Roxanne Perez will compete inside the Women’s Elimination Chamber match on March 1, a bout with WrestleMania implications. The victor will challenge either Rhea Ripley or IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s World Championship this April in Las Vegas.
Taking to X (fka Twitter,) Perez shared that she promised herself ten years ago that she would compete at WrestleMania. With the opportunity to do just that getting closer, the Prodigy doesn’t plan on letting the chance “slip through my fingers,” and dedicated her match in Toronto to her past self.
10 years ago I began my wrestling journey and made a promise to my 13 year old self that I’d make it to Wrestlemania one day. I won’t let it slip through my fingers, this one’s for her.
Whether she wins or loses at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, WrestleMania certainly appears to be in Perez’ future. Since arriving in WWE in 2021, The Prodigy has established herself as a major name in the women’s division, with two reigns as NXT Women’s Champion to her name. With plenty of success already and at the tender age of 23, Perez competing at WrestleMania doesn’t appear to be a question of if, but when.
Perez will face some stiff competion in this weekend’s Elimination Chamber, with former Chamber winners Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair being a part of the match. Nevertheless, Roxanne has WrestleMania-sized dreams and is ready to fulfill the promise she made to her younger self.
During an Instagram Live session on Thursday, WWE superstar Charlotte Flair shared insights into her intense training regimen while engaging with fans. When asked who she sees as the “next big thing” in WWE’s women’s division, Flair immediately singled out NXT standout Roxanne Perez.
“I was extremely, extremely impressed by Roxanne in the Royal Rumble. I think she killed it. So, my vote is Roxanne, she has a really bright future,” Flair said. (H/T Landon Buford)
Perez, a former NXT Women’s Champion and ROH Women’s Champion, showcased her speed, agility, and technical skills during the Royal Rumble, standing out against top-tier competitors. At just 22, she is already considered one of the most promising young talents in WWE.
After losing her NXT Women’s Championship to Giulia at New Year’s Evil on January 7, “The Prodigy” competed in her final major NXT event at Vengeance Day on February 15. She has now successfully transitioned to the main roster and will be competing in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match alongside Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Bayley, and Bianca Belair.
Flair’s endorsement carries weight, given her decade-long dominance in women’s wrestling. As Perez continues to impress, fans will be watching closely to see if she can meet the high expectations set by one of WWE’s greatest champions.
Roxanne Perez is feeling immensely confident about her future after qualifying for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match on the latest Raw. After defeating Raquel Rodriguez, Perez gloated to WWE’s camera crew backstage:
“The Prodigy is going to the Elimination Chamber! Because nobody is on my level! Not anybody from NXT, not anybody from Raw or SmackDown, and especially not Raquel Rodriguez!”
Perez’s harsh words didn’t stop there, as she claimed it was “embarrassing” for Perez to lose to Perez, who’s still a part of NXT. Signing off, Perez declared herself “your future Women’s World Champion,” sharing her confidence that she’ll have a title match at WrestleMania 41.
Perez may be confidence that she’ll challenge for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania but her journey to Las Vegas will not be easy. Perez will be joined by Liv Morgan, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Alexa Bliss. For Perez, this won’t just be a match pitting her against some of WWE’s top women, but it’ll mark her Elimination Chamber debut, the only woman entering the match for the first time.
The Prodigy’s win on Raw will only further fuel talks that a full-time move to WWE’s main roster is coming for the two-time former NXT Women’s Champion. Win or lose at Elimination Chamber, fans can expect plenty more of Roxanne Perez in the WWE spotlight.
The final spots in this year’s Elimination Chamber matches were claimned during the February 17, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, giving a clear picture of what fans can expect next month.
Perez Punches Her Ticket
In out first of two qualifying matches, NXT’s Roxanne Perez earned a spot in the Women’s Chamber with a big win over Raquel Rodriguez. Perez scored the pinfall after hitting Pop Rox on Perez who’d been distracted with the ringside situation between Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, and Naomi.
Perez joins a star-studded field of competitors that’ll include Bianca Belair, Naomi, Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, and Naomi. This win on Raw was also a longtime coming for Perez who hadn’t won a singles match since her October 1, 2024 win over Giulia during WWE NXT’s debut on The CW.
Seth Rollins Enters the Chamber.
The final spot in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier saw Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins defeat Finn Balor during this week’s Raw in Charlotte, North Carolina. With his win, Rollins will join John Cena, Logan Paul, Damian Priest, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre. Rollins has faced all five men individually at WWE Premium Live Events and will now have to take all of them on once again.
The winner will earn a shot at The Undisputed WWE Championship held by Cody Rhodes, who returned to WWE in 2022 with a win over Seth Rollins. Now, McIntyre has the opportunity to get payback for that loss, and take the WWE Championship in the process, if he survives the Elimination Chamber.
Veteran wrestler Mickie James has responded to NXT star Roxanne Perez naming her as a dream WrestleMania opponent, hinting that she may step back into the ring.
While James hasn’t competed in WWE since the 2022 Royal Rumble, she has made multiple backstage appearances at recent shows. Speaking with No Contest Wrestling, Perez listed several wrestling legends—AJ Lee, Lita, Trish Stratus, Chyna, and Mickie James—as her dream opponents. She specifically noted that matches against Stratus and James could be possible in 2025.
James acknowledged the mention on Twitter, playfully responding:
“You gonna make me dust off my working boots @roxanne_wwe ?”
The six-time WWE Women’s Champion last wrestled in September 2024, appearing for IWR on September 12. Meanwhile, Trish Stratus recently made her in-ring return at the 2025 Royal Rumble, where Perez delivered an impressive iron-woman performance.
With both Stratus and James potentially available for a future match, a high-profile showdown with Perez could be on the horizon.
For Roxanne Perez, the 2025 Royal Rumble wasn’t just a career milestone—it was a childhood dream realized. Nearly a decade before she became the longest-lasting competitor in the Women’s Rumble, a young Perez stood outside a wrestling event, waiting to meet her hero, Nikki Bella.
In a resurfaced video, a teenage Perez excitedly tells Bella, “In five years, you’re going to need a tag partner.” But when Bella playfully suggested the idea, Perez had a different vision. “I’d rather wrestle you,” she replied.
Fast forward to this year’s Royal Rumble, and that’s exactly what happened. In a surreal full-circle moment, Perez found herself face-to-face with Nikki Bella in the ring, even engaging in a push-up contest before tensions boiled over. During an appearance on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, Perez recalled:
“Ten years later, I’m in the ring with Nikki Bella… and I almost slapped her!”
The moment encapsulates just how fast Perez has risen in WWE. The former two-time NXT Women’s Champion has already broken records, headlined pay-per-views, and now gone toe-to-toe with one of the biggest female stars in WWE history.
While she may not have won the Royal Rumble, her performance—including being one of the final two competitors—cemented her as a future main event player. And if history is any indication, it won’t be long before Perez’s next dream turns into reality.
Roxanne Perez isn’t just making history—she’s rewriting it. At the 2025 Royal Rumble, the two-time NXT Women’s Champion lasted a record-breaking 67 minutes, outlasting WWE’s top stars before being eliminated by Charlotte Flair in the final moments. Now, Perez has her sights set on something even bigger: WrestleMania.
Speaking on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast, Perez laid out an ambitious roadmap to the biggest show of the year.
“I’m going to go to Vengeance Day, I’m going to beat all three of those women and become a three-time NXT Women’s Champion,” Perez declared.
“Then, I’m going to go to Raw with my title and beat Raquel Rodriguez, win the Elimination Chamber, and go to WrestleMania to become double champion.”
It’s a bold plan, but Perez has a track record of turning dreams into reality. From becoming the youngest Ring of Honor Women’s Champion at 19 to winning the first-ever NXT Iron Survivor Challenge, she has consistently proven she belongs among WWE’s elite.
Her Royal Rumble performance cemented that. Entering early, she survived attacks from former champions and found herself face-to-face with Charlotte Flair in the final two. Though she came up short, the moment was a glimpse into the future.
“I don’t think the main roster girls are ready for me,” she said with confidence.
First, she’ll need to get past Vengeance Day on February 15, where she faces NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, and Cora Jade in a Fatal 4-Way match. But if Perez continues her rapid rise, her WrestleMania dream might not be far off.
Viewers of this week’s WWE NXT received a blast from the past as Bayley’s old ‘Hugger’ persona was featured on the show, but not by the former Women’s Champion.
As Bayley ascended the ropes to deliver her signature flying elbow against Cora Jade, the ‘Turn It Up’ theme song played and out came Roxanne Perez. This unexpected appearance momentarily distracted Bayley, allowing Cora Jade to capitalize. Jade executed two Double-Arm DDTs, one on the ringside floor, securing a notable victory over the former champion.
Bayley’s Hugger persona proved immensely popular with fans both in NXT and after her move to the main roster in 2016. In 2019, Bayley turned heel and ‘murdered’ the Bayley Buddies, ending her time as the Hugger so that she could become the ‘Role Model. This isn’t Perez’s first time dressing as Bayley’s lighter side, as she performed as Bayley during a WWE NXT live event near Halloween in 2022.
Bayley and Perez will challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship held by Giulia during this weekend’s WWE NXT Vengeance Day event. After costing Bayley her match this week with these mind-games, it remains to be seen if Roxanne Perez becomes a record-breaking three-time NXT Women’s Champion at the event.
Roxanne Perez is feeling immensely confident ahead of what could be the biggest week of her career to date in WWE. The Prodigy of NXT was spotted in the crowd during the February 10, 2025, edition of WWE Raw, where she watched Bayley defeat Lyra Valkyria in an Women’s Elimination Chamber Match Qualifier.
Speaking in a WWE Digital Exclusive, Perez, who declared herself the “Best damn wrestler in this business” teased what fans can expect in the coming weeks for her.
“I’m gonna go to Vengeance Day, and I’m gonna beat Bayley and Giulia and take back my NXT Women’s Championship. And then I’m gonna go to Monday Night Raw with my title, and I’m gonna beat Raquel Rodriguez [in a Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier.] And after that, I’m gonna go to the Elimination Chamber, where I beat Bayley once again and punch my ticket to WrestleMania.”
Perez recently broke the record for the longest stint in a Women’s Royal Rumble match and could set more records if her plans come to fruition. A win at Vengeance Day would make her the first ever three-time NXT Women’s Champion. Should she qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber, Perez will become the first NXT-contracted star to step foot inside the barbaric structure.
WWE’s use of Perez demonstrates the promotion’s immense fath in The Prodigy, who many expect to make a permanent move to the main roster this year. In the meantime, the “best damn wrestler” has big plans to prove herself both in NXT and on Monday Night Raw.
Roxanne Perez is making it known —she’s in Nashville, the host city for tonight’s WWE Raw. With her ongoing feud against Bayley, her presence has fans wondering if she’ll make an appearance on the show.
The former NXT Women’s Champion shared her location on Instagram, hinting that she could be involved in Bayley’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Lyra Valkyria.
Given their recent confrontations on the main roster, interference from Perez wouldn’t be a shock.
Perez is also set for her own Elimination Chamber qualifying match on the February 17 episode of Raw, where she’ll face Raquel Rodriguez. Additionally, she and Bayley will challenge Giulia for the NXT Women’s Championship in a Triple Threat match at Vengeance Day on February 15.
With major matchups ahead, Perez could make a statement tonight on Raw.
Roxanne Perez’s time in NXT appears to be winding down, with a main roster debut on the horizon. The 23-year-old standout delivered an impressive performance in the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match, including breaking the record for the longest time in a Women’s Rumble match.
According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, WWE has been considering Perez for a main roster spot since early January, with sources indicating it’s only a matter of time. Though a specific date for her move is not known, her role at the Rumble signals that her time in NXT is nearly over.
A WWE main roster source stated that Perez has been “ready for the main roster from a performance perspective for a long time.” Perez already has experience appearing on the main roster and is currently feuding with Bayley in WWE NXT.
With her immense talent, Perez has been labelled ‘The Prodigy,’ a moniker designed to show how big things are awaiting the former NXT Women’s Champion. Now, fans can expect those big things to crome to fruition in the near future on the main roster.
The January 14 episode of the Black & Silver show featured Roxanne Perez in the main event. The former NXT Women’s Champion talked about her title loss to Giulia at last week’s episode of the show and claimed that NXT did not deserve her.
This is when Bayley’s music hit and the main roster star came out to confront the 23-year-old. She tried to advise Perez on her future but the developmental star said that she didn’t ask for advice.
The two women then went back and forth on the mic talking about Bayley’s achievements in NXT. Roxanne finally lost her cool when Bayley referenced Cora Jade helping her retain her title before. The NXT star ended up attacking the Horsewoman and the two stars brawled as the episode went off air.
Bayley is set to challenge Tiffany Stratton for the Women’s Championship on this Friday’s SmackDown. After this bout was brought up in the promo today, it’s extremely likely that Perez will make her presence felt on the Blue Branded Show this week.
The announced ‘Transfer Window’ between all three of WWE’s brands is still open and it’d be interesting to see if this rivalry proves to be the catalyst for Perez’s move to the main roster.
2024 was a huge year for WWE NXT, with exceptional matches and moments over the 12 months. During the final WWE NXT of 2024, the silver brand handed out its end-of-year results.
Bayley is no stranger to competing at WrestleMania, and the Role Model is hoping her next match at the show of shows is against one of NXT’s top stars. Speaking to Going Ringside, Bayley shared that she’s eager to be the first WrestleMania adversary of NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.
“She’s killing it as the NXT Women’s Champion… I know everybody wants to work with her, but I’m selfish, so I want to get her first Mania match.”
Perez and Bayley are “really tight friends,” the Role Model added, which would make a potential WrestleMania showdown even more special. Bayley knows all about facing friends at the Show of Shows, including her former ally IYO SKY at this year’s event in Philadelphia.
Perez has certainly impressed during her three years in WWE NXT. Already a two-time NXT Women’s Champion, The Prodigy has quickly established herself as a top-name with fans speculating that a main roster call-up will come in 2025. Whether that’s the case or not, Bayley is waiting for the 23-year-old, and ready to lock horns at WrestleMania 40.
Other Highlights
Bayley discussed more than her dream match with Roxanne Perez in the interviews. She covered a number of topics, including:
Speaking about WWE’s Holiday Tour, Bayley shared that travel has been easier this year thanks to several events being hosted in Florida in a row.
On the topic of fans becoming wrestlers, Bayley said it’s a beautiful full-circle moment and singled out her own superfan Izzy Moreno, who is now a wrestler.
Bayley shared that when she joined, Natalya, Tamina, and Naomi treated her with respect and helped her feel welcome. Now as a locker room leader herself, Bayley strives to be as supportive to newcomers, including NXT signings and those who’ve joined from other promotions.
Bayley is recovering after being part of the Women’s WarGames Match at Survivor Series and is currently enjoying some downtime before returning to action.
It’s a new era for the NXT women’s division, and champion Roxanne Perez sees similarities to a prior golden era. Perez, who is celebrating her 23rd birthday today, appeared on the In the Kliq podcast and discussed the state of WWE developmental.
Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bayley reigned supreme and helped elevate women’s wrestling in WWE. They were dubbed the Four Horsewomen, a nod to the iconic faction led by Charlotte’s father, ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. With the recent additions of Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer and Zaria, some are drawing comparisons to the original Horsewomen.
Perez is proud of what they’ve built in NXT, and named herself, Cora Jade, Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer as the modern-day Four Horsewomen of NXT.
“I feel like we’re a little alike in different ways, in the same way, being that we have always wanted to be a part of the WWE since we were young.
We put in those years, those 1,000 hours to become great, and now we’re able to to be a part of the greatest women’s division in the world – and I think that that has a lot to do with us four women.”
Roxanne Perez says being part of a promo segment with CM Punk was a ‘pinch me’ moment.
The Straight Edge star has become a mentor for many NXT talents since returning to WWE. Two names that have especially become close to the wrestling veteran are Cora Jade and current NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.
The latter recently got to share the screen with Punk as well prior to her title defense against Giulia. She opened up about the segment while speaking to New York Post, and claimed that the experience was really insane:
“Oh my gosh. I mean to have an in-ring promo with the best promo I think ever, was so insane. It definitely was a pinch me moment. But the fact that I’ve been able to create a friendship with him and sit under his Learning Tree for months now. I think being able to have that relationship definitely made me so much more comfortable.”
CM Punk played the role of a moderator in the segment between Roxanne Perez and Giulia during the September 17 episode of NXT. Perez talked about Punk being her childhood hero but said that she should have been a Drew McIntyre fan instead.
Speaking about her promo on the night, the NXT Women’s Champion said that it was ok for her to give Punk some attitude, because it was something he would have done himself a few years ago:
“I do remember getting in the ring and starting to say my lines and just really feeling it. Because I was just like, ‘Wow, this is insane. I’m standing in the ring with someone that I looked up to my entire life.’ A part of me was like, ‘Well I can’t believe this.’
But another part of me was like, ‘Wait, I can believe this, because this is everything I’ve ever worked for.’ And I felt like I definitely stood my ground. I said a little…I gave him a little bit of attitude, something that he would have done a few years ago. So it was really fun. It’s everything that I’ve been working for.”
Perez was successful in her title defence against Giulia at the CW Premiere episode of NXT last night. Though she had help from a returning superstar. You can check out more about it here.
WWE presented the CW Premiere episode of NXT tonight from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. One of the featured bouts on the show was Roxanne Perez defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia.
The Japanese star was making her official in-ring debut for the development brand in the opening match of the episode. As expected, she dominated most of the bout.
Giulia sent Perez crashing onto the outside floor towards the ending of the fight. The referee started a ten count but both competitors beat it. Roxanne Perez then grabbed the Women’s title belt to hit her opponent but the ref stopped her.
When the referee was busy, however, a hooded figure dragged the former Stardom star out of the ring and delivered a DDT on the floor. The mysterious star dumped Giulia back into the ring where Perez picked up the victory with a Pop Rox. The figure then revealed themselves to be a returning Cora Jade.
The 23-year-old had been out of action since January this year. She tore her ACL during an NXT Live Event match against Lyra Valkyria.
Jade previously won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships with Roxanne Perez. Though their team didn’t last long as Cora Jade turned on her partner and then dumped the NXT tag title in a trash can.
It’s not clear if the events of tonight are leading towards a reunion between the teammates or if Jade has a different intention in mind. We’ll have to tune in to NXT in coming times to find out.
This week’s WWE NXT (the final before the gold brand’s move to The CW) saw Roxanne Perez and Giulia field questions ahead of next week’s title match. Speaking from San Fernando, Chile, and appearing via satellite, Vaquer interrupted proceedings, asking what the pair would do knowing they have her waiting for them on the other end of the title match.
While this marked Vaquer’s WWE NXT debut, it’s been teased for some time that Vaquer would be entering the women’s title picture. Mere days after Vaquer joined WWE, Roxanne Perez declared her superiority over both Vaquer and Giulia, making clear that the NXT Women’s Champion is keeping a close eye on her potential challenger.
Whether it’s Perez or Giulia who hold the gold this time next week, Stephanie Vaquer is waiting in the wings for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the CMLL alum and her role in NXT’s new era on The CW.
CM Punk’s 46th birthday is still a month away, but that hasn’t stopped his ‘daughters‘ Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade giving the veteran a gift. The two NXT Superstars didn’t need to spend a fortune to make their feelings clear on the former WWE World Champion and even included a reference to one of Punk’s most infamous moments.
On his Instagram Stories, Punk shared the gift in question; a birthday napkin claiming that the Raw Superstar is turning 100 years old. Punk is encouraged to “enjoy your fruit and protein” by his ‘daughters’ who he believes are “alright when they’re not being brats.”
At the top of the napkin is a quote from Punk that reads “I’m old and tired and I work with children.” Punk infamously delivered a variation of these words during his infamous All Out 2022 post-show rant. That rant and the backstage fight that followed would see Punk and other top names suspended from AEW and would forever shift the Best in the World’s relationship with the promotion. The napkin also includes an image of a cupcake, a nod to Punk’s sweet treat of choice as he delivered his post-show comments.
What’s to Come?
CM Punk will appear on the October 1, edition of WWE NXT, which will serve as the show’s premiere and fittingly take place in Chicago, Illinois. At the latest NXT, it was confirmed that Punk will officiate the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams.
Perez will also be in action on the night as she’ll defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia. Despite this napkin gift, Perez had strong words for Punk on the latest NXT, declaring that she now sees she should have been a Drew McIntyre, the man Punk will face in Hell in a Cell at WWE Bad Blood on October 5.
Interrupting Punk’s segment on the show, The Prodigy spoke about Punk being one of her favorite wrestlers but admitted that she always preferred Punk’s wife AJ Lee. Perez added that she wished she’d grown up as a Drew McIntyre, who Perez is confident will end Punk’s career at WWE Bad Blood inside Hell in a Cell.
These comments caught the attention of McIntyre who mocked Punk’s psuedo-parental relationship with Perez. On Twitter, McIntyre said he was proud of the reigning WWE NXT Women’s Champion, but only a freak would see her as a daughter figure.
Perez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia at the October 1, show that will also mark NXT’s premiere on The CW Network. The show will take place in Chicago, Illinois, and will also see an appearance by Punk. The Chicago-Made star will return to his hometown to officiate the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and challenger Trick Williams.
Just days later, Punk will step into Hell in a Cell against McIntyre at Bad Blood. This match will be Punk’s first Hell in a Cell match since 2013 and McIntyre’s first since 2021. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Drew McIntyre and his war with CM Punk that will see both men enter Hell on October 5.
Next month, WWE NXT will move to The CW as part of the biggest contract in the 14-and-a-half-year history of the show. WWE has already announced some big plans for the move and fans can expect multiple championships to be on the line.
Giulia Wants Roxanne Perez
At WWE NXT No Mercy, Giulia made her long-anticipated debut and confronted NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez following the Prodigy’s win over Jaida Parker. On this week’s WWE NXT, the two again came face-to-face. After Giulia dispatched of Chelsea Green, the Japanese sensation needed just three words to make her intentions clear.
WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page was also around this week, fresh off his victory at NXT No Mercy over Joe Hendry. The All-Ego champion argued that he, not Trick Williams should be kicking off the show, while Williams retorted saying he’s coming for the NXT title.
Page said that he intends to defend his championship when NXT moves to the CW next month, though doubted Trick would make it to the premiere show on October 1. Williams was then ambushed by Pete Dunne. A double count-out finish during their match later in the night led to Ava announcing a Last Man Standing rematch for next week’s show.
It’s not just high-stakes action that fans can expect when WWE NXT moves to the CW on October 1. With the premiere episode set to take place in Chicago, Illinois, CM Punk will be at the show. One week later, WWE NXT will travel to St. Louis, Missouri, and the city’s own Randy Orton will be around. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE NXT and its impending move.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez has asserted her dominance following an impactful main event victory at Great American Bash (Week One.) At the event, Perez defeated Thea Hail to keep her title reign alive. In a WWE NXT Digital Exclusive, The Prodigy reflected on her victory and named some notable women.
“I’ll give Thea her respect, because she almost had me there, but realistically, everybody needs to stop worrying about everybody else around the world. Not a Thea, not a Giulia, not a Stephanie [Vaquer].
“NXT is the best women’s division in the world, and this (NXT Women’s Championship) is on my shoulder, which means I am the best woman in the world.”
This promo from Perez is not the first time that the reigning NXT Women’s Champion has brought up Vaquer and Giulia. Perez namedropped both women, exciting fans eager to see The Prodigy work against these two exceptionally talented athletes. Vaquer has said that she will be joining NXT in the near future, making a showdown with Perez even more likely.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is enjoying a great run. She previously held the title in 2022 for less than four months. Reflecting on what’s different the second time around, Perez says her ‘heel’ persona has helped bring out her best.
In a new interview, Perez shared that the change from a beloved ‘Babyface” to her new persona has led to having more fun with her current role in NXT.
The champion spoke with Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Al Castle about the decision to turn “Heel” and asked if she had second-guessed herself about the character switch. Perez replied that she was eager to embrace the role because she wanted to step out of her comfort zone as a “Babyface.”
“I was really excited, honestly. I’ve always played the babyface role, which is why I can see why people would question it a little bit and wonder if it would work,” said Perez. She added, “I’m having so much fun with it. I’m definitely getting out of my comfort zone since I have always been in that babyface role. I think it’s really fun. I think that I’m definitely really stepping out of my comfort zone, out of the little box that I was in, and I feel like I’m definitely going to be able to do some really cool stuff in the future.”
Along with the character change, “The Prodigy” has also successfully retained her championship against the likes of Jordynne Grace, Natalya, and Lola Vice. As she continues dominating the women’s division, fans wonder when Perez will take the next step and transition to the main roster.
Roxanne Perez Comments On Main Roster Move
In the interview, Perez shared her thoughts on moving to the main roster and that her current run in NXT has conflicted with her transitioning to the bigger stage. “The Prodigy” noted that when she first got to WWE, she had already considered being on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown.
While the thriving “Heel” champion enjoys her second reign as WWE NXT Women’s Champion, Perez admits that nine years of wrestling experience has made her a little impatient for moving to the main roster.
“…I’ve been training for about nine years now, so to really think about that, like, oh, dang. I’ve been in the wrestling business for almost a decade. I definitely feel young but old in wrestling years, so that part of it kind of makes me a little bit more impatient to get up there, and I feel like I have all the tools to succeed up there,” said Perez. She added, “…There is times where I feel like the clock is ticking and people always tell me, you know, ‘You’re young. You have so much time,’ but I’m like, I know I’m young, but I have so much to give right now.”
Despite Perez’s eagerness to join the main roster, she also believes that her current run in the developmental brand is part of the journey to achieve her goal. At 22, the best years of the NXT superstar career are still on the horizon. She’ll look to continue her dominance as champion and prove that she is the best on the NXT women’s roster.
Fans of AJ Lee could see her back in the ring in the future, if Roxanne Perez and Lee’s husband CM Punk have anything to say about it. It’s been over nine years since the former WWE Divas Champion competed in WWE, with her final match being on the post-WrestleMania 31 RAW in 2015.
“I try (to talk to CM Punk about convincing A.J. Lee to return) but he tells me that he’s doing the same thing. He’s trying to get her to come back, he’s pulling her in but, I hope one day she decides to come back and have a match with me.”
In April, a rumor went around that WWE was actively working on recruiting AJ but that she wanted a memorable return rather than a one-off appearance. We later confirmed that this rumor was not true, and while she is well-liked and respected in WWE, her return was not a topic of discussion. At the WWE Money in the Bank post-show event, CM Punk also downplayed the idea of his wife’s return, saying he didn’t want to give fans false hope and is proud of AJ for “doing her own thing.”
If AJ Lee returns to WWE, there’ll be no shortage of delighted fans. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the world of WWE and beyond.
Former WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is certain that she will share the ring with the current NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.
During the latest edition of NXT, Roxanne Perez name-dropped several popular female wrestlers including Charlotte Flair. Perez boasted that no one in the world is on her level. ‘The Queen’ took to her X account and responded to Perez. She told Perez to continue doing her thing and said that she was sure that they would cross paths in the future.
You almost had it right. It’s been 11. But thank you! I really do have the best fans. 🫶🏻
Roxanne Perez has been on top of the women’s division on NXT. She recently retained her title over Lola Vice at NXT Heatwave. Her next title defense will take place against Chase U’s Thea Hail at NXT Great American Bash.
Charlotte Flair’s absence from WWE
On the other hand, Charlotte Flair will star in an upcoming indie horror/thriller movie, You Lose You Die. In the past, Flair has also worked outside WWE. Her movie debut took place when she starred as Heather Rockrear in Psych: The Movie in 2017. It is a spin-off of the popular show about fake psychic investigator. Flair has also starred as herself in the remake of Punky Brewster with fellow WWE wrestler Alexa Bliss.
Charlotte Flair has been on the shelf as she is recuperating. Last year, she suffered significant knee injury including tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The 14-time Women’s Champion has been working hard to make her comeback to the ring. While she is expected to be out for at least 9 months, there is a huge possibility that she might be back ahead of schedule.
