumble, this will be Bliss’ first one-on-one match in more than two years.

Qualifying for Elimination Chamber began on Raw earlier this week with CM Punk and Liv Morgan picking up victories. John Cena has also declared that he’ll be in the men’s Chamber match. The PLE is being held in Toronto on Saturday, March 1 with the men’s and women’s winners earning World title shots at WrestleMania 41.

FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee is hosting SmackDown tonight. It’s the Royal Rumble fallout edition of the show.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, February 7) —

  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae
  • Royal Rumble winners Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair will appear

Two matches added to WWE SmackDown card

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Also confirmed for tonight’s SmackDown is a singles match with Carmelo Hayes taking on Jimmy Uso.

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A tag team match has been added to the WWE SmackDown lineup for tonight.

Bianca Belair & Naomi will team up against Nia Jax & Candice LeRae on tonight’s show from San Diego, California. Though Belair & Naomi are the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, this will be a non-title match.

One week after Tiffany Stratton betrayed Jax and cashed in to become the new WWE Women’s Champion, there was a number one contender’s match on SmackDown last Friday to determine Stratton’s first challenger. Jax, Belair, and Naomi took part in the match but lost out to Bayley, who will get her title shot against Stratton tonight.

LeRae is aligned with Jax and interfered in last week’s match trying to help her win.

Here is everything that has been announced for SmackDown tonight:

  • WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Bayley
  • Solo Sikoa returns
  • Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Los Garza (Angel & Berto)
  • Non-title match: Bianca Belair & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Jimmy Uso

Candice LeRae & Natalya go to time limit draw in WWE Speed title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Candice LeRae is still the WWE Speed Women’s Champion after going to a time-limit draw in her first title defense.

A new episode of WWE Speed premiered on Wednesday with Natalya challenging LeRae for her title. In the final minute of the match, Natalya applied a Sharpshooter and was on the verge of victory. But LeRae was able to survive until the five-minute clock expired, retaining the WWE Speed Women’s Championship after the match ended in a draw.

Matches on Speed typically have a three-minute time limit, but that is expanded to five minutes for title bouts.

In a post-match promo, LeRae claimed that this wasn’t a draw and she was actually victorious because it was Natalya’s job to beat her within the time limit.

LeRae became the inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Champion in October 2024. Natalya earned this title shot by winning a number one contender’s tournament.

Next week, Speed shifts its focus back to the men’s division with the start of a new number one contender’s tournament. Chad Gable vs. Charlie Dempsey is airing next Wednesday (January 15). The other first-round match in the four-man tournament will be Chris Sabin vs. Grayson Waller. The winner of the tournament receives a title shot against WWE Speed Men’s Champion Dragon Lee.

Natalya to challenge for WWE Speed Women’s title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With a victory over Michin, Natalya has earned a shot at the WWE Speed Women’s Championship.

A new episode of Speed premiered today with Natalya and Michin colliding in the last match of a number one contender’s tournament. Michin went for Eat Defeat near the end of the bout, but Natalya was able to block it. Natalya tried for an O’Connor Roll that Michin was able to kick out of. A roll-up then got Natalya the pinfall victory with 46 seconds remaining of the three-minute time limit.

Natalya will challenge Candice LeRae for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship on the show next Wednesday (January 8) at noon Eastern time. It will be the first title defense LeRae has made since becoming the inaugural champion in October.

During the contender’s tournament, Natalya had two victories over B-Fab leading into this match against Michin. She defeated B-Fab in the first round, then there was a rematch in the second round when Zelina Vega — Natalya’s originally scheduled opponent — had to be pulled from the tournament due to injury.

The Natalya vs. Michin match was taped at SmackDown last Friday. In a brief post-match promo, Natalya declared that this is her time.

Natalya is a member of the WWE Raw roster and recently took part in the Women’s Intercontinental title tournament, losing in the opening round.

Women’s United States title tournament to begin on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE’s road to crowning the inaugural Women’s United States Champion begins on SmackDown tonight.

A tournament is being held to determine the first champion, and it starts on tonight’s show with a triple threat match between Candice LeRae, Bayley, and B-Fab. WWE posted a video this afternoon with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis revealing the news.

Aldis unveiled the new Women’s United States title belt one week ago. It will serve as a midcard championship for the SmackDown women’s division. LeRae, Bayley, and B-Fab are the first participants to be confirmed for the tournament.

The new title has been in the works for months. WWE has yet to announce if it will be following through on adding a Women’s Intercontinental title belt for the Raw women’s division.

Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is the venue for SmackDown tonight. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will be kicking off the episode.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, November 15) —

  • WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax defends against Naomi
  • WWE Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defend against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
  • Women’s United States title tournament first-round match: Candice LeRae vs. Bayley vs. B-Fab
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes opens the show

Candice LeRae crowned first WWE Speed Women’s Champion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Candice LeRae is the first wrestler to hold the WWE Speed Women’s Championship.

Five days after the match was taped, LeRae vs. IYO SKY in the WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament finals premiered this afternoon. SKY had the advantage until LeRae was able to get her feet up when SKY went for the Over the Moonsault. LeRae then hit a Lionsault from the second rope to win the match.

Title matches on Speed have a five-minute time limit, an increase from the three-minute limit for non-title bouts. LeRae defeated Sky with 1:12 left on the clock. After the win, LeRae celebrated with her tag team partner Indi Hartwell.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted a tweet congratulating LeRae:

This is LeRae’s first singles title reign in WWE and the first time she’s ever defeated SKY in a singles match.

LeRae defeated Piper Niven, Kairi Sane, and SKY during the title tournament.

Starting next week, WWE will begin a new tournament to determine a number one contender for men’s WWE Speed Champion Andrade. Sheamus vs. Giovanni Vinci, Bron Breakker vs. Cruz Del Toro, Dragon Lee vs. Tavion Heights, and Akira Tozawa vs. Riley Osborne are the first-round matches.

Sheamus vs. Vinci will air on X/Twitter at noon Eastern time next Wednesday (October 16).