Former NXT wrestler Santana Garrett has returned to WWE in a new role.
Garrett announced on Monday that she’s back working for WWE as a Performance Center coach. She was previously with WWE as a wrestler from 2019 until being released in June 2021.
Garrett tweeted a photo of herself in a WWE shirt on Monday and captioned it with “This is NOT a throwback…#WWE #NXT #PC #Coach #Orlando #PerformanceCenter #ProWrestling #WomensWrestling #SantanaGarrett”
On her Instagram Stories, Garrett spoke about her new role and revealed that she was in a class helping with new hires on Monday.
“First day back and I’m in a class helping with new hires,” Garrett said. “These girls are less than three months in, and they are amazing. Like, I think back to me three months in and I see these girls and I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I had no chance.’ But then also, to be fair, I just learned how to put my own eyelashes on like a year ago. So, slow learner I guess.
“And a huge thank you for the overwhelming support. I am blown away. The messages already, I just posted like 15 minutes ago. But thank you, thank you guys so much. So nice.”
Garrett took part in the 2017 Mae Young Classic before signing with WWE in 2019. In addition to wrestling for NXT, Garrett wrestled on one episode of Raw in 2020 and one episode of Main Event that same year. She was also an entrant in the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble match.
After being released by WWE, Garrett had four matches for AEW in 2021.
AEW has made a new match announcement for tonight’s Full Gear go-home edition of Rampage.
Jade Cargill and Santana Garrett will face off on Rampage tonight, with the match marking the one-year anniversary of Cargill signing with AEW. Cargill is currently involved in AEW’s TBS title tournament and is set to face Red Velvet in the quarterfinals. Red Velvet will be seated at ringside for tonight’s Cargill vs. Garrett match.
AEW’s Tony Khan tweeted: “Today’s the 1 year anniversary of @Jade_Cargill signing with @AEW! To celebrate I’ve booked Jade vs. savvy veteran wrestler @SantanaGarrett_ TONIGHT on #AEWRampage! Watching closely will be Jade’s TBS Title quarterfinal opponent @Thee_Red_Velvet seated ringside for Tonight’s bout”
Tonight’s Rampage is taking place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The arena will also host tomorrow’s Full Gear pay-per-view.
Tay Conti will take on Santana Garrett on Friday’s Buy In pre-show for AEW Rampage.
Conti will be looking to extend a three-match winning streak while Garrett will be looking for her first win in her second AEW outing. She debuted against Diamante at the recent Dark tapings at Orlando’s Universal Studios, her first action since being released by WWE earlier this year.
The two have been in the ring three times before in NXT with one singles match that Conti won in November 2019.
The match joins Bryan Danielson vs. Minoru Suzuki and Bobby Fish vs. Lee Moriarty on the pre-show, a one-hour special on YouTube that will act as a lead-in for the live Rampage show from Miami.
Here’s the full card for the night:
Rampage Buy In pre-show at 9 PM Eastern:
Bryan Danielson vs. Minoru Suzuki
Bobby Fish vs. Lee Moriarty
Tay Conti vs. Santana Garrett
Rampage at 10 PM Eastern:
CM Punk vs. Matt Sydal
Ruby Soho vs. The Bunny
The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara) vs. Men of the Year (Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page) and Junior dos Santos
There’s an axiom that goes back to the beginning of time, which is that you draw based on the main event and not the depth of the show. It’s been shown over-and-over again in every combat sport. Granted, in wrestling, things have changed in the sense that WWE draws based on the name value of its biggest shows although in the PPV era, the highs and lows of those shows were always main event based.
Double or Nothing on 5/30 turned out to be the exception, because most saw it as a deep card, but it didn’t have the killer main event that other shows had. But it ended up as the second most successful PPV show in company history, trailing only Revolution earlier this year.
Unlike with Revolution, which, when it became clear it was breaking the old record, we asked people why and the reason was largely exactly what one would think, people were interested in the explosive barbed wire match with Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW title and that match got people to buy.
This was a perfectly enjoyable Main Event once again this week. Liv Morgan and Santana Garrett had a decent opening match with Garrett looking a ease against the accomplished Morgan while Shelton Benjamin lost once again to Humberto Carrillo in another fine contest.
Show Recap:
Liv Morgan defeated Santana Garrett (4:38)
What had primarily been a show for those near the bottom of the roster (many of whom lost their jobs this week) is now featuring some new faces and one debut.
Morgan came into this having received some good reviews for her work of late as recent matches against Natalya and Asuka raised some eyebrows from those who had underestimated her.
Garrett is the latest NXT recruit to earn a spot on the show. She had been on the indies and working for SHINE and MLW before opportunities presented themselves both for Impact Wrestling and WWE television. She officially joined NXT in August 2019.
All told, this was a very athletic contest as both showed some really impressive in-ring work. Morgan does some great spots, like her Matrix Evasion into a clothesline, and is just clearly very comfortable in the ring. At only 25, she’s a real asset for WWE.
Garrett did a spot where she suplexed Morgan and rolled her hips as though she was going to go for the Three Amigos, but instead twisted around and bridged into a submission choke hold. Morgan escaped, but it looked great.
The only negative was the finish which Garrett didn’t take well. Morgan hit the Flatliner off the ropes and pinned her for her first win since the WrestleMania night 2 kickoff match.
Humberto Carrillo defeated Shelton Benjamin (5:41)
These two faced off against each other last month and you can see why they were paired up again. Their two styles compliment each other and they worked really well together here in a totally different match despite having the same outcome.
Neither Carrillo or Benjamin got near the WrestleMania card as Carrillo worked with Brendan Vink on the Raw the night after, but this was Benjamin’s first work since last month on this very show.
They went back and forth throughout this one. At one point, Benjamin paused to give a face to Carrillo as if to say, “Damn, look at you” as he tried to work out how best to outwit him. Benjamin not only put Carrillo over here, but went out of his way to be in position for everything. At one point, he fell awkwardly so that he was in position for a standing moonsault and got his knees up to block it. They then went up top and when he was punched off by Carrillo, he again made sure to be in position.
Carrillo came off the top rope with a beautiful moonsault to get the win. I’d happily watch these two each week. Carrillo is fully of verve and it’s a pleasure to watch an experienced pro like Benjamin put over a new face with such class.
Final Thoughts:
WWE Main Event is probably one of the few shows where it doesn’t overly matter about the lack of fans in attendance. Since it’s mainly made up of video packages and a Raw rehash with two short matches, it is fairly palatable and certainly inoffensive. Hopefully, more young talent will get a chance in future weeks as this company try to pull themselves out of the awful PR hole that they dug for themselves this week.
The latest WWE Performance Center class contains a number of independent talents and athletes.
The biggest name out of this class is current EVOLVE and WWN champion Austin Theory, real name Austin White. He was most recently shown on-camera at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, sitting in the crowd.
Santana Garrett, who has had runs in WOW and Impact Wrestling, has also signed with WWE. She has previously worked NXT dates for a number of years as an enhancement talent and was also part of the 2017 Mae Young Classic, where she was eliminated in the first round by Piper Niven.
Kendo Kashin has also signed with WWE as a trainer. He’s had runs in both New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling, having won both of their junior heavyweight titles. He’s mostly worked for independent promotions in recent years.
The rest of the class includes:
Tehuti Miles, who previously attended tryouts in 2017 and 2018. Has wrestled previously in the Maryland independent scene.
EJ Ndunka, who has played in the CFL, IFL and AFL and has also become a champion bodybuilder. He previously attended tryouts in December 2018 and an earlier tryout in April of this year.
Aleksandar Jaksic, who has trained under Santino Marella and Alex Wright. He has been wrestling in Germany under the name LX Ken.
Briana Brandy, a hip-hop artist who has toured with Soulja Boy and Jadakiss in the past and is also a boxing trainer. She previously attended a tryout in June of 2017.
Rita Reis, a Ju-Jitsu world champion, winning gold in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2017. She has also won medals in judo.
Marcos Gomes, a Brazilian who has also trained in Jiu-jJtsu but also instructs Muay Thai.
Catalina Garcia, a Chilean who has wrestled under the name Jessy in the independent scene for promotions such as Revolucion Lucha Libre and Caldenstino.
It will be Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett to decide the new NWA Women’s Champion. Kay, who was formerly known as Sienna in Impact Wrestling, was originally supposed to challenge Jazz for the title at the Crockett Cup.
A women’s legend will present the title to the winner. The NWA will announce who the legend is tomorrow.
The Crockett Cup is taking place at Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina this Saturday (April 27) and will air live on HonorClub, pay-per-view, and Fite TV.
Jazz posted a statement yesterday about why she had to vacate the title: “Due to medical and personal issues in my life at this time. I’m having to turn the belt over without defending it. I will post again soon… Thanks for your support. S/O to @nwa for giving me the opportunity of being the best Women’s Champion. One helluva run. Got to work some of the best talent in the game today.. hopefully this will not be the end. Until. #Andstill.”
The winners of the Crockett Cup will be crowned in a one-night tag team tournament at Saturday’s show. Marty Scurll challenging for Nick Aldis’ NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship is also set, and Willie Mack will defend the NWA National Championship against Colt Cabana.
Here’s the bracket for the Crockett Cup:
Block A —
The Briscoes (Jay & Mark) vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King) vs. Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata
Block B —
Flip Gordon & Bandido vs. Stuka Jr. & Guerrero Maya Jr.
Crimson & Jax Dane vs. the winners of a wild card battle royal (which will take place that night)
