Tag: Mariah May

Former WWE NXT champion being discussed for call-up

Posted on by Josh Nason

Even though Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Lash Legend and Jordynne Grace were all called up to the WWE main roster recently and current NXT Champion Oba Femi expected soon, they may not be the only NXT talents on the way to Raw and SmackDown.

Fightful Select reported Monday that over the last few weeks, former NXT Women’s United States Champion Blake Monroe has been under consideration for her own call-up, potentially to the Raw roster.

“There was also discussion that immediate plans with Blake Monroe could be changing, including as soon as this week,” the outlet reported.

That would be a reference to Tuesday as Monroe is set to challenge Thea Hail for the Women’s North American title on Tuesday’s New Year’s Evil edition of NXT. Monroe lost the title to Hail last month due to a botched spot, resulting in creative needing to be changed ahead of their holiday break.

The 27-year-old Monroe signed with WWE in June 2025 after two years in AEW where she held the Women’s World title.

Blake Monroe explains decision to leave AEW and join WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For Blake Monroe, joining WWE was a chance to start a new chapter and find a new challenge in her career.

The former Mariah May was one of the top stars in the AEW women’s division before departing the company earlier this year. She made her NXT debut in June, taking on a new name but keeping “The Glamour” as her persona. She is currently feuding with NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca on the brand.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio After Dark, Monroe detailed why she chose to depart AEW when her contract was up. She loved her iconic feud with Toni Storm in the promotion, but she felt like it was the right time to experience something new.

“I mean, I had a fantastic experience and I did things I’m so proud of and cherish,” Monroe said about her time in AEW. “And when — I had a really short contract — and when it came to an end, you know, there were positives and negatives. But it got to a point with wrestling where, you know, I did have an amazing story, but that was the one thing I had. I didn’t have much else.

“And I just thought, ‘Is this everything I want?’ I also considered going to Japan, which I feel like nobody knows. And it’s something I talked to them about. And then when my deal was up, I just — people were like, ‘Just talk to WWE and just see.’ Because I wasn’t considering it, and that’s not an insult to WWE. It’s incredible. I just didn’t — I always just try to focus on one thing at a time [in] wrestling. So it’s like, I hadn’t considered it. And when I talked to them and they cared so much about ‘The Glamour’ and so much about all these different things, I was like, ‘Okay, now I do have a big choice to make.'”

It was a tough decision, but the WWE/NXT women’s division was ultimately where Monroe wanted to be.

“I really sat and thought about it. And it was a really, really tough decision,” she said. “But it just came down to — I did everything I needed to do. I feel like I told a great story. I feel like I made people feel something. And it’s time to close that chapter. And it’s time to start a new one — and like getting a new name and a whole new experience. And like I said, there are so many women here. Like, women’s wrestling is very important in WWE. And that’s something, as a woman, I want to be a part of. And just like I said, all these different matches and possibilities for me, it just was a great deal. And it was just a challenge. I want a challenge.”

Changing her name was something that Monroe was fully on board with. She is excited to start something new in WWE and turn this persona into a megastar.

“No, because if you’re familiar with my prior name, I feel like it was the end to a story — and I cherish that,” Monroe responded when asked if she would have liked to keep her old name. “I feel like it was kind of cool that [Mariah May] died almost and that’s done.

“And also, I can’t turn back time so I never really think about it, but Mariah is my real name and I wish I never used it in wrestling, because it’s weird. But I did it and I can’t change it. But just the chance to start something new, and I feel like with WWE, it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re going to make this new thing and we’re going to make it a megastar.’ And I feel like week-by-week we do that. And, yeah, I love it.”

The name “Blake Monroe” is a tribute to Monroe’s niece whose first name is Blake.

Now a few months into her NXT run, Monroe feels like she’s getting more comfortable and finding her footing. Being in WWE was a childhood dream for her. She has goals like winning championships, but the main thing she wants to accomplish is making the fans feel something with her performances.

Monroe listed Ruca and Tatum Paxley as two of the opponents she’s excited to face in NXT. When she eventually gets to the main roster, Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan are some of the people Monroe hopes to work with.

Blake Monroe makes WWE in-ring debut at NXT live event

Posted on by Ian Carey

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May, now wrestling as Blake Monroe, made her WWE in-ring debut on Friday night.

Monroe defeated Lainey Reid at an NXT live event in Fort Pierce, Florida. It was her first bout since losing the “Hollywood Ending” match to Toni Storm at AEW Revolution on March 9.

Blake Monroe on her WWE debut

Monroe released a vlog earlier this week that was filmed just before her NXT debut on June 3. She called becoming a member of the WWE roster the greatest achievement of her life so far.

“I didn’t think I was going to be in WWE and it still doesn’t really feel real to me, and I don’t know if I’m going to share this one because this is so personal — but this is maybe thus far the greatest achievement of my life to be a part of WWE.”

After her surprise debut, a vignette aired the following week announcing her new ring name would be Blake Monroe. She later said the name is a tribute to her niece and Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was attacked by Fatal Influence during her contract signing on the June 17 episode and did not appear on this past Tuesday’s show.

Blake Monroe: ‘Greatest achievement of my life to be part of WWE’

Posted on by Ethan Renner

New WWE NXT star Blake Monroe has posted a vlog filmed ahead of her debut, calling joining WWE “the greatest achievement of my life.”

Monroe, formerly Mariah May in AEW, posted the vlog filmed in her closet just hours before her NXT debut on June 3.

In the vlog, Monroe opens up about her doubts that her childhood dream of joining WWE would ever come true, and details some of the steps she took towards making that dream a reality, including training at Tyler Breeze and Shawn Spears’ Flatbacks wrestling school.

“I didn’t think I was going to be in WWE and it still doesn’t really feel real to me, and I don’t know if I’m going to share this one because this is so personal — but this is maybe thus far the greatest achievement of my life to be a part of WWE.”

Monroe also spoke about doubting that her WWE dream would come true as 2024 came to a close:

“I don’t know, I think I I felt a little dejected at the end of last year and I didn’t know [WWE] was an option for me. And I started training again — I actually started training at Flatbacks, which is an amazing school. I was training in Atlanta, and I just fell in love with wrestling again.”

Flatbacks is located in Florida, and it is unclear if Monroe was confused as to the location or is she was also training in a different place in Atlanta in preparation for her debut.

Monroe notes that support from her manager and her family helped quell that doubt:

“I fell in love with wrestling again, and I felt like I was back in the game and I wanted to do so much more. And I spoke to my manager and he said ‘I believe in you.’ And I spoke to people around me and they were like ‘I believe in you.’ And I spoke to my parents who were really the big ones, and even my dad said ‘Life isn’t a dress rehearsal you get one go this is your dream since you were a little kid.’ And so everything happened really quickly. And I’m doing it, I am officially a WWE superstar. I’m debuting at NXT tonight.”

The full vlog can be viewed in the embedded video below.

WWE NXT live results: Blake Monroe contract signing

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Two weeks after her debut, the former Mariah May is set to officially join the WWE NXT roster tonight.

A contract signing for the newly named Blake Monroe will take place on tonight’s NXT episode. In her first appearance for the brand, Monroe declared that she wants to be the next NXT Women’s Champion. That title is currently held by Jacy Jayne after dethroning Stephanie Vaquer.

We know that the NXT Women’s Championship will be on the line at WWE’s Evolution PLE next month. Tonight, the road to deciding who will challenge for the belt begins with four Evolution eliminator matches. They are: Jordynne Grace vs. Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan vs. Lash Legend, Zaria vs. Izzi Dame, and Thea Hail vs. Jaida Parker.

TNA stars Elijah, AJ Francis, and KC Navarro will be on tonight’s show for a six-man tag match. TNA World Champion Trick Williams is teaming up with Francis & Navarro against Elijah, Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Opening the show is the first of four Evolution eliminators.

Jaida Parker defeated Thea Hail in an Evolution eliminator match

Parker pinned Hail after a running hip attack. Parker had tapped out to a Kimura, but not in view of the referee. Hail thought the match ended because of the tap out, but the ref was oblivious. Parker then struck with the Hipnotic.

Heat on Hail during the body of the match, with Parker dominating on offense. Hail is a babyface in peril, but she fights back. Hope spot just before the show cuts its first commercial break. Hail sidesteps Parker, and Parker crashes into the metal ring steps.

While Hail looked to turn the tide, Parker cuts her off during the split-screen break. Parker tries her finisher as the show returns from the break, but Hail counters and applies a Kimura. Hail has Parker trapped in the submission hold. Parker struggles for the ropes, but Hail with a gator roll maintains control. Parker gets to her feet, but Hail still has the hold applied on her.

Parker maneuvers herself into a position where her left hand is hidden from the referee. Parker then taps out, but the referee does not see it. Hail releases the hold, and looks towards the referee. Parker strikes with a Hipnotic on an unsuspecting Hail, and Parker scores the pinfall.

Lash Legend defeated Kelani Jordan in an Evolution eliminator match

Legend pinned Jordan with a Lash Extension. They wrestled through a commercial break.

Asai moonsault by Jordan just before the show cuts to a traditional break. No split-screen. The match is rejoined in progress. Near fall for Legend after a pump kick. Argentine backbreaker by Legend, but Jordan counters into a codebreaker.

Cartwheel back elbow and Jordan is on a roll. Sliced bread by Jordan, and she leaps off the top rope with frog splash for a two count on Legend. Jordan goes for a split-legged moonsault, only for Legend to cut her off. Legend sets up for an avalanche back suplex, but Jordan turns that into a falling crossbody off the turnbuckles. Legend still powers out.

For the finish, Legend gets her knees up to block a 450 splash from Jordan. Legend executes her Lash Extension finisher, and Legend then covers Jordan for a pinfall.

Up next is the saga of melodrama with the Tony D’Angelo Family.

“The Don” is in the ring talking about being stabbed in the back by Stacks. D’Angelo does not know what is going on. Up is down. Down is up. D’Angelo says all he wanted from Luca Crusifino was his trust and loyalty, and D’Angelo claims he is not getting that from him.

D’Angelo calls out Crusifino and tells him to continue lying to him and the audience. Crusifino sticks to his story, but “The Don” is not sure to believe him. D’Angelo says the eyes never lie, so he asks Crusifino to look him in his eyes and tells him that Luca is not with Stacks.

Stacks interrupted before Luca can answer. Stacks is flanked by his new crew. Stacks tried to recruit Luca into his crew. Stacks says Luca knows what to do next. D’Angelo takes down a henchman from the new crew and a brawl erupts. Luca fights off the Stack’s crew while Stacks and D’Angelo have a hockey fight. Luca goes to presumably hit Stacks. Instead, Luca inadvertently hits D’Angelo.

Je’Von Evans is making the rounds around the locker room in a backstage skit. He briefly chats with a mean Jasper Troy. A moment later, a match is set up with Evans against Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he can leave No Quarter Catch Crew. Charlie Dempsey agrees to the stipulation, and Wren Sinclair hugs Dempsey in a comedy spot.

Eijah gets to do his troubadour gimmick before a commercial break. When the show returns, Elijah is in action for a six-man tag team match

Josh Briggs, Yoshiki Inamura & Elijah defeated TNA World Champion Trick Williams, AJ Francis & Wes Lee (with High Ryze)

Inamura pinned Williams to win the match. Inamura scoring a pin on the TNA World champ would seem to set up a TNA title match.

The trios bout goes through a commercial break. Elijah with a Randy Savage flying elbow drop just before the split-screen break. Inamura is being worked over when the show returns from the break. Hot tag to Briggs and he cleans house. Elijah tags in and further cleans house.

Everybody joins in and the match breaks down. After a shoves by Briggs, Lee inadvertently wipes out Trick on a corkscrew senton. Elijah then tosses Lee over the top rope into the arms of High Ryze at ringside. Meanwhile, Inamura is tagged in. Inamura leaps off the top rope with a flying body pres, and Inamura covers Trick Williams for a pinfall.

Izzi Dame (with The Culling) defeated Zaria (with Sol Ruca) in an Evolution eliminator match

Dame pinned Zaria, after a sudden appearance of Tatum Paxley. That was set up in a skit before this match.

The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Tatum Paxley hops the barricade at ringside just before the finish. NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca is in Zaria’s corner, and she is distracted by the sudden appearance of Paxley. Apparently, so was Zaria. A distracted Zaria takes a pop-up sit-out powerbomb from Dame, and Dame scores a three count.

Inamura gifts Briggs his TNA title shot in a skit that made little sense except Inamura envisions a world where Briggs is TNA champion and Inamura is NXT champion.

Jordynne Grace defeated Lola Vice in an Evolution eliminator match

Grace pinned Vice after Beast Mode. Vice drops the fall, but she looked strong in the match. It was also a good match.

The match goes through a commercial break. No split screen, and the bout is rejoined in progress. Great closing moments.

NXT GM Ava introduces Blake Monroe for her contract signing.

Monroe began by putting over NXT as having the best women’s division. That seriousness was met with sexual innuendo, as Monroe says she cannot wait to jump into bed with the talent in NXT. WWE has always been her dream and now she is here.

She claims to raise the bar, turn heads and redefine what being a star means. The spotlight is now on her, and Monroe signs the contract with a custom pink pen that compliments her character.

Out comes the heel trio of Fatal Influence. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne is joined by Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz. Jayne cuts a promo on Monroe, leading to Monroe decking Jayne with a right hand. Henley then brawls with Monroe. Jayne recovers and the Fatal Influence trio jumps Monroe. They pose over a fallen Monroe.

The heels leave the ring with Monroe still selling the attack, and Jayne poses with her title belt as the show fades to black.

WWE files ‘Blake Monroe’ trademark for Mariah May’s new name

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has officially applied to trademark “Blake Monroe” — the new in-ring name for Mariah May.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion made her NXT debut last week but was not identified by name during that appearance. Last night, it was revealed that she is now going by Blake Monroe. A video aired on NXT with May introducing herself and her new name to the audience.

WWE filed its trademark to secure the rights to the “Blake Monroe” name yesterday, with the application covering goods and services relating to performances by a professional wrestler:

  • Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment

The new name was chosen by May as a reference to her niece Blake.

A contract signing for Blake Monroe will take place on NXT next week. When she makes her NXT in-ring debut, it will be the first time the former Mariah May has wrestled since losing to Toni Storm at AEW Revolution this March.

Mariah May’s new name revealed on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Say hello to Blake Monroe.

In a video stylized like a old Hollywood newsreel, May could be seen getting out of a bathtub and preparing to go out while newspapers appeared on the screen emphasized her ‘Glamour’ nickname. After some teasing, it was revealed that going forward she would be known as Blake Monroe.

May made her debut in NXT on last week’s show, informing everyone that she was looking to go after the NXT Women’s championship and that NXT had just become more glamorous. Neither May or the announce team mentioned her name.

After spending most of 2024 feuding with Toni Storm, May lost to Storm in a ‘Hollywood Ending’ match at AEW Revolution in March. Not too long after, reports started to surface that May would be leaving the company when her contract ran out later in the year. Just a few days before her WWE debut, it was reported that AEW had removed May from their roster page, usually a sign that someone had officially departed from the company.

Fight Game: WWE Money in the Bank & Worlds Collide previews

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked off the show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before hitting the major AEW and WWE topics of the week.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • The contracts of R-Truth, Carlito and Valhalla (Sarah Logan) not being renewed.
  • AEW’s four-hour Fyter Fest block
  • Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada official for AEW All In
  • AEW Summer Blockbuster card
  • Mariah May and Tyra Mae Steele’s debuts on NXT
  • Money in the Bank & Worlds Collide previews

We’ll be back Sunday night on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel with Fight Game MAS.

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

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Mariah May signs with Paradigm Talent Agency

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s newest star has new representation.

Deadline reports that Mariah May has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency to represent her in all of her career ventures including wrestling, potential scripted and unscripted television projects, film, as well as handling her branding.

Paradigm is a top Hollywood talent agency that also represents a litany of WWE stars including CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest, Alexa Bliss, and Liv Morgan. Represented by Paradigm, Morgan recently landed a role in the Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo film and took a hiatus from WWE TV as the movie was shot in Japan.

May joined the WWE NXT roster this week, debuting on Tuesday’s NXT TV episode on The CW. Her WWE ring name will likely be changed, as she was not referred to by name by the NXT commentary team in her first appearance.

A former AEW Women’s World Champion, May left the promotion earlier this year with her final appearance with AEW coming at the Revolution pay-per-view in March where she lost a “Hollywood Ending” hardcore match to Toni Storm, capping a two-year feud.

Daily Update: Mariah May, Matt Jackson, Mark Cuban

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Full coverage of Double or Nothing including length of the show and why, the main event finish and who knew, the long-term booking, how things can be adjusted time wise, PPV early estimates, going head-to-head with WWE and the current WWE strategy and is it working or will it backfire, and what was unique in business regarding interest levels for this show, and match by match coverage.
  • What did readers think of Double or Nothing and Battleground.
  • John Laurinaitis joins with Janel Grant in the lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. We look at the strategy, why the timing doesn’t make sense on the surface and what it shows about the belief of where the case is going, as well as Laurinaitis credibility as a witness, his past, and an amazing timeline look where the dots have never been connected before.
  • Saturday Night’s Main Event, the long-term of John Cena as champion, Cena’s last match, what match did the highest number, injury notes, Jesse Ventura and more.
  • WWE spoils a world title change in Mexico, the WWE strategy in Mexico, Alberto shoots a major angle, Worlds Collide matches and how business looks and more.
  • Salman Hashimikov, the unlikely IWGP champion, and the story of one of the best heavyweight amateur wrestlers in the world who had a short pro wrestling career, but a lot of major main event matches with legends.
  • Full coverage of NXT Battleground
  • The sad plight of BJ Penn
  • Best of the Super Juniors
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the shows of the past week, with demos, segments, how the shows are holding up, Netflix numbers and more
  • More on AEW talent at Arena Mexico
  • The Copa Juniors Cibernetico in Arena Mexico
  • MLW title matches at Arena Mexico
  • Nanae Takahashi retires
  • Lawsuit against Billy Jack Haynes by family of his murdered wife
  • The sad story of Shannon Spruill/Daffney
  • Unique independent matches
  • A crazy angle gets two police officers legitimately suspended
  • The Jim Ross Award
  • Why things changed at AEW PPV as far as distribution
  • Why Josh Alexander signed with AEW
  • Keith Lee update
  • Ticket sales for upcoming AEW, WWE and TNA shows
  • Another lawsuit filed against TKO
  • Cain Velasquez talks Dana White’s help
  • More on future WrestleManias
  • Update on UFC & WWE rights negotiations that will happen later this year
  • WWE main roster call-ups expected and where
  • Comparing the Raw ratings from January to last week while taking sleight of hand manipulations out
  • WWE stars in TV shows

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana TNA World Championship main event from NXT last night.
  • Mariah May celebrated her NXT arrival with cake, balloons, and flowers.
  • WWE has not identified May by name yet, indicating that a name change is likely. The YouTube video of her debut is titled “SHE’S HERE! The NXT Women’s division just became more glamorous,” and the description is “One of the biggest free agents in the world comes to NXT to confront NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne.”
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Santino Marella praised his daughter Arianna Grace for how hard she worked to get hired by WWE:
    • So her first tryout, she was not ready, and she didn’t get hired. Then the switch went off, she packed up, moved to Orlando. She was training at multiple schools, busting her ass, got in great shape. And then when she received another tryout, she just blew them away. She was the talk of the tryout, and she got hired from that, she was just in shape, and this time she was ready. So it was no freebies. When you’re a second-generation talent, the idea of receiving a freebie is a horrible thing to be accused of. Some people will also understand that you’re going to be given an opportunity, but it’s up to you to capitalize on the opportunity. I remember talking with Cody when he was younger, that was one of the worst things you could say to him ever, was you’re only here because your dad. So he became super hard working to eliminate and remove the potential for someone to even say that. I think he’s done a great job, working so hard that no one could say that to him anymore.
  • Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins were on KTLA in Los Angeles this morning promoting Saturday’s Money in the Bank PLE.
  • Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio took part in a Sneaker Shopping episode for Complex.
  • NXT Champion Oba Femi joined Sheamus on this week’s edition of Celtic Warrior Workouts.
  • CM Punk was featured on a new episode of WWE Tattooed.
  • Sports Illustrated interviewed Roxanne Perez.
  • Big E will be making an appearance at Pancheros Mexican Grill in Somerset, Massachusetts on Thursday, June 12. He’ll be “greeting customers, signing WWE merch, taking pics with fans, and helping raffle off a year’s worth of Panchero’s burritos and WWE memorabilia.”

Other Wrestling

  • Matt Jackson said The Young Bucks would be interested in buying California indie promotion PWG (which has been on hiatus since 2023) if it was for sale:
    • Me and Nick have talked about a lot of things. We’ve talked about buying PWG. We’ve talked about starting our own indie. We’ve talked about a wrestling school. I don’t know. In the next few years, though, if we’re going to do something, it’ll probably happen in the next few years.
    • Let me also clarify, I don’t even know if PWG is for sale. So I don’t know why I said that. But if it was for sale, I would make an offer. So – Super Dragon, hit me up.
  • Lio Rush mourned the death of his dog Brixton:
    • This has been extremely hard for me to process. If you know me, you know how much he meant to me. If you don’t know, this dog was more than a dog. In fact he was more human than most humans I know. He was my kid, my brother, he was my friend, my protector. He’s been here with me through it all. Everytime I think I’m strong enough, I break down in tears thinking about all the memories and all the moments we had. From hotels, to road trips, to moving across the country multiple times. We’ve done it all and see it all together. I loved Brixton so much and everyone who came across him had so much love for him. Rest in peace brix. You’ll never be forgotten.
  • Yuka Sakazaki will compete at Tokyo Joshi Pro’s show in Dallas on the Sunday (July 13) of All In weekend.
  • AEW wrestler Anthony Bowens has been named the honorary grand marshal of Dallas Pride Parade 2025.
  • TNA Wrestling celebrated today being the 21th anniversary of the first episode of Impact:
    • Exactly this moment 21 years ago today, the first episode of #TNAiMPACT was broadcast on Fox Sports Net. Thank you to every single person who’s watched any of the 1089 episodes that have helped make TNA iMPACT! one of the longest running wrestling television shows in history.
  • Businessman Mark Cuban made a $10,000 donation to a GoFundMe campaign in support of indie wrestler Jeff Cannonball, who has been diagnosed with ALS at just 38 years old.
  • Shawn Talks Wrestling interviewed former NXT talent Javier Bernal.

Mariah May makes surprise debut on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Mariah May has arrived in WWE.

During a segment where multiple women laid claim to Jacy Jayne’s newly-won NXT Women’s Championship, everyone ended up brawling when the lights suddenly went out. When they came back on, May was seen on a perch. Fans at the WWE Performance Center recoginzed the former AEW star and reacted strongly. May said she had finally arrived and told everyone fighting at ringside that they could call her the next NXT Women’s Champion because the best women’s division in the world has just gotten more glamorous.

May’s name was not mentioned either by herself or by the announcers at ringside. Later, WWE posted a backstage video of May saying “it’s about damn time.”

May herself also tweeted on social media, writing “honey I’m home.”

It was reported last week that May was likely WWE-bound after her profile was removed from AEW’s roster page, usually a sign that a talent had departed from the company. Since losing to Toni Storm at AEW Revolution in March, May had vanished from AEW television. Back in April, both Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez reported she would likely be headed to WWE when her contract expired.

Making her AEW debut in November of 2023, May was involved in a lengthly storyline with Storm, first forming an alliance before May turned against Storm after winning the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation tournament. May went on to beat Storm for the AEW Women’s Championship at last year’s All In and held it until losing it back to Storm at Grand Slam Australia in February.

WOL: Can Mariah May outshine Tiffy Time & Stephanie Vaquer in WWE?

Posted on by Jim Valley

Image: AEW

It’s time for the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

Friday’s WWE SmackDown was in the shadow of the Knoxville Wig Sphere…um…Sun Sphere. Bianca Belair returned home, we had two qualifiers for MITB, tension between Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo, and Miz and Carmelo Hayes, JeVon Evans impressed, while John Cena called Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes Cena wannabes.

With Mariah May reportedly on her way to WWE, how will fans react to her compared to favorites like Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer?

Plus, Jim looks at tonight’s AEW Collision and John Laurinaitis flipping on Vince McMahon in the Janel Grant lawsuit.

Is AEW back? If you’ve been watching, you know it’s better, but it never left.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Fight Game: Is AEW back?

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I (Garrett Gonzales) are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We also put the show up for free on YouTube which you can watch below.

We kicked off this show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before hitting the major AEW and WWE topics of the week.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • AEW having some momentum
  • WWE’s counter-programming
  • If Hangman Page was the person who should have won the Owen Cup
  • Mercedes Mone & Toni Storm doing a strong TV rating
  • Mariah May
  • Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank cards so far

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

WOR: Mariah May’s future, AEW Double or Nothing PPV buys, other news from the WON

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back with our Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Here were some of the other things we discussed:

  • Mariah May’s future
  • AEW Double or Nothing PPV buys
  • The name of Vince McMahon’s new company
  • The timeline of John Laurinaitis becoming head of talent relations in WWE
  • Dark Side of the Ring on Daffney and the Muhammed Hassan character

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

Daily Update: Mariah May, Alberto El Patron, Phil Davis

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Friday Update

– Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing our week in review and business show today and if you have questions for the show you can send them to @Roheblius on Twitter. Bryan and I will be back with our weekend in review on Sunday night. We did an extra show up on the site yesterday.

– The new issue of the Observer is up on the site right now:

  • Full coverage of Double or Nothing including length of the show and why, the main event finish and who knew, the long-term booking, how things can be adjusted time wise, PPV early estimates, going head-to-head with WWE and the current WWE strategy and is it working or will it backfire, and what was unique in business regarding interest levels for this show, and match by match coverage.
  • What did readers think of Double or Nothing and Battleground.
  • John Laurinaitis joins with Janel Grant in the lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. We look at the strategy, why the timing doesn’t make sense on the surface and what it shows about the belief of where the case is going, as well as Laurinaitis credibility as a witness, his past, and an amazing timeline look where the dots have never been connected before.
  • Saturday Night’s Main Event, the long-term of John Cena as champion, Cena’s last match, what match did the highest number, injury notes, Jesse Ventura and more.
  • WWE spoils a world title change in Mexico, the WWE strategy in Mexico, Alberto shoots a major angle, Worlds Collide matches and how business looks and more.
  • Salman Hashimikov, the unlikely IWGP champion, and the story of one of the best heavyweight amateur wrestlers in the world who had a short pro wrestling career, but a lot of major main event matches with legends.
  • Full coverage of NXT Battleground
  • The sad plight of BJ Penn
  • Best of the Super Juniors
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the shows of the past week, with demos, segments, how the shows are holding up, Netflix numbers and more
  • More on AEW talent at Arena Mexico
  • The Copa Juniors Cibernetico in Arena Mexico
  • MLW title matches at Arena Mexico
  • Nanae Takahashi retires
  • Lawsuit against Billy Jack Haynes by family of his murdered wife
  • The sad story of Shannon Spruill/Daffney
  • Unique independent matches
  • A crazy angle gets two police officers legitimately suspended
  • The Jim Ross Award
  • Why things changed at AEW PPV as far as distribution
  • Why Josh Alexander signed with AEW
  • Keith Lee update
  • Ticket sales for upcoming AEW, WWE and TNA shows
  • Another lawsuit filed against TKO
  • Cain Velasquez talks Dana White’s help
  • More on future WrestleManias
  • Update on UFC & WWE rights negotiations that will happen later this year
  • WWE main roster call-ups expected and where
  • Comparing the Raw ratings from January to last week while taking sleight of hand manipulations out
  • WWE stars in TV shows

– A few comments regarding Mariah May. Her dream was always WWE, as was noted to us years ago when she was in Stardom. That’s why I was surprised she signed with AEW in the first place. It was a smart strategy on her part. If she had gone to WWE, she very well could have still been in developmental. Instead, she made a lot more money and got a chance to make herself into a legit major star, so she goes into WWE as, I don’t want to see a proven commodity because sometimes WWE dismisses outside work, but she does go in as a star and no doubt gets her dream of being in WWE and with a far higher profile, undoubtedly with more opportunity and obviously for far more money. It’s very clear doing the blow-off of the feud with Toni Storm early and never using her again was because they were aware she was leaving. To her credit, in her last match, she and Storm put on what could easily be called a legendary women’s match. It’s the same situation with Stephanie Vaquer, where she would have made more money elsewhere, in Vaquer’s case a lot more, but their dream was WWE. WWE counts on that, as the same reason they got May and Vaquer is also the same reason they didn’t get Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, because of the belief they would value a WrestleMania moment above a larger paycheck or a bigger push.

– SmackDown is tonight in Knoxville, TN, the home of mayor Glenn Jacobs with both John Cena and Cody Rhodes appearing. Bianca Belair also returns tonight. Two Money in the Bank qualifiers announced are Jacob Fatu vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes and Jake Cargill vs. Nia Jax vs. Naomi. The last Wrestletix report was 13,287 tickets out. It’s a larger building than most that WWE run as a TV taping real sellout would be closer to 16,300.

– We didn’t get the Tuesday ratings until today, but the NXT rating was 650,000 viewers with an 0.14 in 18-49 and 0.08 in 18-34. It was last among the networks but barely behind Fox in 18-49. They had very tough sports competition as the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers game did 6.71 million viewers between TNT and TruTV and a 2.06 in 18-49, while the Dallas vs. Edmonton NHL game did 1.52 million and 0.43. It was much tougher competition than AEW had Wednesday night.

– Collision tomorrow night should open very strong. Tomorrow night’s Knicks vs. Pacers game will be followed by the final episode of Inside the NBA. AEW will start at around 11:30 p.m. Eastern and 8:30 p.m. Pacific. Given that time, the first 30 minutes should have a big audience but Mascara Dorada vs. Hechicero at 1:15 a.m., well, that’s going to be tough.

– Former UFC star Phil Davis has filed a class action antitrust lawsuit against UFC and TKO claiming that their attempt to monopolize the industry and keeping down other promotions has damaged the earnings potential of top stars not in the UFC. John Nash first reported this. They also claim that it damages the earnings potential by not allowing fighters from other groups to face the biggest stars and challenge for the most prestigious championships. This is actually a very interesting case. He’s filing as a class action suit with the class being the top fighters not in UFC. They are not seeking damages but asking for all UFC fighters to have one year sunset provisions to allow the openings of other companies and an ability to bid on the top UFC fighters each year. This is the second suit filed this week against UFC and TKO, the first being former fighter Misha Cirkunov who sued to invalidate the clause in UFC contracts from 2017 to the present that ban suing over financial issues and that financial issues have to be settled in arbitration.

– For those who thought the Alberto TV Azteca angle was legit, he was on another television show on the same network that night. He got a lot of publicity out of this. While it is common knowledge in Mexico that he’s losing his title tomorrow night to El Hijo del Vikingo, in none of his media interviews have they brought up that obvious question. So it appears they had to agree to that. WWE could call an audible, as Bill Watts and Eddie Graham would have, but I’d be surprised here.

– It is official that the NXT Great American Bash show on 7/12 in Atlanta, GA, will start at 3 p.m. Eastern time. That is the exact same start time as AEW’s All In.

– UFC tomorrow will air at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and then ESPN joins in at 9 p.m. Eastern.

  • Rayanne dos Santos (116) vs. Alice Ardelean (115.5)
  • Bolaji Oki (155.5) vs. Michale Aswell (155)
  • Kurt Holobaugh (156) vs. Jordan Leavitt (155.5)
  • Jafel Filho (126) vs. Allan Nascimento (127.5) – Nasicmento missed weight by 1.5 pounds and will forfeit 20 percent of his purse
  • Zachary Reese (185) vs. Dusko Todorovic (186)
  • Ketlen Vieira (146) vs. Macy Chiasson (144) – This was scheduled at 135 but Vieira informed UFC and Chiasson that she couldn’t make weight so they agreed for it to be at 145. Vieira was fined 25 percent of her purse.
  • Dustin Jacoby (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (206)
  • Billy Ray Goff (170) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (171)
  • Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Ludovit Klein (156)
  • Maycee Barber (126.5) vs. Erin Blanchfield (125) – Barber missed weight by 0.5 pounds and will forfeit 20 percent of her purse

A Trevin Giles vs. Andreas Gustafsson match was canceled due to an injury to Giles.

– Arena Mexico tonight is the finals of Copa Juniors with Mascara Dorada vs. Zandokan Jr. The hot trios match is Mistico & Atlantis Jr. & Neon vs. Difunto & Volador Jr. & Barbaro Cavernario. They’re on a big streak as far as Friday night attendance so this should do well again.

– Tito Santana is being inducted into the Albany, NY, International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The induction will be on 10/2. He joins Trish Stratus, Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas as inductees on that date.

– What is currently listed as El Hijo del Santo’s last match in Mexico is 6/20 in Tijuana. It’s only billed as his last match in Tijuana and it’s on the Crash show. He has said he wanted to do more in other cities so we shall see. He will be working in London and I’m surprised he didn’t do a farewell in California. Santo will team with El Hijo de Rey Misterio (the legit son of Miguel Lopez) & Santo Jr. against Dr. Wagner Jr. & He Hijo del Fishman & D-Luxe.

– Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling on 6/6 in Newark, CA at the Pavilion is headlined by Aaron Solo vs. LJ Cleary. It also has QT Marshall vs. Bad Dude Tito and Alpha Z vs. Alan Angels. Cleary is the guy who was on Backlash and is the fiance of Lyra Valkyria.

– Maple Leaf Wrestling announced they will be doing a free show on 6/14 at the St. Clair College SportsPlex in Windsor, ONT at 2 p.m. Announced are Rhino, Gisele Shaw and Kylie Rae.

– Stephen Wonderboy Thompson faces Gabriel Bonfim for UFC on its 7/12 show in Nashville on ESPN.

– Memphis Wrestling TV tomorrow features Scorpio Sky.

– Kanji vs. Nina Samuels in a loser leaves town match for Progress is on its 7/27 show at the Electric Ballroom in London.

– Jeff Jarrett will be wrestling in Melville, NY tomorrow night at the Create a Pro Wrestling card at All Sportz Melville. Also on the show is Rich Swann, Luke Gallows, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, Bear Bronson and Alisha Edwards.

– Crusherfest takes place tomorrow in South Milwaukee, WI. Jimmy Hart has pulled out of the show. Tommy Dreamer will wrestle in the Saturday night main event. Chris Jericho’s band will be performing there tomorrow as well. The event honors the memory of The Crusher, the biggest pro wrestling star out of Milwaukee.